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Theism, in its most inclusive usage, is the belief in at least one deity. Less inclusive usages specify that the deity believed in be a distinct identifiable entity, thereby contrasted with pantheism. Other narrower usages specify a specific doctrine concerning the nature of the deity believed in, such that it be a single supreme transcendent God that remains an active, immanent force in the universe. This more specific use of the word theism arose in the 18th century to contrast with the then-widely-held deism which contended that a creator deity—though transcendent and supreme—did not intervene in the natural world and could be known rationally but not via revelation.
The term theism was first used by Ralph Cudworth (1617–1688), and was probably coined to contrast with atheism, a term attested from ca. 1587 (see the etymology section of atheism for details).
Theism can be categorized into more particular types, such as monotheism (in which case the word God is capitalized) and polytheism.
lass="link1" onMouseover='showByLink("m1868045",this)' onMouseout='hide("m1868045")'href="http://www.absoluteastronomy.com/topics/Monotheism">Monotheism is the belief that there is only one deity.
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As a theist I believe that God exists and that God creates.
I am neither Jew nor Gentile, Mahomedan nor Theist; I am but a member of the human family.
The theist and the scientist are rival interpreters of nature, the one retreats as the other advances.
Our theism is the purification of the human mind. Man can paint, or make, or think nothing but man. He believes that the great material elements had their origin from his thought.
The only theism worthy of our respect believes in God not because of the way the world is made but in spite of that. The only theism that is no less profound than the Buddha's atheism is that represented in the Bible by Job and Jeremiah.
Encyclopedia
Theism, in its most inclusive usage, is the belief in at least one deity. Less inclusive usages specify that the deity believed in be a distinct identifiable entity, thereby contrasted with pantheism. Other narrower usages specify a specific doctrine concerning the nature of the deity believed in, such that it be a single supreme transcendent God that remains an active, immanent force in the universe. This more specific use of the word theism arose in the 18th century to contrast with the then-widely-held deism which contended that a creator deity—though transcendent and supreme—did not intervene in the natural world and could be known rationally but not via revelation.
The term theism was first used by Ralph Cudworth (1617–1688), and was probably coined to contrast with atheism, a term attested from ca. 1587 (see the etymology section of atheism for details).
Theism can be categorized into more particular types, such as monotheism (in which case the word God is capitalized) and polytheism.
Divisions by numbers of deities
Monotheism
Monotheism is the belief that there is only one deity.
- Inclusive monotheism: The belief that there is only one deity, and that all other claimed deities are just different names for it. The Hindu denomination of Smartism is an example of inclusive monotheism.
- Exclusive monotheism: The belief that there is only one deity, and that all other claimed deities are distinct from it and false — either invented, demonic, or simply incorrect. Most Abrahamic religions, and certain versions of the Hindu denomination of Vaishnavism, such as ISKCON which regard the worship of anyone other than Vishnu as incorrect are examples of exclusive monotheism.
The earliest known form of monotheism still in practice is Judaism.
Polytheism
Polytheism is the belief that there is more than one deity. 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.
Within polytheism there are hard and soft varieties:
- Hard polytheism views the gods as being distinct and separate beings; an example of this would be ancient Greek Mythology.
- Soft polytheism views the gods as being subsumed into a greater whole. Most forms of Hinduism serve as examples of soft polytheism.
Polytheism is also divided according to how the individual deities are regarded:
- Henotheism: The belief that there may be more than one deity, but one is supreme.
- Monolatry: The belief that there may be more than one deity, but only one should be worshiped.
- Kathenotheism: The belief that there is more than one deity, but only one deity at a time should be worshiped. Each is supreme in turn.
Divisions by natures of deities
Forms of pantheism
- Pantheism: The belief that the physical universe is equivalent to God, and that there is no division.
- Panentheism: Like Pantheism, the belief that the physical universe is joined to God. However, it also believes that God is greater than the universe.
Forms of deism
- Deism is the belief that a god or gods exists, created the world, but does/do not alter the original plan for the universe. It typically rejects supernatural events (prophecy, miracles) and divine revelation prominent in organized religion, along with holy books and revealed religions that assert the existence of such things. 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.
- Pandeism: The belief that God preceded the universe and created it, but is now equivalent with it.
- Panendeism combines deism with panentheism, believing the universe is a part (but not the whole) of deity
- Polydeism: The belief that multiple gods existed, but do not intervene with the universe.
Other
- Misotheism: the belief that some god or gods are evil.
See also
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