Theism

Theism (from Greek Θεϊσμός, theismos) is used in two meanings: Primarily it is the belief in gods or goddesses. The word originated in Ancient Greece and signified belief in the traditional gods, the Olympians.

It can also mean the belief in God, a god, or gods, who is/are actively involved in maintaining the Universe.This secondary meaning is shown in context to other beliefs concerning the divine, below:

The primary meaning sees four major views of the role of the divine in the world in this context:

deism, the view that God created the world but does not interact with it; emphasis on deities' transcendence
theism,(second definition), the view that God is immanent in the world, yet transcends it;
panentheism, the view that the world is entirely contained within God, while at the same time God is something greater than just the world.
pantheism, the view that the world is identical to God; emphasis on deities' immanence

Within the primary meaning of theism there can be differentiated a number of quantative definitions:

polytheism (there are several gods)
monotheism (there is only God)

Within Polytheism there are �Hard� and �Soft� varieties. Hard polytheism views the gods as being distinct and separate beings, Soft polytheism views the gods as being subsumed into a greater whole.

Within Polytheism a number of attitudes to the worship of the gods can be discerned.

monolatry (there are several gods, but only one of them is worshipped)
henotheism (several gods are worshipped, but one is seen as supreme)
kathenotheism (worship of one god at a time, seeing each as supreme in turn)

Within monotheism there are exclusive and inclusive forms. Exclusive monotheism can be monistic (Judaism, Islam), dualistic (Parsis/Zoroastrian) and pluralistic (Christianity). Some forms of Hinduism and Neopaganism could be considered Inclusive monotheism.

Finally, we can make the distinction between belief in gods' existences and assertions about their benevolence:

theophilia says that deities are good and worthy of our worship and devotion
maltheism says that the evidence contradicts the notion that deities are good, and thus not worthy of our worship and devotion

Typical theistic religions are Zoroastrianism, Saivism, Vaishnavism, Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Bah�'�, and Sikhism.

Compare: Atheism, Agnosticism

Theism

See also