So I’ve grown up more or less a Theist, the belief in an interventionist God. As I’ve grown older, I can see evidence of God in science and nature and in biology and in just so many places. It was not difficult for me to believe in God’s existence, the evidence of creationism is there, if you look.

But I struggled with the lack of interaction. That my prayers would go unanswered, or if they were answered, it could easily be dismissed as luck or fortune or coincidence or just the results of hard work and perseverance. I mean, yes, it “could” be God answering your prayers, but it could just as easily not be. And then there was the obvious prayers that didn’t get answered, like the ones praying for a family member to get better, for a child to recover, for a missing person to be found, etc. and then it simply, not happening. I struggled with this. Why does it seem like sometimes God interferes, but you could still dismiss it as luck/fortune/etc., and other times he seems to ignore.

And then I became aware of “Deists” or “Deism”, the belief in a non-interventionist God. Still the creator, still omnipresent, still all powerful, just… but just, observing. Not interfering.

But… as a person growing up theist, believing in the Bible, etc. how can I just suddenly switch to being a deist? Also, while some things in the Bible seem a bit odd, or contradictory, etc. not all of it seemed impossible or “made up” as deists seem to believe. I personally believe in Jesus, but I’ve come to believe that maybe after Jesus died, we were more or less on our own. That maybe Jesus came down, put down a bunch of rules but also clarified some of the existing rules, relaxing some, giving better clarity to others, he gave us a lot of examples, etc. he was a direct intervention with humanity; and look how we repaid him? But maybe his presence was a last ditch effort to guide humanity in the right direction.

But how can one be deist and theist? How can one believe in past miracles, and Jesus, but then believe God is non interventionist? That he’s just an observer? Then, thanks to AI, I’ve learned about 2 possible beliefs that align with my thoughts. I figured I’d share them here.

Dispensationalism – A Christian theological framework in which God interacts with humanity differently across distinct historical periods (“dispensations”). This can help explain why direct miracles are seen as historical but not present today.

While dispensationalism explains God’s historical interaction in Christianity, another tradition — Jewish mysticism — offers a cosmological model of divine withdrawal.

Tzimtzum – A concept from Jewish mysticism (Lurianic Kabbalah) in which God “contracts” or withdraws His infinite presence to make space for the world to exist independently.

Dispensationalism (Christian Perspective)

Within certain sectors of Christianity, there is a belief that God interacts with humanity differently depending on the “dispensation” (age) we are in.

• The Past: The Age of Law (miracles, direct commands, burning bushes).
• The Present: The “Age of Grace” or the “Church Age.”
• The Shift: Some adherents believe that during this specific era, God has intentionally stepped back from “public” miracles to test faith and allow the world to run its course until a final intervention (the Second Coming).

Estimated Believers: Tens of millions (primarily in the U.S., Brazil, Nigeria, and South Korea). This is by far the most “populated” view on your list. It is a cornerstone of modern Evangelical and Pentecostal Christianity.

• Why it’s popular: It allows people to believe the Bible is 100% true while explaining why we don’t see “Red Sea partings” today.
• The “Switch”: Adherents believe God explicitly changed the “rules of engagement” after the crucifixion of Jesus. We are currently in the “Age of Grace,” where God works through the “still, small voice” rather than fire and brimstone—effectively a “step back” until the End Times.

Note:

• Not all dispensationalists view history the same way; there are variations, such as classic and progressive dispensationalism.
• Dispensationalism isn’t just belief in God stepping back, but a structured theological interpretation of Scripture’s covenants, Israel vs. the Church, and end-times prophecy.

The “Divine Withdrawal” (Tzimtzum)

In Jewish Mysticism (Kabbalah), there is a concept called Tzimtzum.

• The Concept: It suggests that for the world to have its own independent existence and for humans to have true free will, God had to “contract” or withdraw His presence.
• The Transition: It allows for a God who was once “all-encompassing” to step back and create a vacuum where we operate. If God is constantly interfering, we are just puppets; by stepping back, He allows the “story” to belong to us.

Estimated Believers: Millions (vast majority of practicing religious Jews and students of Jewish Mysticism). While “Kabbalah” sounds niche, the concept of Tzimtzum (Divine Withdrawal) is central to mainstream Hasidic and Orthodox Jewish thought.

• Why it’s popular: It provides a sophisticated answer to the “Problem of Evil.” If God is everywhere and all-powerful, how can bad things happen?
• The “Switch”: It teaches that God had to withdraw His presence to create a space where humans could have free will. Without this “stepping back,” the world would be overwhelmed by God’s light and we would just be extensions of Him rather than individuals.

Note:

• Tzimtzum doesn’t necessarily imply God literally disappears — many Kabbalistic and Hasidic interpretations see it as a concealment or veil of presence rather than absolute absence.
• Some theologians debate whether it’s a literal “withdrawal” or a metaphorical/epistemological veil – there’s some complexity here

“Functional” Deism (The Silent Majority)

Estimated Believers: Unknown, likely hundreds of millions. This isn’t an official sect; it’s what sociologists often call “Moralistic Therapeutic Deism.” * The Vibe: This is the default belief of the “Spiritual but not Religious” crowd. They believe God created the world and “started” the stories in the Bible or other texts, but now mostly stays out of the way unless they are in a personal crisis.

• Why it’s popular: It’s the ultimate “blend.” It keeps the comfort of a Creator without the “burden” of strict religious laws or the confusion of why miracles are so rare in the 21st century.

Semi-Deism (or Historical Theism)

This is the closest academic term for what you’re describing. It posits that God was once active in human history (Theism)—performing miracles, delivering laws, and appearing to prophets—but has since moved into a “Deistic” mode.

• The Logic: God provided the “startup capital” (the soul, the laws of physics, and a moral compass) and now expects humanity to manage the business.
• The “Fed Up” Factor: In this view, the silence of God isn’t necessarily abandonment, but a transition from “Parent” to “Observer,” often attributed to human maturity (or lack thereof).

Clockmaker 2.0 (The “Burnout” Theory)

While not a formal “sect,” there is a growing movement of Post-Theists or Apatheists who hold a view similar to yours. It’s the idea that God is a “failed” or “exhausted” architect.

• The Narrative: God tried to guide the project (The Bible, the Torah, etc.), saw that humans consistently misinterpreted the instructions or used them for violence, and effectively “ghosted” humanity.

Filed under: Personal - @ 2026-02-06 7:58 pm