Final answer:
Deism, an Enlightenment-era philosophical position, advocates for the existence of a creator who does not interfere with the universe, in contrast to traditional beliefs in an active deity. This shift in thinking was part of a broader goal to limit the influence of organized religion and prevent religious conflict, and also facilitated the growth of atheism and more secular worldviews.
Step-by-step explanation:
The growth of deism was a significant shift in religious thinking during the Enlightenment era.
Deism is characterized by the belief in a supreme being, specifically a creator who does not intervene in the universe.
This represents a departure from the belief in a supernatural deity who is actively involved with humankind.
Enlightenment thinkers viewed this impersonal deity akin to a watchmaker who, having created the watch and set it in motion, does not further interfere with its workings.
This shift was a reaction to the centuries of religious conflict in Europe and sought to curtail the political power of organized religion to prevent further intolerant religious wars.
Also, as the traditional concept of God was questioned for coherence, it led some to atheism or to the development of more scientific and materialistic worldviews that no longer saw a place for divine causation.
In contrast to deism, animism posits that there is spiritual agency in all natural things, while atheism is the lack of belief in any gods.
The religious milieu of the Enlightenment was complex and resulted in various other novel religious perspectives, including the aforementioned as well as burgeoning cults, a reshaping of Protestantism, and transcendentalism in the context of the American experience.