Philosophical musings on Quanta & Qualia;  Materialism & Spiritualism; Science & Religion; Pragmatism & Idealism, etc.

Religious diversity is inherent in the human condition :
ignorance & opinion

Post 8. 12/20/2017 continued . . . .

True Reality : Both Real & Ideal

   Perspectives & Worldviews

For those without an infallible informer, I will submit for your consideration the militant-moderate BothAnd prescription of a middle-of-the-road position on polar oppositions of opinion4. For example, the undefined fill-in-the-blanks higher-power of Deism should offer something for everyone -- except perhaps for a minority of religious zealots who are afraid to doubt, and scientific cynics who doubt even their own existence5. Post-enlightenment Deism began as an attempt to retain the practical advantages of a materialistic scientific worldview, while holding on to some of the desirable features of traditional religions, such as social mores and family values sanctioned by their otherworldly deity. But that appeasement of both sides required them to give up some of the more attractive features of their faith, such as the assurance of an afterlife. And it failed to appease the Atheists, who reject any concept that can't be proven empirically. So modern deists remain poised on a knife-edge between Nature & Supernature.

Yet, if the remote passive deity of Deism6 is, as distinguished from the hovering intervening god of Theism : a. Not participating in world events, b. Not aware of sentient humans, c. Not moved by prayers, d. Not knowable by direct or second-hand revelation, then what good is it?  What difference does a negative theity make to anyone? Why would anyone worship such a non-entity? Good question. So I see no reason to make a big deal of a simple fact of life; no cause to bow & crawl & supplicate; no need to give-up one’s life in exchange for a promised afterlife. Instead, we should merely accept the fact that we are enformed beings, hence there must be an Enformer. Anything beyond that is mere opinion -- contingent beliefs, not final facts. Consequently, Deism is suitable for a personal worldview, but not as a world-dominating religion. Science provides us with reliable replicable objective facts, but as for matters of religious taste, "to each his own".

End of Post 8

Enform :
to form or fashion; to create

Note 4 :
This modest proposal will be controversial simply because it attempts to come between the fired-up combatants on the field of philosophical battle. Peacemakers are often caught in the crossfire.

Note 5 :
The philosopher Descartes doubted his own existence, but finally concluded that the only thing certain was the mind doing the doubting.

Note 6 :
Deism offers no divine revelation, but merely a philosophical resignation. The world appears to be a magnificently organized, yet constantly creative system of space & time. So we should act as-if it is a purpose-driven program, even if we don’t know what the ultimate goal might be