I grew up with an evangelical Christian belief, and while I am more or less a Deist now, I still take many tenets of my upbringing to heart, integrating aspects of Catholicism as well. While I identify as a Christian, I sometimes question my beliefs due to real-world “logical” things that seem to contradict what the Bible says. Faith, by its nature, often requires belief in things unseen, yet reason and observation sometimes present challenges to that belief. This tension between faith and logic has led many to explore concepts like Deism, which acknowledges a higher power without relying on religious dogma. Deism holds that a divine creator set the universe into motion but does not intervene in human affairs. Unlike organized religions that emphasize divine revelation, Deism relies on reason, nature, and observation to understand God’s existence. Enlightenment thinkers such as Thomas Jefferson and Voltaire embraced this philosophy, rejecting institutional doctrines in favor of a rational, non-intervening deity. Deists argue that morality and ethical living arise naturally through human reason rather than through sacred texts or divine commandments.
In contrast, Catholicism is deeply rooted in divine revelation, tradition, and the belief in an active God who intervenes in human history. The Church teaches that God revealed Himself through scripture, particularly through Jesus Christ, whose life, death, and resurrection serve as the foundation for salvation. While Deism sees God as a distant architect, Catholicism portrays Him as a loving Father engaged in the lives of believers through sacraments, prayers, and miracles.
However, some elements of Deism can still be found in Catholic thought—especially in the appreciation of natural law, which suggests that certain moral truths are inherent in creation and can be understood through reason. My own beliefs blend aspects of both; though I may not fully subscribe to all Catholic teachings, I find value in its traditions, reverence, and structured approach to faith.
“Grown men can learn from very little children for the hearts of the little children are pure. Therefore, the Great Spirit may show to them many things which older people miss.”
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For Native Americans, spiritual beliefs before first contact with Christianity varied among tribes but often shared a deep reverence for the natural world and the Great Spirit, a supreme but largely unknowable force. While they did not have direct knowledge of Christ, many Native traditions aligned with Deist principles, particularly the belief in a creator who established the world’s order and allowed it to function through natural laws. Unlike Deism, however, Native spirituality was not detached or impersonal; it was deeply relational, involving ceremonies, ancestral connections, and a sacred responsibility to maintain balance with nature. When Christianity was introduced, some Native groups saw parallels between their own belief in a Creator and the Christian God, though the imposed structure of Catholicism often clashed with indigenous spiritual practices.
So I ask myself, what is faith?
