Natural God: Deism in the Age of Intelligent Design

Positioning contemporary Deism as the Golden Mean between atheist-materialist Darwinism and religious fundamentalism, Beth Houston convincingly argues that exquisitely designed Creation categorically necessitates a transcending Intelligent Designer that is immanently engaged in the perpetual process of creating novelty sustained within the secure margins of natural laws. To clear the way for new Deism, Houston’s explication, sprinkled with satire, demystifies Charles Darwin and deconstructs Darwinism/neo-Darwinism on the one hand, and on the other continues her demolition of biblical literalism with an incisive critique of the modern quest for the historical Jesus. To stress her point that embracing truth is imperative for our survival, Houston delineates dangers of both Darwinian and fundamentalist myths and superstitions, exposing how separately and together they perpetuate dangerous elitist agendas that range from exploitation and war instigated by corporate oligarchs to misogynist/homophobic gang rape and other expressions of bigotry. As a counterpoint to her analysis of brute selfishness, Houston affirms Nature’s practical and spiritual benefits and challenges us to protect our life, liberty, happiness, and truth by contributing to authentic democracy, environmental stewardship, and nurturance of our creative, spiritual, and ethical sensibilities. Houston represents a version of Deism rooted in common sense, which she defines as the consensus of all our faculties, including reason, conscience, intuition, experience, volition, and the aesthetic. Unlike some Deists writing today, Houston affirms aspects of religion untainted by greed and hubris that express humanity’s natural desire for God, truth, and the Good. Deism reveres the Creator of Nature, the Natural God, whose truth and spiritual Presence, independent of priestly mediation, are democratically available to all.

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