Difference between revisions of "Theism"
(atheism doesn't always "oppose", sometimes it just rejects) |
(Deism does not always mean abandonment, some Deists think God only observes) |
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The opposite of theism is [[atheism]], which rejects and often actively opposes belief in God. There is also [[agnosticism]], which is a lack of belief either way. | The opposite of theism is [[atheism]], which rejects and often actively opposes belief in God. There is also [[agnosticism]], which is a lack of belief either way. | ||
| − | Variations of theism include [[polytheism]] (many gods, contrasted to [[monotheism]], one god), [[pantheism]] (all is God), [[panentheism]] (all is in God), and depending who you ask, [[deism]] (God made the Universe but then | + | Variations of theism include [[polytheism]] (many gods, contrasted to [[monotheism]], one god), [[pantheism]] (all is God), [[panentheism]] (all is in God), and depending who you ask, [[deism]] (God made the Universe but then ceased to interact with it), [[polydeism]] (many Gods made the Universe but then abandoned it), [[pandeism]] (God made the Universe by becoming it), and [[panendeism]] (God made the Universe by partially becoming it). Some do not consider the deistic variations to relate to theism at all because they refer to an absent God (although the God of pandeism and panendeism is immanent, but non-interfering). |
Variations of polytheism include [[monolatry]] (belief in many Gods, but worship of only one), [[henotheism]] (belief in many Gods of which one is supreme), and [[kathenotheism]] (belief in many Gods, but worship of only one at a time, because one is supreme at a time). | Variations of polytheism include [[monolatry]] (belief in many Gods, but worship of only one), [[henotheism]] (belief in many Gods of which one is supreme), and [[kathenotheism]] (belief in many Gods, but worship of only one at a time, because one is supreme at a time). | ||
[[Category:Religion]] | [[Category:Religion]] | ||
Revision as of 00:53, August 30, 2007
Theism is the belief in a Deity or deities. According to the Catholic Encyclopedia, theism more narrowly means belief in a deity that is both immanent in the world, but also transcendent, and is also omniscient, omnipotent and omnipresent.[1]
The opposite of theism is atheism, which rejects and often actively opposes belief in God. There is also agnosticism, which is a lack of belief either way.
Variations of theism include polytheism (many gods, contrasted to monotheism, one god), pantheism (all is God), panentheism (all is in God), and depending who you ask, deism (God made the Universe but then ceased to interact with it), polydeism (many Gods made the Universe but then abandoned it), pandeism (God made the Universe by becoming it), and panendeism (God made the Universe by partially becoming it). Some do not consider the deistic variations to relate to theism at all because they refer to an absent God (although the God of pandeism and panendeism is immanent, but non-interfering).
Variations of polytheism include monolatry (belief in many Gods, but worship of only one), henotheism (belief in many Gods of which one is supreme), and kathenotheism (belief in many Gods, but worship of only one at a time, because one is supreme at a time).