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| '''Theism''' is the belief in the existence of one or more divinities or ]. There is also a narrower sense in which theism refers to the belief that one or more divinities are ] in the world, yet ] it, along with the idea that divinity(s) is/are omniscient, omnipotent and omnipresent.<ref>http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/04679b.htm "Deism", in ''The Catholic Encyclopedia'')</ref> Theism contrasts with ], the state of not believing in deities. | |||
| ⚫ | {{wikiquote}} | ||
| '''Theism''' is the belief that god(s) exist,<ref></ref> and that there is sufficient reason to believe that god(s) exist. | |||
| The term is attested in English from 1678, and was probably coined to contrast with ''atheism'', a term that is attested from ca. 1587 (see ] for details). | |||
| 'Theism' is not an umbrella term for the various words that end with ''-theism''. The concept does not prescribe to any particular understanding of what a "god" is supposed to be, nor does it define any specific relationship or hierarchy vis-à-vis other preternatural concepts (saints, angels, spirits etc). | |||
| ==Divisions by numbers of deities== | |||
| The antonym of 'theism' is ']', of which the most extreme form is ']', which is the lack of belief in god(s),<ref name=KNeilsen>{{cite encyclopedia |first=Kai |last=Nielsen |authorlink=Kai Nielsen |encyclopedia=] |title=Atheism |url=http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9109479/atheism |accessdate=2008-01-16 |quote=…a more adequate characterization of atheism consists in the more complex claim that to be an atheist is to be someone who rejects belief in God for on how God is being conceived. }}</ref> to include the disbelief that god(s) exist<ref>] in the ] defines atheism as "ither the lack of belief in a god, or the belief that there is none."</ref> (or the affirmation of their nonexistence<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |first=William L. |last=Rowe |authorlink=William L. Rowe |encyclopedia=] |title=Atheism |year=1998 |editor=Edward Craig |quote=Atheism is the position that affirms the nonexistence of God. It proposes positive disbelief rather than mere suspension of belief.}}</ref>). The word 'atheism' is also older than 'theism', and is attested from ca. 1587. In contrast, the word 'theism' is first attested in the English language from about 1678, and was probably coined to contrast with 'atheism'. (see ] for details). Today, 'atheism' is but one of several ]. | |||
| ===Monotheism=== | |||
| ] is the belief that there is only one deity. <ref></ref> | |||
| * 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 ] 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 ]s, and the Hindu denomination of ] (which regards the worship of anyone other than ] as incorrect) are examples of exclusive monotheism. | |||
| ===Polytheism=== | |||
| There are several different—but not necessarily mutually exclusive—approaches to theism, all within the framework of ]: | |||
| ] is the belief that there is more than one deity.<ref></ref> In practice, polytheism is not just the belief that there are multiple gods; it usually includes belief in the existence of a specific ] of distinct deities. | |||
| Within polytheism there are ''hard'' and ''soft'' varieties: | |||
| * ], that god(s) are the cause of existence (because everything that exists has a cause, and existence could not have caused itself). Consequently, god(s) exist outside the temporality of existence, and are thus ]. | |||
| * ] views the gods as being distinct and separate beings; an example of this would be ancient ]. | |||
| * ] views the gods as being subsumed into a greater whole. Most forms of ] serve as examples of soft polytheism. | |||
| Polytheism is also divided according to how the individual deities are regarded: | |||
| * ], which can be considered a reaction to classical theism in that it accommodates a degree of uncertainty in the omniscience of the god(s); they know all possible outcomes, but can't predict which will occur. | |||
| *]: The belief that there may be more than one deity, but one is supreme. | |||
| *]: The belief that there may be more than one deity, but only one should be worshiped. | |||
| *]: 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== | |||
| * ], which is either a) the belief in god(s) despite the question of their existence; or b) the belief in god(s) despite not understanding how they work. | |||
| *]: the belief that some god or gods are evil. | |||
| *]: The belief that the physical universe is equivalent to God, and that there is no 'division'.<ref></ref> | |||
| * ], or the concept of personal god(s) and the simultaneous rejection of god(s) of organized religion.<ref>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...''</ref> Deism is based on the ] of a particular ] of the same name that—among very many other issues—questioned the dependency on the inexplicable as "evidence" of the divine. | |||
| *]: Like Pantheism, the belief that the physical universe is joined to God. However, it also believes that God is greater than the universe. | |||
| *]: The belief that man is The Creator. Man and the cosmos are one, thus the will of man is the will of the cosmos and the will of the cosmos is the will of man. | |||
| * ] is the attitude that god(s) exist but are not bound by the dogmatic positions of any particular theology. | |||
| *] is the belief that a god or gods exists, but does not interact with the known universe.<ref></ref>. 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.<ref>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...''</ref> | |||
| **]: The belief that God preceded the universe and created it, but is now equivalent with it. | |||
| **]: The belief that multiple gods existed, but do not intervene with the universe. | |||
| ==References== | ==References== | ||
| {{reflist}} | {{reflist}} | ||
| ==See also== | |||
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| *] | |||
| *] | |||
| {{Theism}} | {{Theism}} | ||
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| ] | ] | ||
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Theism is the belief in the existence of one or more divinities or deities. There is also a narrower sense in which theism refers to the belief that one or more divinities are immanent in the world, yet transcend it, along with the idea that divinity(s) is/are omniscient, omnipotent and omnipresent. Theism contrasts with nontheism, the state of not believing in deities.
The term is attested in English from 1678, and was probably coined to contrast with atheism, a term that is attested from ca. 1587 (see the etymology section of atheism for details).
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 the Hindu denomination of Vaishnavism (which regards the worship of anyone other than Vishnu as incorrect) are examples of exclusive monotheism.
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
- Misotheism: the belief that some god or gods are evil.
- 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.
- Cosmotheism: The belief that man is The Creator. Man and the cosmos are one, thus the will of man is the will of the cosmos and the will of the cosmos is the will of man.
- Deism is the belief that a god or gods exists, but does not interact with the known 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.
References
- http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/04679b.htm "Deism", in The Catholic Encyclopedia)
- AskOxford: monotheism
- AskOxford: polytheism
- Philosophical Dictionary: Pacifism-Particular
- AskOxford: deism
- 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...
