deista

Deism is a philosophical belief system that posits the existence of a creator God based on reason and nature, but rejects supernatural revelation, such as divine intervention, miracles, and the inspiration of scriptures. Deists believe that God created the universe and its natural laws, and then left it to operate on its own, without further interference. This contrasts with theistic religions, which typically believe in an actively involved God who communicates with humanity.

The Enlightenment period, particularly in the 17th and 18th centuries, was a fertile ground for deistic thought. Thinkers like Voltaire, Thomas Paine, and Thomas Jefferson are often associated with deistic ideas, though the extent of their adherence can vary. They often emphasized morality and ethics derived from natural law, believing that human reason could discern right from wrong without recourse to divine commandments. Deists typically viewed Jesus as a moral teacher but not as divine or the son of God. They often found religious truth in the study of the natural world, seeing its order and complexity as evidence of a divine architect. While deism doesn't have formal religious institutions or dogma, it represents a significant historical and philosophical stance on the nature of God and humanity's relationship with the divine.