theism

[thee-iz-uh m]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR theism ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

the belief in one God as the creator and ruler of the universe, without rejection of revelation (distinguished from deism).

belief in the existence of a god or gods (opposed to atheism).

Origin of theism

First recorded in 1670–80; the- + -ism

Related formsthe·ist

[thee-ist] /ˈθi ɪst/, noun, adjectivethe·is·tic, the·is·ti·cal, adjectivethe·is·ti·cal·ly, adverbnon·the·is·tic, adjectivenon·the·is·ti·cal, adjectivenon·the·is·ti·cal·ly, adverbun·the·is·tic, adjectiveun·the·is·ti·cal, adjectiveun·the·is·ti·cal·ly, adverb

Can be confusedatheist deist theist

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for theism

dogma, creed, belief, doctrine, faith, conviction, denomination, religion, sect, church, teaching, principle, credo, piety, revelation, confession, profession, tenet, piousness, connection

Examples from the Web for theism

Contemporary Examples of theism

“Maybe we need a new category other than theism, atheism or agnosticism that takes paradox and unknowing into account,” he writes.
Frank Schaeffer, the Atheist Who Believes in God
Nick Tabor
August 3, 2014
But his theism does clarify some of the tension between his work and popular atheism.
People Are Born with Religious Belief Argues New Book
Jesse Singal
March 28, 2012

Historical Examples of theism

It is theism, in its purest as in its impurest shape, that the writer condemns.
Diderot and the Encyclopdists
John Morley
It simply has no more to do with Theism than the first book of Euclid has.
The Life and Letters of Charles Darwin, Volume I (of II)
Charles Darwin
Theism is the easiest of all religions to get, but the most difficult to keep.
Natural Law in the Spiritual World
Henry Drummond
In work after work dealing with theism one looks in vain for some definition of "God."
Theism or Atheism
Chapman Cohen
Honestly to be of service to theism the God established must be a person.
Theism or Atheism
Chapman Cohen

British Dictionary definitions for theism

theism

noun

the form of the belief in one God as the transcendent creator and ruler of the universe that does not necessarily entail further belief in divine revelationCompare deism

the belief in the existence of a God or godsCompare atheism

Word Origin for theism

C17: from Greek theos god + -ism

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for theism

"belief in a deity," 1670s; see theist. Meaning "belief in one god" (as opposed to polytheism) is recorded from 1711.