As the title of this column series implies, strategy gamers love to pretend that they are gods, and not distant Deistic gods simply setting things in motion. (gamesetwatch.com)
This outlook has represented a prominent strand in theology from the Hellenistic influence apparent in Hebrews 11:6 («Whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him»), through the medieval Anselmic and Thomistic arguments for the existence of God, reaching a climax in the 18th century deistic arguments for a Great Designer evidenced by the intricacy and harmony of the universe. (religion-online.org)
In the latter part of this period, education was likely to make students more deistic in their thinking. (religion-online.org)