Does Deism teach morality?
Contrary to the assertions of Christians and other religious groups, morality does not disappear in the absence of religious dogma and indoctrination. In fact, a casual review of the motivations of some of the greatest atrocities ever committed in history indicates that morality doesn’t necessarily appear with the presence of religious dogma and indoctrination either. The two are, at best, uncorrelated and therefore the evidence indicates they are unrelated. Reason indicates a natural system of morality whereby we respect the rights of others as we would want to be treated in their places. For many Deists, the basic concepts presented in John Stewart Mill’s “Harm Principle” provide a framework for a reason-based morality code: “…the sole end for which mankind are warranted, individually or collectively, in interfering with the liberty of action of any of their number, is self-protection. That the only purpose for which power can be rightfully exercised over any member of a civilised
