Six More Famous Deists

Deism has been a popular philosophy for centuries. While many famous Deists like Thomas Paine, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, and George Washington are well-known, many other prominent Americans held this belief but may not be as well known. Here are six famous people you may not have known were Deists.

Abraham Lincoln: The 16th president of the United States is said to have been a Deist, as he often referred to a higher power in his speeches and writings.

John Adams: The second president of the United States was a strong advocate for religious freedom and is believed to have been a Deist.

Thomas Edison: The famous inventor and businessman was a Deist and believed in a higher power but was critical of organized religion.

Henry David Thoreau: The writer, philosopher, and naturalist was a Deist and believed in the power of nature and the universe.

Walt Whitman: The poet was a Deist and believed in a higher power, but was critical of organized religion and the Bible.

Mark Twain: The famous writer and humorist was a Deist and believed in a higher power, but he was critical of organized religion and often poked fun at it in his writing.

These famous Deists may have held different beliefs and practices, but they all shared a belief in a higher power that created the universe but doesn’t interfere with its workings. If you ever feel alone in your Deism, know that you are not alone and that you are in good company. Deism has been a popular philosophy for centuries and is integral to American history and culture.