Theism
Theism is, broadly, belief in God. It is the position that atheism denies.[1] In philosophy the word usually means something more precise: belief in a God who acts in the world and reveals himself to it.[1]
Defining theism
The philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein doubted that religious words like this can be given sharp definitions. On one reading, "theism" may be a family-resemblance term: the things it covers overlap in many ways without all sharing one defining feature.[1]
J. Adam Carter nonetheless offers a sharper definition. Theists, unlike deists, hold that God acts in the world and reveals himself to it. Deism, by contrast, accepts a creator but denies that God interferes or reveals himself.[1]
Classical theism
Classical theism adds a set of attributes: God is an all-powerful, all-knowing and perfectly good creator. This is the God of Christianity, Judaism and Islam as philosophers usually discuss them.[1] A common philosophical definition, associated with Richard Swinburne, also calls God necessary, eternal and free.[2]
These attributes create some of the biggest puzzles in the philosophy of religion. The best known is the problem of evil: how an all-good and all-powerful God can allow suffering.[3]
Rethinking theism
Recent philosophers have asked whether theism must take the classical form.
- Ananthropocentric theism. Tim Mulgan argues that the most plausible theism need not be "benevolent theism". He proposes a morally perfect creator with no special interest in humans, which he says keeps fine-tuning arguments for God while dissolving the problem of evil.[2]
- A reply. Fiona Ellis argues that Mulgan's "generic theism" distorts what Christians, Jews and Muslims actually believe, and defends an "expansive naturalism" that leaves room for a loving God.[4]
- Is God morally perfect? Mark C. Murphy argues that being all-powerful, all-knowing, perfectly rational and free does not by itself give God reasons to promote creatures' good. In his words, "Moral perfection is not among the excellences of God."[5]
- Panpsychotheism. Paul Draper combines merotheism, the idea that God is a proper part of nature, with monopsychism, the idea that there is only one mind. The result is a theism friendly to naturalism. Draper says he aims only to show it is not obviously false.[6]
Theism and its neighbours
Carter asks whether theism and atheism are totally opposed. He notes that atheism can be strong, rejecting God's existence, or weak, simply not believing.[1] Other positions that sit beside theism include agnosticism, pantheism, deism and polytheism.[7][8][9]
See also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Pritchard, Duncan; Harris, Mark (2017). "Are theism and atheism totally opposed? (J. Adam Carter)". Philosophy, Science and Religion for Everyone. Routledge.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Draper, Paul, ed. (2019). "Alternatives to Benevolent Theism (Tim Mulgan)". Current Controversies in Philosophy of Religion. Routledge.
- ↑ "Evil". Philosophy of Religion A-Z. Palgrave Macmillan. 2016. p. 74.
- ↑ Draper, Paul, ed. (2019). "Chapter 9 (Fiona Ellis)". Current Controversies in Philosophy of Religion. Routledge.
- ↑ Draper, Paul, ed. (2019). "Is an Absolutely Perfect Being Morally Perfect? (Mark C. Murphy)". Current Controversies in Philosophy of Religion. Routledge.
- ↑ Draper, Paul, ed. (2019). "Panpsychotheism (Paul Draper)". Current Controversies in Philosophy of Religion. Routledge.
- ↑ "Agnosticism". Philosophy of Religion A-Z. Palgrave Macmillan. 2016. pp. 5–6.
- ↑ "Pantheism". Philosophy of Religion A-Z. Palgrave Macmillan. 2016. pp. 155–156.
- ↑ "Polytheism". Philosophy of Religion A-Z. Palgrave Macmillan. 2016. p. 168.