Theism

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Theism is the belief in the existence of god or gods.[1][2]

Etymology[edit]

The term theism is derived from the Greek theos or theoi meaning "god" or "gods". Theism was first used by Ralph Cudworth (1617–1688).[3] I

Types of theism[edit]

Monotheism[edit]

Monotheism (from Greek μόνος) is the belief in that only one god exists.[4] Some modern day monotheistic religions include Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Baháʼí Faith, Sikhism, Zoroastrianism, Arya samaj (hinduism) and Eckankar.

Polytheism[edit]

Polytheism is the belief that there are more than just one god.[5] In practice, polytheism is not just the belief that there are multiple gods; it usually includes belief in the existence of a specific pantheon of distinct deities.

Polytheism is also divided according to how the individual deities are regarded:

  • Henotheism: The viewpoint/belief that there may be more than one deity, but only one of them is worshiped. Zoroastrianism is an example.
  • Kathenotheism: The viewpoint/belief that there is more than one deity, but only one deity is worshiped at a time or ever, and another may be worthy of worship at another time or place. If they are worshiped one at a time, then each is supreme in turn.
  • Monolatrism: The belief that there may be more than one deity, but that only one is worthy of being worshiped. Most of the modern monotheistic religions may have begun as monolatric ones, although this is disputed[citation needed].

Pantheism and panentheism[edit]

  • Pantheism: The belief that the universe is equivalent to god, and that there is no division between a creator and the substance of its creation.[6] The Advaita Vedanta school of Hindu philosophy is an example of this; the philosophy of Baruch Spinoza has historically also been closely identified with this position, though there is some controversy over whether he is in fact better described as a panentheist.
  • Panentheism: Like Pantheism, the belief that the physical universe is joined to a god or gods. However, it also believes that the divine pervades and interpenetrates every part of the universe and also extends beyond time and space. Examples include most forms of Vaishnavism and the philosophies of Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel and Alfred North Whitehead.

The distinction between these two beliefs may be ambiguous and unhelpful, or a significant point of division.[7] Pantheism may be understood a type of Nontheism, where the physical universe takes on some of the roles of a theistic God, and other roles of God viewed as unnecessary.[8]

Since both of these beliefs substitute a god for what are accepted facts of reality they lack any soundness or validity as an argument.

Deism[edit]

  • Deism is the belief that one god exists and created the world, but that the creator does not alter the original plan for the universe, but presides over it in the form of Providence; however, some classical deists did believe in divine intervention.[9]

Deism typically rejects supernatural events (such as prophecies, miracles, and divine revelations) prominent in organized religion. Instead, Deism holds that religious beliefs must be founded on human reason and observed features of the natural world, and that these sources reveal the existence of a supreme being as creator.[10]

  • Pandeism: The belief that God preceded the universe and created it, but is now equivalent with it.
  • Polydeism: The belief that multiple gods exist, but do not intervene in the universe.

Autotheism[edit]

Autotheism is the viewpoint that divinity, whether also external or not, is inherently within 'oneself' and that one has the ability to become godlike. Indian religions like Buddhism and Jainism are Autotheistic. This can be in a selfless way, a way following the implications of statements attributed to ethical, philosophical, and religious leaders (such as Mahavira[11]).

Autotheism can also refer to the belief that one's self is a deity, within the context of subjectivism. Hindus use the term, "aham Brahmāsmi" which means, "I am Brahman".[12]

Joseph Smith, founder of Mormonism, taught a type of Autotheism called Apotheosis, where humans can attain godhood.[13]

Value-judgment theisms[edit]

  • Eutheism is the belief that a deity is wholly benevolent.
  • Dystheism is the belief that a deity is not wholly good, and is possibly evil.
  • Maltheism is the belief that a deity exists, but is wholly malicious.
  • Misotheism is active hatred for God or gods.

Non-theism[edit]

Atheism[edit]

  • Atheism is the lack of belief in gods.

See also[edit]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ "theism," Dictionary.com. Retrieved 2016-10-21.
  2. ^ "theism," Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary. Retrieved 2011-03-18.
  3. ^ Halsey, William; Robert H. Blackburn; Sir Frank Francis (1969). Louis Shores (ed.). Collier's Encyclopedia. Vol. 22 (20 ed.). Crowell-Collier Educational Corporation. pp. 266–7.
  4. ^ “Monotheism”, in Britannica, 15th ed. (1986), 8:266.
  5. ^ "polytheism". AskOxford.
  6. ^ "Philosophical Dictionary: Pacifism-Particular".
  7. ^ "What is Panentheism?". About.Com: Agnosticism/Atheism. Retrieved 2011-03-18.
  8. ^ Levine, Michael P. (1994). Pantheism : a non-theistic concept of deity (1. publ. ed.). London u.a.: Routledge. ISBN 0415070643.
  9. ^ AskOxford: deism
  10. ^ Webster's New International Dictionary of the English Language (G. & C. Merriam, 1924) defines deism as "belief in the existence of a personal god, with disbelief in Christian teaching, or with a purely rationalistic interpretation of Scripture". Although listed as a type of theism, deism is completely different from theism. If anything, theism would be an off-shoot of deism since it takes beliefs a step further to include miracles and divine revelation, with deism being the "base" belief in God.
  11. ^ Jain, Mahavir (1976), "Neutron Experiments at Lampf", Few Body Dynamics, Elsevier, pp. 215–219, doi:10.1016/b978-0-7204-0481-4.50063-0, ISBN 978-0-7204-0481-4, retrieved 2020-11-10
  12. ^ Gurumayum Ranjit Sharma (1987). The Idealistic Philosophy of Swami Vivekananda. Atlantic. p. 180. GGKEY:PSWXE5NTFF4.
  13. ^ An Introduction to Mormonism. p. 79. ISBN 9780521817387. Retrieved 2022-03-16 – via Google Books.