Theism, in the field of comparative religion, is the belief that at least one deity exists.
In popular parlance, the term theism often describes the classical conception of God
that is found in Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Sikhism and Hinduism.
The term theism derives from the Greek theos meaning "god".
The term theism was first used by Ralph Cudworth.
In Cudworth's definition, they are "strictly and properly called Theists, who affirm, that
a perfectly conscious understanding being, or mind, existing of itself from eternity,
was the cause of all other things".
Atheism is rejection of theism in the broadest sense of theism; i.e. the rejection of belief
that there is even one deity.
Rejection of the narrower sense of theism can take forms such as deism, pantheism, and
polytheism.
The claim that the existence of any deity is unknown or unknowable is agnosticism.
The positive assertion of knowledge, either of the existence of gods or the absence of
gods, can also be attributed to some theists and some atheists.
Put simply, theism and atheism deal with belief, and agnosticism deals with rational claims
to asserting knowledge.
Types Monotheism
Monotheism is the belief in theology that only one deity exists.
Some modern day monotheistic religions include Zoroastrianism, Christianity, Islam, Judaism,
Baha'i Faith, Sikhism, Eckankar and some forms of Hinduism.
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 certain schools of Hinduism as well as Hellenismos.
Soft polytheism views the gods as being subsumed into a greater whole.
Some other forms of Hinduism such as Smartism/Advaita Vedanta serve as examples of soft polytheism.
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.
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.
Pantheism and panentheism
Pantheism: The belief that the physical universe is equivalent to a god or gods, and that there
is no division between a Creator and the substance of its creation.
Examples include many forms of Saivism.
Panentheism: Like Pantheism, the belief that the physical universe is joined to a god or
gods.
However, it also believes that a god or gods are greater than the material universe.
Examples include most forms of Vaishnavism.
Some people find the distinction between these two beliefs as ambiguous and unhelpful, while
others see it as a significant point of division.
Deism
Deism is the belief that at least one deity exists and created the world, but that the
creator(s) does/do not alter the original plan for the universe.
Deism typically rejects supernatural events 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.
Pandeism: The belief that a god preceded the universe and created it, but is now equivalent
with it.
Panendeism combines deism with panentheism, believing the universe is a part of deity
Polydeism: The belief that multiple gods existed, but do not intervene in the universe.
Autotheism
Autotheism is the viewpoint that, whether divinity is also external or not, it is inherently
within 'oneself' and that one has a duty to become perfect.
This can be in a selfless way, a way following the implications of statements attributed
to ethical, philosophical, and religious leaders.
Autotheism can also refer to the belief that one's self is a deity, within the context
of subjectivism.
This is a fairly extreme version of subjectivism, however.
Value-judgment theisms 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.
Misotheism is the belief that a deity exists, but is wholly malicious.
See also
Animism Atheism
Deism Ietsism
Liberal theism Nontheistic religions
Open theism Theistic evolution
Āstika and nāstika Notes
External links