I don't hate deists or deism. In fact, I wouldn't say it is the most hated by any stretch.
The fact is, a good number of people who call themselves "Christians" (at least in the US) are what I would call "morally therapeutic deists." They believe in God because his existence is a comforting thought and perhaps because they see design in our world, but they don't really believe in Christ's death, resurrection, etc.. They do live by the teachings that they care to, hence the "morally" part of my description. They call themselves Christians but their beliefs don't fit that label.
In addition, just because you are a part of a church does not mean that you "must believe" what the minister/priest/whatever you will says. I attend a Restoration Movement Christian Church (i.e. Independent Christian Churches/Churches of Christ), and while I generally fall in line with the theology of the movement I do have some substantial differences. My view of Baptism, for example, is far different from that of the movement my church is a part of.
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Originally Posted by AnaMZ
So I feel much the same about deists as I do about theists - you're all just after the warm fuzzies, it's just that the deists are the only ones 'fessing up to wanting it.
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What I don't understand is that the simple belief in a supreme being automatically means that we're "just after the warm fuzzies." I, for one, came to my belief via a process of study, reasoning, and philosophical reflection. I've never had that "warm fuzzy" religious experience that some Christians have had.
I honestly think that it is incredibly arrogant to assume that no one can come to a different conclusion than you when presented with the same evidence.
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Originally Posted by Toast
Can you please explain what exactly Deism is? I could look it up on Wikipedia but this tends to work better.
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The basic description I would give is that it is the belief in a creator God who, since creating the world, has not intervened in it. This creator God can be compared to a watch-maker who created the world, wound it up, and stepped back. Beliefs from person to person may change, but that is the connecting feature of all forms of deism.