theism

/ˌθiˈɪzəm/

Other forms: theisms

Use the noun theism to describe the belief in at least one god. Practicing Catholics, for example, subscribe to theism.

If you believe that God created the universe, you believe in theism. Its opposite is atheism, which means not believing in any god or higher spiritual power. There are different types of theism, such as monotheism, which is belief in only one god, and polytheism, belief in more than one god. The root of theism is the Greek word theos, or "god." English philosopher Ralph Cudworth was the first to use the term theism, in the 1600s.

Definitions of theism

1. noun

   the doctrine or belief in the existence of a God or gods
   antonyms:

   atheism

   the doctrine or belief that there is no God

   types:

   monotheism

   belief in a single God

   polytheism

   belief in multiple gods

   pantheism

   the doctrine or belief that God is the universe and its phenomena (taken or conceived of as a whole) or the doctrine that regards the universe as a manifestation of God

   pantheism

   (rare) worship that admits or tolerates all gods

   tritheism

   (Christianity) the heretical belief that the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit are three separate gods

   Judaism

   the monotheistic religion of the Jews having its spiritual and ethical principles embodied chiefly in the Torah and in the Talmud

   Islam, Islamism, Mohammedanism, Muhammadanism, Muslimism

   the monotheistic religious system of Muslims founded in Arabia in the 7th century and based on the teachings of Muhammad as laid down in the Koran

   type of:

   faith, religion, religious belief

   a strong belief in a supernatural power or powers that control human destiny