Teisti

Teisti is a term used in Finnish to describe a person who believes in the existence of one or more deities. In religious studies, theism refers to belief in a personal deity or deities who may intervene in the world, as opposed to atheism (the belief that no deities exist) or agnosticism (the view that the existence of God cannot be known). The word teisti corresponds to the English theist and is formed from teismi, theism, with the agent suffix -isti.

Theists can be monotheists, who worship a single god, or polytheists, who accept multiple gods. They may hold a range of views about the nature of God, revelation, and divine action, from traditional doctrinal positions to more flexible or diverse formulations. Some theists claim exclusive truth about their deity, while others are open to multiple religious paths or to non-interventionist conceptions of divinity, such as deism.

In Finland and other parts of Europe, the term teisti is used in surveys, religious education, and public discourse to categorize personal belief. The category is often contrasted with atheism and agnosticism, but within the broader spectrum of theism there is substantial diversity in belief, practice, and affiliation. Theism itself is also discussed in philosophical contexts, including debates about the nature of God, the problem of evil, and theories of divine action.

See also: atheism, agnosticism, theism, deism, monotheism, polytheism.