Desert Snake
Veteran Member
'Any belief in the existence of a g-d, a deity.'
Is this the definition
Of theism?
Is this the definition
Of theism?
Last edited:
Welcome to Religious Forums, a friendly forum to discuss all religions in a friendly surrounding.
Your voice is missing! You will need to register to get access to the following site features:We hope to see you as a part of our community soon!
'Any belief in the existence of a g-d, a deity.'
Is this the definition
Of theism?
'Any belief in the existence of a g-d, a deity.'
Is this the definition
Of theism?
'Any belief in the existence of a g-d, a deity.'
Is this the definition
Of theism?
A little too brief. I like the Oxford dictionary version: Belief in the existence of a god or gods, specifically of a creator who intervenes in the universe.
This lets the deists off the hook. I might also leave the Buddhists out, but it DOES allow non-theist beliefs to be 'religions,' or 'churches.'
Which allows the idea of atheism (well, certain forms of it, anyway) to be classed as a religion or a church.
Yes. I like that one.
Can we a have vowel please?'Any belief in the existence of a g-d, a deity.'
Is this the definition
Of theism?
Change it from "a deity" to "one or more deities" and I'd say it's close enough.'Any belief in the existence of a g-d, a deity.'
Is this the definition
Of theism?
To me, "deity" is a straight synonym for "god." It seems like you're drawing some sort of difference between the terms; what do you use as the dividing line?My answer is no. Deism is the belief in a deity God, and it is not the same as theism.
I disagree with the "specifically..." bit of that definition. Polytheists and other believers in gods that aren't creator-gods are still theists.A little too brief. I like the Oxford dictionary version: Belief in the existence of a god or gods, specifically of a creator who intervenes in the universe.
This lets the deists off the hook. I might also leave the Buddhists out, but it DOES allow non-theist beliefs to be 'religions,' or 'churches.'
Which allows the idea of atheism (well, certain forms of it, anyway) to be classed as a religion or a church.
Yes. I like that one.
To me, "deity" is a straight synonym for "god." It seems like you're drawing some sort of difference between the terms; what do you use as the dividing line?
To me, "deity" is a straight synonym for "god." It seems like you're drawing some sort of difference between the terms; what do you use as the dividing line?
It doesn't imply that to me at all.Deity implies sentient form.
Like I said to @SalixIncendium , I see the two terms as equivalent: a god is a deity and a deity is a god.Yes, deity would refer to God or Gods plural. The differentiation is Theists believe in an omnipotent deity, Revelation, personal involvement, scripture, and or manifestations of God such as Jesus Christ. Deists believe in a God(s) that Creates, but is not personally involved in Creation.
There are other views of deities in cultures that would not be considered theism. In ancient Chinese cultures there are a pantheon of deities that are very human, and not personally involved in Revelation, and not remotely omnipotent.
Like I said to @SalixIncendium , I see the two terms as equivalent: a god is a deity and a deity is a god.
But I do think it's interesting that while the two of you agree that the terms have different meanings, you've decided that the line should be drawn in opposite ways.