teismo

Teismo, or theism, is the belief in the existence of a god or gods who are personally involved in the cosmos and human affairs. It typically contrasts with atheism, which rejects the existence of deities, and with agnosticism, which holds that the existence of deities is unknown or unknowable. Theism encompasses a range of belief systems, including monotheism (the belief in a single deity), polytheism (multiple deities), and more nuanced positions such as henotheism (devotion to one god while acknowledging others) and deism (belief in a creator who does not intervene in the world).

Historically, theism has manifested in various religious traditions. Ancient religions often featured polytheistic theologies, while Judaism, Christianity, and Islam are widely regarded as monotheistic. Hinduism includes monotheistic strands alongside broader polytheistic and pantheistic streams. Theistic belief has been the subject of philosophical argument, with classical proofs for theism (cosmological, teleological, ontological) and critiques from figures such as Hume and Kant that challenge empirical justification or the problem of evil.

In philosophy and theology, theism addresses questions about divine attributes, omnipotence, omniscience, benevolence, revelation, and providence, as well as the compatibility of faith with reason and science. Debates include the problem of evil, the nature of free will, divine foreknowledge, and the possibility of empirical knowledge of the divine.

Today, theistic belief coexists with secular and non-theistic worldviews. In pluralistic societies, theism interacts with other religions, secular ideologies, and science. Some theists also participate in streams such as process theology, theodicy, or liberation theology, reflecting a diversity of interpretations within the broader category of teismo.