Burning Thoughts

There was a political rally of atheists in DC last week. It may me think of my relation to religion and spirituality.

Humanism

Defined in Merriam-Webster as a system of values and beliefs that is based on the idea that people are basically good and that problems can be solved using reason instead of religion.

I am a humanist. I subscribe to humanism.

Features

• We make good things happen for ourselves (and sometimes bad things).
• There is no wizard behind a screen who is making things good or bad for us.

Deism

Deism is defined in Marriam-Webster as a movement or system of thought advocating natural religion, emphasizing morality, and in the 18th century denying the interference of the Creator with the laws of the universe.

From a spiritual point of view, I am a Deist. I believe that the universe started in some way I have no understanding of. I am not an atheist; however, I don’t think there is an entity monitoring my every action—rewarding or punishing me as my decisions align with a supernatural (beyond nature) set of rules.

The world started in ways that I don’t understand. That is a spiritual mystery; however, that does not imply a God person looking over my every action.