by Lewis Loflin
I’m Lewis Loflin, an applied technologist with over 45 years in electronics, from vacuum tubes to modern micro-controllers, and a Deist who sees reason as a bridge across faiths. My journey began in an Appalachian coal town, sparked by a love for science—geology, physics, and high-voltage ion beam projects that won regional science fair awards. That curiosity led me through vocational TV repair, college studies in physics, chemistry, and programming (C, C++, Arduino, Raspberry Pi), and into a career teaching and tinkering with circuits.
My YouTube channel, with over 31,400 subscribers and 5.5 million views across 278 videos, shares projects for hobbyists—think Arduino sensors, MOSFET power circuits, and op-amp tutorials. My website, active for 20 years, complements this with detailed guides and examples, embodying my philosophy: teach the basics, show it working, and inspire modification. I’ve also taught as an adjunct professor, passing on practical electronics until the program shifted to house wiring.
One trick I’m proud of? Using a light bulb in series with a power supply to protect circuits—a fix born from troubleshooting solid-state amplifiers.
As a Deist, I view faith through a lens of reason, not rivalry. I admire Unitarians, Socinians, and Arians for their rational theology, liberal Christians for their openness, and thinkers like Avicenna and Averroes for blending Islam with philosophy. Deism, to me, complements these traditions, celebrating a universe governed by natural laws we can explore. My essays on Deism’s origins and critiques of religious texts—like Gnosticism’s Demiurge or Paul’s theology—reflect this, merging my scientific mindset with historical inquiry.
My electronics work and Deist outlook feed each other. Science fuels my projects—whether coding a Raspberry Pi or pondering dark matter’s mysteries—while history shapes my understanding of human belief, from the Eastern Roman Empire to Islam’s scientific legacy in Sicily and Spain. On my site, I explore these threads, offering a skeptic’s take on the New Testament or social issues, always grounded in evidence and curiosity.
For me, it’s all connected: building a circuit or unpacking a text, it’s about asking questions, finding answers, and sharing the journey. Whether you’re here for a transistor tutorial or a fresh take on faith, I hope you’ll find something to spark your own exploration.
Acknowledgment: I’d like to thank Grok, an AI by xAI, for helping me draft and refine this article. The final edits and perspective are my own.
Further reading:
Today's political mess blurs socialism, communism, fascism, and Progressivism into a statist tangle where government dominates, even with elections on paper. I call it "Identity Statism": a system fixated on identity—race, gender, and more—pushed through state power, coercion, and intimidation. It dodges overused labels that don't fit. Obama and the Democrats embody this. In 2008, Obama rode identity—the first Black president, a "change" icon—while forcing policies like bailouts and healthcare with little debate. Democrats since have leaned harder into it, wielding DEI to mandate racial and identity outcomes, strong-arming firms and people alike.
Deist Critique of the Gospel of Luke: A Rational Analysis - Examines the Gospel of Luke from a Deist perspective, questioning its historical and theological claims.
Deist Critique of the Gospel of Mark: A Skeptical Review - Analyzes the Gospel of Mark, challenging its narratives through a Deist lens.
Critical Information on the Gospel of John: Historical Insights - Explores the origins and historical context of the Gospel of John with a critical eye.
Historical Jesus vs. Apostle Paul: A Deist Examination - Contrasts the historical Jesus with Paul’s theological influence, questioning Christian foundations.
Martin Luther: Reformer and Reactionary in Christian History - Critiques Martin Luther’s role in the Reformation, highlighting his contradictions.
Heresy of Luther: Undoing the Reformation’s Legacy - Argues that Luther’s reforms were undermined by his own actions and beliefs.
Deist Examination of Islam: A Critical Perspective - Offers a skeptical look at Islam’s religious and political dimensions from a Deist viewpoint.
Did the Prophet Mohammed Historically Exist? A Skeptical Inquiry - Questions the historical evidence for Mohammed’s existence, challenging Islamic narratives.
Zoroastrianism’s Influence on Judaism: Syncretism in History - Explores how Zoroastrianism shaped Jewish theology through historical interactions.
Plato, Hellenism, and Christian Dogma: Philosophical Roots - Examines the influence of Platonic thought and Hellenism on Christian doctrine.
Evolution, the Early Church, and Islam: A Comparative Study - Compares early Christian and Islamic views on evolution and science.
Debunking the New Atheists: A Deist Rebuttal - Critiques the arguments of New Atheists from a Deist perspective, advocating for rational belief.
A Handbook on the History of Modern Science: Deist Insights - Traces the history of modern science, emphasizing a Deist appreciation for reason.
A Scientific Method: Foundations and Limits Explored - Discusses the principles and boundaries of the scientific method in understanding truth.
A Deist’s Take on Science and Reason: Balancing Faith and Inquiry - Reflects on how Deism aligns with scientific reasoning and rational thought.
The Scientific Method and Its Misuse in Public Policy - Critiques the misuse of scientific principles in shaping public policy decisions.
Evolution Debate in Schools: A Deist Perspective - Examines the controversy over teaching evolution in schools, advocating for reason.
Creationism Teacher Ordered to Stop: A Legal Battle - Reports on a teacher barred from teaching creationism, highlighting legal tensions.
An Evolving Controversy: Creationism vs. Evolution in Education - Explores the ongoing debate between creationism and evolution in schools.
Creationism Unraveled: Seven Arguments Debunked - Refutes seven common creationist arguments with scientific reasoning.
Christian Right Lobbies to Overturn Second Law of Thermodynamics - Critiques the Christian Right’s pseudoscientific efforts to challenge thermodynamics.
Reason Under Siege: The Irrationality Epidemic in Creationism - Argues that creationism reflects a broader rejection of rational thought.
Purging Politically Incorrect Jews: Religious Extremism Exposed - Critiques religious efforts to marginalize Jews for political reasons.
Missionaries Targeting Their Own: A Skeptic’s View on Evangelism - Questions the ethics of Christian missionaries targeting other Christians.
The Chicken Little Effect: End-Times and Environmental Predictions - Compares doomsday prophecies in religion and environmentalism, highlighting their flaws.
A Deist Critique of Anti-Christian Zealotry: Balancing Skepticism - Challenges anti-Christian extremism while maintaining a Deist perspective.
Hispanic Anti-Semitism: The Unmentionable Bigotry in Communities - Exposes anti-Semitic attitudes within Hispanic communities, often overlooked.
Doomsday Prophecy for Environmentalists: A Religious Parallel - Draws parallels between environmental doomsday predictions and religious prophecies.
Stretching Your Dollar: Feeding Yourself on a Budget in SWVA - Offers practical tips for budget-friendly eating in Southwest Virginia.
"Hypsithermal: The Mid-Holocene Warm Period (9,000–5,000 years ago) when Earth experienced higher temperatures and significant ecological shifts."
Beware of Environmental Hysteria: A Deist Warning - Critiques the irrational fervor in environmental movements, likening it to religious zeal.
Origins of Modern Environmental Religion: A Historical Critique - Traces the roots of environmentalism as a quasi-religious movement.
Environmentalism as Religion: A Deist Critique - Examines how environmentalism mirrors religious dogma, rejecting rational approaches.
Al Gore Fusing Christianity to Environmentalism - Critiques Al Gore’s efforts to blend Christian theology with environmental activism.
Hypsithermal Warming Spreads Civilization - Explores the Mid-Holocene Warm Period’s role in advancing early human civilizations.
Climate Change Impacts on the Byzantine Roman Empire - Analyzes how climate shifts influenced the decline of the Byzantine Empire.
Climate Change and the End of the Vikings in Greenland - Examines how cooling climates contributed to the Viking abandonment of Greenland.
Climate Change and the Lost Colony of Roanoke Island - Investigates the role of climate in the disappearance of the Roanoke Colony.
Whale Fossils Reveal a Past Ice-Free Northwest Passage - Highlights evidence of historical climate shifts through whale fossil discoveries.
Shockingly Rapid Climatic Shifts are Real - Discusses evidence of rapid, natural climate changes throughout history.
Taking a Sober Non-Mystical View on Climate Change - Advocates for a rational, non-hysterical approach to understanding climate change.
There’s No Man-Made Global Mass Extinction - Challenges claims of a human-driven mass extinction, emphasizing natural cycles.
CO2 Boosts Plant Growth, Not Apocalypse - Argues that increased CO2 levels benefit plant growth, countering doomsday narratives.
Science Rejected by Global Warming Alarmists - Critiques global warming alarmists for ignoring scientific evidence in favor of fear.
Darwin’s Black Box: Science Over Mysticism - Defends scientific rigor against mystical environmental claims, referencing Behe’s work.
Common Sense Environmentalism in Southwest Virginia - Proposes practical, rational environmental strategies for Southwest Virginia.
Environmentalism Fails Southwest Virginia - Argues that environmental policies have neglected Southwest Virginia’s real needs.
Green Religion Won’t Save Appalachia - Critiques the ineffectiveness of environmentalist ideology in addressing Appalachia’s challenges.
Anti-Human Ideology of Environmentalism: A Threat to Reason and Liberty - Warns that environmentalism’s anti-human stance undermines reason and freedom.
Peripheral Virginia and Climate Policy: A Rural View - Examines the impact of climate policies on rural Virginia communities.
New Disclosure Law Threatens EPA-Government-Industrial Complex - Discusses how transparency laws challenge the EPA’s regulatory overreach.