Theism

Theism is the belief in the existence of one or more deities. This belief is often accompanied by the belief in divine intervention in the universe and human life. Theism can be classified into various types, such as monotheism, polytheism, pantheism, deism, and henotheism, among others.

Definition and types

Theism is derived from the Greek word theos, meaning "god". The term was first used by Ralph Cudworth in 1678. Theism generally refers to the belief in the existence of a god or gods who are involved in the universe. This distinguishes it from deism, which believes in a creator who does not intervene in the universe.

There are several types of theism:

• Monotheism: The belief in the existence of one god. Examples include Christianity, Islam, and Judaism.
• Polytheism: The belief in the existence of multiple gods. Examples include Hinduism and the ancient Greek and Roman religions.
• Pantheism: The belief that the universe itself is god.
• Deism: The belief in a creator who does not intervene in the universe.
• Henotheism: The belief in one god without denying the existence of other gods.

Theistic philosophies

Various philosophies have been developed around theistic beliefs. These include:

• Classical theism: This philosophy asserts that god is eternal, omnipresent, unchangeable, and unknowable. It is associated with the Abrahamic religions.
• Open theism: This philosophy asserts that god is not omniscient, allowing for human free will.
• Process theism: This philosophy asserts that god is not omnipotent, and is affected by temporal processes.

Criticism and defense

Theism has been criticized on various grounds, including the problem of evil, the paradox of omnipotence, and the argument from nonbelief. Defenses of theism include the cosmological argument, the teleological argument, and the moral argument.

See also

• Atheism
• Agnosticism
• Panentheism
• Monotheism
• Polytheism

References

Theism Resources
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