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The absolute authority of the church was first challenged in what is historically called the "Age of Enlightenment." Which Thomas Paine, a famous pamphlet writer during the American Revolution, called the "Age of Reason," in his book called Age of Reason. This was a time when scientists and philosophers were questioning the ancient Greek philosophers' ideas about science. The church was against science that did not agree with what the Greek philosophers had written. Such men as Roger Bacon, Galileo Galilei, Giordano Bruno and Nicoclaus Copernicus, were finding new methods to conduct science and were telling others of their discoveries. Although in some cases, such as with Copernicus, they had their ideas published after their deaths, to keep from being persecuted, others like Galileo and Bruno published in their lifetimes and were punished by the church. Galileo was put under arrest and then coerced to say that what he had written was not true and was no longer allowed to write about such things. Bruno was burned at the stake for refusing to deny the truth that the earth went around the sun.
These men and many more, were responsible for the Age of Enlightenment which allowed the ideas of the early Deists to be published. Though these early Deists were still persecuted and often had their works publicly burned, the ideas of these men could not be completely stopped. The early Deists often met in their own homes or in coffee houses where they could discuss Deism and other ideas without much worry. Still, it was risky for them and many made a point of attending a church regularly to help keep people from knowing what they really believed.
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The height of Deism was probably between 1750 and 1800. The Deist idea that all men are created equal in the eyes of God, helped lead to the starting of the American Revolution in 1776 and the French Revolution in 1789.These occurred when Deism was well known amongst the learned people of the day. And many of the men that led these revolutions were Deists or believed in many of the ideas of Deism.
Deism then became very unfashionable during the early 1800's. As the there was what is called the Second Great Revival, when Christians very actively evangelized people in America. In France, some of the excesses of the new revolutionary government caused a turning away from Deism amongst many. Other countries, seeing what had happened in America and France were quick to put down the ideas of Deism and supported the church as a means to remain in power.
For the last two hundred years, Deists have stayed pretty much to themselves and kept their thoughts about Deism pretty much to themselves, or just told trusted friends about their ideas. So Deism is often called a dead religion. The internet and other changes in society have changed that. Now people can discuss their ideas with little fear of persecution. Which is why Deism is once again on the rise.
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