50%
Confidence
Belief overview
Possible immortality and moral responsibility
Some deists admit future life or moral judgment, although without uniform revealed detail.
2
Supportive
1
Contrary
0
Neutral
What it is: An important part of deism admits some form of moral continuity of the person, reward, judgment, or immortality, but without detailed consensus.
How the position understands it: The idea is usually thought in connection with divine justice and moral order of the universe, not with extensive revealed eschatologies.
Basis and context: This theme appears in authors of natural religion and in moral apologias of deism.
Debates and variations: There is great diversity: some defend immortality of the soul; others remain more reserved.
Documentary evidence
Supportive
Benjamin Franklin, Autobiography and moral writings
A source for practical morality and rational theism in the Atlantic world.
Reference: Benjamin Franklin, autobiography and moral writings.
Content: Franklin expresses rational theism, the moral usefulness of religion, and reserve toward confessional dogmatisms.
Use in debate: It is useful for rational morality and moderate civil deism.
Rousseau, Profession of Faith of the Savoyard Vicar
An important text on natural religion and moral conscience.
Reference: Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Profession of Faith of the Savoyard Vicar in Emile.
Content: Rousseau defends a religious relation grounded in conscience, natural order, and moral feeling, together with a critique of rigid dogmatic systems.
Use in debate: It is an important source for moral deism and natural religion.
Contrary
Joseph Butler, Analogy of Religion
A relevant Christian answer to English deism.
Reference: Joseph Butler, Analogy of Religion.
Content: Butler argues that Christian revelation is not irrational and that nature already contains difficulties analogous to those criticized by deists.
Use in debate: It is one of the most important classical responses to English deism.