[js1138]

I agree with that, but I believe Newton denied being a Deist. He had his own personal brand of heresy, one that he distanced from his public life.

But Newton’s foibles are of little interest to me. Scientists of his time followed the evidence and expected the evidence to confirm the history of the universe according to Moses.

The split between religion and science began when the evidence diverged from this expectation, and science continued following the evidence.

[Fester Chugabrew]

To the extent the present universe demonstrates order and design the evidence is in favor of intelligent design. Science is free to use intelligent design as a foundation for its pursuit in learning how this created, intelligently designed universe works, and has done so on this basis for a much longer time than those who would foist the philosophy of materialistic naturalism upon the scene.