Moralistic Therapeutic Deism Analysis

The terminology Moralistic Therapeutic Deism was established by Christian Smith along with coauthor Melina Denton in the book “Soul Searching: The Religious and Spiritual Lives of American Teenagers.” Moralistic is defined by Macmillan Dictionary (2009-2018) as expressing strong ideas on right and wrong as well as trying to make others behave according to them. Cambridge (2018) defines Therapeutic as causing a person to feel happier, more relax and become healthier. Deism defined by All About Philosophy (2018) as a “belief in a supreme being, who remains unknowable and untouchable and that God is viewed as merely the first cause and underlying principle of rationality in the universe.” MTD is a heretical system of thought that has infiltrated

Some of it has to do with emotions and feelings, as well as the influence it has infiltrating various religions by changing their theological structure to look like its own distinctive image. Christian Smith (2005) reveals that teenagers both religious and non-religious are positive about their type of religion because it effectively allows them to achieve primary life goals; to feel good, and happy about themselves and their life (p.50). They are allowing their individual beliefs to become molded by the various teachings of organized religion as well as horoscopes, advice columns, talk show host, and so on. American civil religion is affected by liberal religious activism and by Religious Right operating at the level of formal religious organization and institutions (p.57). Thus making it possible for individuals to become influence with the beliefs of MTD. Based on the article Moralistic Therapeutic Deism – The New American Religion written by Dr. Albert R. Mohler, president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (2005) teenagers have been listening attentively, they have been observing their parents in a larger culture with diligence and insight. Understanding how little their parents believe, and how many of their churches and Christian institutions have accommodated themselves to the dominant culture. They also sense the degree to which theological convictions has been sacrificed on the altar of individualism, relativistic and understanding of truth. They have also learned from their elders that self-improvement is one of the greatest moral imperative to accountability, and a high aspiration for those who shape this culture in finding happiness, security, as well as meaning in life (Mohler 2005). Although teenagers were the focal point of the study regarding MTD, the article also reveals that it is a widespread popular faith among very many US