Teistum

Teistum is a term that may appear in some Estonian-language texts to denote theism or the act of becoming a theist. It is not a standard or widely used word in contemporary Estonian; the common noun for belief in a deity is teism (theism) and the verb form to become a theist is teistuma. As a result, teistum is typically found only in historical, etymological, or rare/poetic contexts.

Etymologically, teistum appears to be formed from the stem teist- meaning “theist” with a nominal suffix such as -um, a pattern visible in older or more technical linguistic formations. Because it is not a productive or common modern form, its exact sense can vary by text and author. In most modern writings, authors would instead use teism or the phrase teistuma to convey related ideas.

In practice, if teistum is encountered, it generally refers to either the state of theism (the belief in one or more gods) or the process of adopting theistic belief, depending on the surrounding language and the author’s intention. Given its rarity, readers are advised to examine the immediate context or consult lexicographic sources for precise usage in a given work.

See also: theism, teism, teismus, atheism, agnosticism, religious philosophy.