THE IMPLICATIONS OF DEISM FOR THE CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE OF SIN AND REDEMPTION: A PHILOSOPHICAL RELIGION PERSPECTIVE

Abstract

The enduring influence of Deism within the philosophy of religion continues to raise significant questions regarding the coherence of central Christian doctrines. This study critically examines the implications of the deistic conception of God for the Christian doctrines of sin and redemption. It argues that the defining principles of classical Deism particularly its commitment to natural religion, the sufficiency of human reason, and divine non-intervention fundamentally challenge the theological and philosophical assumptions upon which Christian soteriology is constructed. Employing a qualitative methodology based on conceptual analysis and critical philosophical evaluation, the study engages classical and contemporary philosophical and theological scholarship to examine the points of divergence between the two traditions. The analysis demonstrates that while Deism offers a coherent account of God, morality, and the rational order of creation, its rejection of divine revelation, providential activity, miracles, and historical divine intervention substantially weakens the conceptual basis for the Christian understanding of sin as alienation and redemption through the Incarnation, atonement, and resurrection of Christ. The study concludes that the implications of Deism extend beyond isolated doctrinal disagreements to challenge the entire redemptive framework of Christianity. Consequently, any consistent adoption of deistic principles necessarily redefines the Christian doctrine of salvation and raises fundamental philosophical questions concerning divine agency, human reconciliation, and the coherence of Christian soteriology.