by Daniel Cawthorne

Created on: August 30, 2008

An agnostic by any other name...

Thomas Paine, one of our founding fathers, once said churches were, "...human inventions set up to terrify and enslave mankind, and monopolize power and profit."

He didn't say this because he was an atheist. He said this because he believes that all religions have one thing in common and that is the only truth; there is one God Who is Creator and Lord.

But apart from this, Thomas Paine seems to have no religious convictions. He believes that all religions are a vehicle to lead one in worship of the One True God, but expresses disdain for them, believing a personal method (His mind) to be the best vehicle. Therefore, he believes, as long as every man believes in One God, then it doesn't matter if he is Jew, Muslim, Christian, or any other monotheist for that matter.

Voltaire (Franois-Marie Arouet), a French philosopher, once said, "You see many stars at night in the sky but find them not when the sun rises; can you say that there are no stars in the heaven of day? So, O man! because you behold not God in the days of your ignorance, say not that there is no God."

Voltaire, like Thomas Paine, believed that nature itself shows us that there is a God, but that He is not interested in organized religion. He only wants man to do good to others. Voltaire expresses disdain at religion and at the belief that there is no God.

However, both of these men submit that, at the core of every monotheistic religion, there is Truth. That these religions are vehicles in guiding one's worship of the One True God, but that none of them hold the only way to the next life.

This view is very similar to agnosticism (Albeit, somewhat differing) which teaches that there is a God Who created the world, but that He can't be known personally, especially through any one religion. So, in looking at the Deism (For this is what we speak of, the belief that there is a God but no affirmation in any one religion) of Thomas Paine and Voltaire, what do we have?

Assuming that God is not interested in any one religion, we would have beautiful belief system that allows all man to live in harmony, inspiring others to do good in order to worship what they all have in common; God, Who is Creator, the Supreme One.

However, every religion claims independance from the other and, at the core, is incapable of being mixed with any other one. Example, if Jesus did indeed come from God, and if God spoke aloud and said, "This is My Son in Whom I am well pleased.", then how is a Muslim to reach paradise when Jesus said that "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life: no man comes to the Father but by me."?

Or, according to Islam, if we have to adhere very strictly (as a command from God) to their five pillars, how is a Christian going to do so when, instead of praying five times a day or pilgrimaging, he is at church, or he is converting a sinner?

Deism is incompatible with the idea that one needs to atone for one's sins. Therefore, Deism would contradict several world religions. Deism doesn't teach any one way to cover your sins, but enigmatically states to do good, for THAT is the Will of God.

So, who has the Word from God? Does God say because of your sin you will die? Or does God remain silent and allow man to go his own way and hopes that they will find Him in some way? Which seems to be more appropiate considering God is All-Powerful, Holy, Righteous, and Just? Would He allow a sinful being into His presence? And does deism hold the key to absolving one's sins?

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