The Human Jesus and Christian Deism

THE HUMAN JESUS AND CHRISTIAN DEISM

Human beings are designed to live in accord with certain natural laws which can be discovered by anyone through observation, experience, and reasoning.

The violation of these natural laws is destructive to life. Living in harmony with these laws enhances an individual's life and contributes to the establishment of a peaceful and prosperous human society. A man named Jesus called this ideal society "the kingdom of God" on earth.

My name is John Lindell and I want to share my discovery of the original gospel ("good news") of Jesus. If we look beyond the myths and theological theories that have accumulated around Jesus, we can see a real human being with a vital message for us today.

I hope that the following essays will be helpful as you develop your own personal religion -- the beliefs that you live by. You can read these essays by clicking on the individual titles listed below.

I. INTRODUCTION

  • Preface
  • About the Author

    II. NATURAL RELIGION

  • What Am I?
  • What is Natural Theology?
  • The Natural Religion of Jesus
  • Love Your Neighbor
  • How Can You Love God?
  • The Kingdom of God
  • Repentance and Forgiveness

    III. UNDERSTANDING CHRISTIANITY

  • What is the Gospel?
  • The Theology of Paul
  • What's in a Creed
  • A Man Named Jesus
  • Who Was Jesus?
  • The Cross and the Empty Tomb
  • Understanding the Four Gospels

    IV. DEISM

  • Deism and Cultural Religions
  • What is a Christian Deist
  • An Overview of Christian Deism
  • "Deist" and "Christian Deist"
  • Creed of a Christian Deist
  • History of Christian Deism
  • Edward Herbert: What is Truth?
  • John Locke and Christian Deism
  • Matthew Tindal, Christian Deist
  • The Importance of Beliefs

    V. THE PRACTICE OF CHRISTIAN DEISM

  • Christian Deism as a Personal Religion
  • Practicing Christian Deism
  • A Christian Deist's View of Bible Study and Prayer
  • Christmas and Easter
  • What about Hell?
  • Christian Deists: Christians Without Churches
  • Getting Together as Christian Deists
  • Religious Education of Children

    VI. OTHER ESSAYS

  • September 11, 2001

    NOTE: A "Christian Deist Listserve" has been created for Christian Deists, and others, who desire to communicate with Christian Deists worldwide about topics of mutual interest. You may find directions to this Listserve at the end of the essay entitled "Getting Together as Christian Deists."