An Alternative to Believing in Nothing: Deism for the 21st Century

by S.D. Hagen

If you are one of the 29% of adults in the United States who are unaffiliated with an organized religion, come and discover what you may be looking for. This book unveils a philosophy and belief system that people wish they had known about much sooner.

An Alternative to Believing in Nothing offers a bold yet reasoned path for readers unaffiliated with organized religion yet unwilling to accept a purely materialist worldview. Reviving the Enlightenment ideals of Deism, the book explores how reason, nature, and a non-dogmatic belief in a Creator can provide meaning, morality, and wonder.

An Alternative to Believing in Nothing is an uplifting resource for those caught between faith and non-belief. Whether you’ve never been religiously affiliated or you have drifted away from a religion, this book introduces a third path—one guided by reason, grounded in nature, and open to discovery. A compelling path for those who reject traditional faith yet still seek purpose, morality, and wonder. Drawing on the forgotten wisdom of Deism, this book reintroduces a belief in a Creator grounded in reason and nature only.

Blending history, philosophy, and contemporary relevance, the book speaks to the agnostics, the spiritual but not religious, the skeptics, and the independent thinkers — especially young adults — who feel caught between religion and non-belief.

From this book, you will:
—Take a brief look at current religious trends in the United States.
—Understand a philosophy and belief system more than 300 years old known as Deism.
—Review the interesting history of Deism and discover how it was deeply rooted in the American Revolution and the formation of the United States.
—Learn what Deism is and is not (hint: not a religion).
—Consider fascinating cosmological and biological discoveries that support the concept of Intelligent Design.
—Understand a way forward for the religiously unaffiliated seeking to find their spiritual identity through a simple, sensible, and rational belief system.
—Thought-provoking, and rooted in reason, this book reintroduces a worldview that aligns spiritual curiosity with intellectual self-honesty.

An Alternative to Believing in Nothing offers hope, optimism, direction, and a sense of belonging.

212 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 21, 2025

About the author

SD Hagen is the independent author of An Alternative to Believing in Nothing. He is a native of Southern California, where he resides with his 14-year-old son. He holds a bachelor's degree in management and has worked in the aviation public sector for over 30 years. His credibility as a "regular guy" lies in the fact that many scholars have written about the topics found in his publication; however, they are not direct believers of the material.

SD Hagen's message as a one-time author is addressed to a specific group of adults who number in the millions. Today, approximately 30% of U.S. adults, comprising over 70 million people, are unaffiliated with an organized religion for varied reasons. Interestingly, over 70% of this group believes or wants to believe in a higher power.

In his book, SD Hagen introduces the reader to an established philosophy and belief system, free from strict doctrine and dogma, where your personal beliefs in a Creator can comfortably reside. The reader is provided with:

SD Hagen's own brief story, a few statistics on religious trends in the U.S. today, a case for Deism (not a religion) and its interesting European and early American history, a compelling look at "Is there a God?", how religiously unaffiliated adults may find they associate well with Deism, how to be a Deist, and finally, several interesting quotes and letters from notable figures including several of our nation's founding fathers who were tied to Deism.

If you have not formally identified your beliefs (agnostic or spiritual but not religious) or you have drifted away from a traditional religion, SD Hagen's book is a must-read.

Originally intended as a journal to be left for his son, now turned into a book to assist others, An Alternative to Believing in Nothing may prove to be what you've been looking for and wished you had known about sooner.

Reviews

[Book Reviewer · Rating 4 out of 5]

SD Hagen’s An Alternative to Believing in Nothing is both a personal journey and a public invitation to explore the philosophy of Deism, a belief in a non-intervening Creator, grounded in reason, nature, and science rather than organized religion. Hagen introduces Deism as a third path for the spiritually curious who are disillusioned with traditional religion but not ready to settle for atheism or agnosticism. Through a blend of memoir, history, and practical guidance, he presents Deism as a meaningful alternative for modern seekers, especially those among the “nones,” the fast-growing segment of religiously unaffiliated adults in the U.S.

I was taken in by the honesty of Hagen’s storytelling. He opens up about loss, fatherhood, and the spiritual vacuum left by a nonreligious upbringing. There’s a gentleness to how he lays out his path toward Deism. There's no lecturing, no dogma, just a guy trying to make sense of things. It felt genuine. His curiosity is contagious. I appreciated how he didn’t shy away from emotion, and the way he wove historical facts about figures like Jefferson and Paine into his story gave his ideas more weight. At times, I found myself highlighting entire paragraphs, not because they were particularly poetic, but because they were refreshingly clear and grounded.

The section on religious survey data, while informative, slowed the momentum. I understand why it's there though, it builds the case that there’s a large audience who might connect with Deism, but I wanted to get back to the philosophy and personal insights because I found them to be the most interesting aspects of the book. The writing style is conversational and accessible, which works well overall, though occasionally it leans into a presentation deck tone. Still, Hagen’s passion for reason and spiritual openness kept me flipping pages.

I found this book to be a thoughtful and hopeful read. It’s ideal for people who feel adrift spiritually but aren’t ready to give up on meaning altogether. I’d recommend it especially to late bloomers, people going through big life transitions, or anyone raising kids and wondering how to pass on values without dogma.

[Ali Ayyaz · Rating 5 out of 5]

An Alternative to Believing in Nothing by SD Hagen is a compelling read in the 21st century, where people are confused between traditional belief in religion, God, and disbelief in the existence of God. It is a thought-provoking source of enlightenment to understand the creator of the entire universe. The author provides the viewpoint of standing in the middle of belief or disbelief.

Whether a person has faith in God or not, this book offers a purpose and meaning that humans can observe existing in our universe and can explore with acquiescence. It is a blend of multiple themes of past science and ways of living life. It helps to believe in God by believing in what exists. The book is well-written to guide people in the U.S on the true meaning of spiritual belief.

[Abdullah Majeed · Rating 4 out of 5]

An Alternative to Believing in Nothing: Deism for the 21st Century by SD Hagen is a thoughtful book that explores a middle path between organized religion and strict materialism. It’s a welcoming read for independent thinkers, seekers, and those who feel caught between faith and skepticism.

I enjoyed the calm and clear tone of this book. It felt like sitting down with a friend who gently walks you through big ideas without trying to convince or convert. It’s especially well-suited for readers interested in spiritual reflection, history, and personal growth through a more open and reason-based approach.

[A Cannady · Rating 5 out of 5]

From a Christian perspective, I was willing to appreciate the writing style, information, logic, and reasoning in this book. "An Alternative to Believing in Nothing" is definitely a must-read for anyone who doesn't already have someplace to put their hopes and morality into. The author uses the old-school ideals found in Deism, which takes the foundation of reason and nature, mixes them with belief in a Creator, and shares how you can have faith without taking on the parts of organized religion that are, let's face it, frequently hypocritical.

[Michele Klawitter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Are you not into organized religion but still think there might be more to the universe? This book might be what you’ve been looking for. It breaks down Deism in a way that’s easy to understand without getting preachy. The writing is clear, and the history bits are surprisingly fun. Great for curious minds who like to question things without getting overwhelmed.

[Julia M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really interesting read! Highly recommend!!