Of course Deism is a religion!
Webster defines ‘religion’ in different ways.
One definition is: ‘a set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature and purpose of the universe.’ Another is ’a specific fundamental set of beliefs and practices agreed on by a number of persons or sects,’ while a third defines it as ‘something one believes in and follows devotedly; a point or matter of ethics or conscience.’
Deism qualifies under all these definitions. The third in particular arises out of the derivation of the word itself. ‘Ligare’ is Latin for to tie or to bind; it is the root of the word ligament. ‘Re ligare’ means to rebind or reconnect. A religion is that which binds us again and again i.e. the ideology that gives direction and meaning to our lives.
Bertrand Russell was probably the most famous opponent of Christianity during the twentieth century. His book ‘Why I am not a Christian’ is still popular. Russell repeatedly included beliefs such as fascism and communism when he spoke of world religions.
Spirituality is a feeling. It has no intellectual or ideological content, but it is very important. It is our sense or apprehension of the sacred, the divine.
An ideology is a set of beliefs. It comes from the intellect, and it is central to being human. After survival, the most powerful thing in a person's life is his ideology, his beliefs. People work and suffer, fight and argue, kill and die for what they believe in. An ideology that is powerful enough to give direction and meaning to our lives is a religion.- A religion is a life-directing ideology
A church is an organization dedicated to promoting a religion.
People who describe themselves as ‘spiritual, but not religious,’ do not understand that they are saying that their spirituality has no ideological or intellectual content - an impossibility for a cognizant being. For a thinking person, some ideological or theological position is unavoidable. I believe in Cosmic Intelligence is one example.
Since religion is ideology, it is man-made; no religion is a direct revelation from God. Even so, the reasoning and crafting of sincere religious teaching is a worthwhile and courageous endeavor. Pure religion, uncorrupted by self-interest or the dictates of institutions, is the worthy response of a cognizant spirit to the mystery of being. The founders of Deism crafted such a religion.