The Rise and Ebb of Higher Thought

This post is in keeping with my redirection of this blog. Learning about the rich history of Deism is going to be an adventure that will explain why reason, above all else, is the key to understanding our role within nature. The writings of the English Deism period are especially helpful in understanding why and how the idea of Deism finally stepped into the light. The basic principles of Deism existed since the time of Plato, but took centuries to finally gather a significant following. Why?

The role of government, economy, ethics, and morality played a large role in the development of Deism. Deism needs a time or area in history when higher thinking is prevalent. During times of oppressive government or economic decline it is hard to imagine people spending time progressing advanced thought. These people simply try to survive. The Great American Depression, The Middle Ages, and the Fall of Nineveh are some examples of these dreadful times. However, each of these periods are followed by great times of renaissance.

Like I stated before, History flows and ebbs in cycles. Society and higher thought is not immune to this idea. Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs is a prime example of the requirement of stability in order to have higher thought processes. People cannot achieve self-actualization without fulfilling the requirements of their basic physiological needs.

What does all of this really mean? It means that we use times like we are currently living to advance ideas, such as Deism, to our fullest extent possible in order for them to survive the inevitable instability that is coming. Governments will fall, economies will crumble, and wars will ravage the planet. All these things are inevitable. Perhaps we can learn from our past just enough to advance humankind far enough so that the next "dark age" will not be quite so dark. This ideal is in keeping with a basic English Deistic view. Humans need to rely on themselves. This is the idea of Humanism.

"Deism is not generally thought of as a type of humanism, but it did play an important role in the development of humanist thinking in Europe. Deism supported the growing idea that humans should rely upon themselves first and foremost...For deists, the universe was believed to be rational and ordered because that is how God wanted it to be; God, in turn, is also a rational being with rational desires, rational goals, and rational methods which are understandable through human reason." read more By Austin Cline

By relying on ourselves and not some make believe friend we call God, humankind can increase the value of our species and use reason to prolong the higher points of society and lessen the impact during the dark times. The Creator set in motion the laws that govern what we see. Nature has observable patterns that clearly show the careful designs of intelligent thought. These laws are what set in motion the cycles that all of nature and humankind must endure, but these cycles also maintain the balance of nature. It is through Deism that we learn of these cycles and can begin to understand them.

"When Ethan Allen stated that he did not believe in the Christian doctrine of original sin he was told that without original sin there is no need for Christianity. After reflection Allen agreed, there is no need for Christianity, he reasoned." From Deism.com

It is reason and logic such as this that will help prolong our periods of prosperity, and limit the influence of superstition and thoughtless dogmas that led to the downfall of countless Empires and Civilizations.