Deism the belief in a deity based on natural religion only, or belief in religious truths discovered by people through a process of reasoning, independent of any revelation through scripture or prophets.
Deism can be contrasted with theism, Most theists ascribe to organized religion. “Organized religion is typically characterized by an official doctrine (or dogma), a hierarchical or bureaucratic leadership structure, and a codification of rules and practices.”
The term theism was first used by Ralph Cudworth (1617–88). In Cudworth's definition, 'Theists, are those who affirm, that a perfectly conscious understanding being, or mind, existing of itself from eternity, was the cause of all other things".
Most modern western religious such as Judaism, Christianity and Islam are monotheistic. Almost all have official doctrine, bureaucratic leadership, and a codification of rules and practices often described as rituals.
Most of the early religions were integrated with and extensions of the state. This may explain why many religions have developed an authoritarian streak,
Barry Goldwater said this in 1981:
There is no position on which people are so immovable as their religious beliefs. There is no more powerful ally one can claim in a debate than Jesus Christ, or God, or Allah, or whatever one calls this supreme being. But like any powerful weapon, the use of God's name on one's behalf should be used sparingly. The religious factions that are growing throughout our land are not using their religious clout with wisdom. They are trying to force government leaders into following their position 100 percent. If you disagree with these religious groups on a particular moral issue, they complain, they threaten you with a loss of money or votes or both. I'm frankly sick and tired of the political preachers across this country telling me as a citizen that if I want to be a moral person, I must believe in 'A,' 'B,' 'C,' and 'D.' Just who do they think they are? And from where do they presume to claim the right to dictate their moral beliefs to me?
If they succeed in establishing religion as a basic Republican Party tenet," he told US. News & World Report in 1994, "they could do us in." In an interview with The Post that same year, Goldwater observed, "When you say 'radical right' today, I think of these moneymaking ventures by fellows like Pat Robertson and others who are trying to take the Republican Party and make a religious organization out of it. If that ever happens, kiss politics goodbye.
So here we are in 2016. In 2012, we had Republican Mitt Romney running for president. Romney believed he was the chosen one in the White Horse prophesy. The prophecy predicts that the United States Constitution will one day "hang like a thread" and will be saved "by the efforts of the (man on a) White Horse. " Mormons have anticipated. the United States to eventually become a theocracy dominated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
When Romney was running we also had Mike Huckabee and Rick Santorum trying to build their presidential aspirations on church altars. too. Newt Gingrich was another religious Catholic zealot
The worst by far is Ted Cruz who hold Dominionist beliefs. Ted would like to be the emperor of the first American theocracy.
The authoritarianism in the GOP can be
explained to a certian extent by the a party riddled with religion.
The Republican reaction of the GOP to Obama may also have a religious
basis in that many fundamentalists think Africans a have the mark of
Cain on them. However, most anthropologists know that the human
species developed in Africa. The first humans were dark skinned.
So how does the Democratic party work
with Republicans who are religious zealots and ideologues with “my
way of the highway” attitudes?
Would guess Obama is doing the best he
can under the circumstances. You have to work under and around such
people and work to marginalize them in the next election. On
occasion, give them enough rope to hang themselves which is what
happened to the the GOP when it closed down the Federal government.
You simply cannot negotiate with a
“disloyal opposition” in good faith.
It's time for Democrats to put the hammer
down and to storm the election booths in 2016. If we make an
extended efforts, we can take the Presidency, the Senate and perhaps
even the House!
Sources:
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