@916
I know what the dictionary says, but that is what is in question. The dictionary only considers how a word is commonly used. I am showing how belief in a demigod or angel does not constitute theism.
Believing that the demigod or angel exists does not constitute theism. Belief
IN the demigod or angel
DOES constitute theism.
What is a "god" aside from the supreme being?
That depends on what religion or culture a person is from. A "god" does not have to be a supreme being. A "god" does not have to be a "supreme being" in order to be worshipped. Again, I cite the ancient egyptians and their belief in many "gods". You have the cult of Isis who were devoted to her and worshipped her, yet she was not the supreme god in in heirarchy.
It is merely a living entity that has some amount of power within the universe.
On, the surface, yes a god can be a living entity with some amount of power. A god does not have to be living. You can worship a car or money, and that is your god. Am, I talking about you bowing down to the car and praising its tailpipe? No, but you can become so involved in it that it takes precedent over everything in your life.
So are people who believe in aliens also theists?
If they worship the aliens they are theists (btw some people actually do this.) I think where the problem lies is some of you are still not grasping the difference of "believe in" or "belief in", so I'll do a simple clarification.
Believe in/Belief in may be one of two things. It may be you believe something exists, OR it may be you believe in something as in you WORSHIP it. I believe in devils and demons. I believe they EXIST. That does NOT make me a theist because I do not WORSHIP devils and demons. I believe IN God. I believe God exists, and I WORSHIP God. Therefore, since I worship God and believe God exists I am a theist.
And we don't even have to take it to that level. If you believe that Sai Baba really materializes ash and gold chains from his palms, does that make you a theist?
If I believe that Sai Baba exists and I devote myself to Sai Baba I am a theist. If I have no devotion to Sai Baba, but I believe he exists I am not a theist.
You see, the definition becomes blurry.
No, the definition is very simple, and theism and devotion go hand in hand.
Someone simply attaches the title "god" or "goddess" onto a being and all of the sudden they are a theist. It is all semantics.
If one WORSHIPS that god or goddess one is a theist. If one does NOT worship the god or goddess, one is not a theist but simply has a belief that these gods or goddesses EXIST.
I am just saying that I have come across problems with definitions in these philosophical conversations. I cannot rationally accept someone who believes in Indra (for example) as being a theist based solely on this.
Again, how does this helping anyone here? I cannot rationally accept reincarnation when it goes against the bible 100%, but do you see me making an issue of it? No. Why, because it does not matter. While I am not taking away from your discussions with others, I am saying they have no weight or value here. I can say I spoke with the pope over the phone but does that make me a catholic? No.
In order for theism to be distinct from atheism it must constitute belief in the Supreme Absolute Truth.
No, this is what you believe or what your religion promotes. One does not have to have a belief in "the Supreme Absolute Truth" to be a theist. As, I have shown before, the egyptians where theists, and many of the theists did NOT worship the Supreme Absolute Truth.
Here's another thing to consider: What of those people who do not believe in a personal God, but they believe in a supreme intelligence? Are they theists or not?
Do they WORSHIP the supreme intelligence or do they simply believe it exists? If they simply believe it exists, I would not call them a theist. I would call them agnostic, but depending on how deeply they believed, they could even be considered gnostic. Now, if the person worshipped this supreme intelligence, I would call that person a theist.
Since theism constitutes belief in God and 'God' implies the Supreme Absolute Truth as having personality, technically one who only believed in an impersonal conception of a supreme intelligence would not be a theist.
No, they would NOT have belief in a "Supreme Absolute Truth", and they would not be a theist because they do not WORSHIP the supreme intelligence as the Supreme Absolute Truth (with personality etc.)
You see, all these things make the dictionary definitions in need of revising.
I agree, but I simply posted it so we can have something to go on. What I am saying that a theist is someone who WORSHIPS a god, and is not sim[ly a person who believes god exists.
If I told everyone I believe in Indra but I take him to be an alien who lives on Indraloka, then I wouldn't be a theist since I am not associating the word "god" with this entity.
You would be a theist if you worshipped him.
It's all nonsense. Indra lives on the Indra-loka and bob smith lives on the earth-loka. Maybe you haven't met Indra to know he exists. Maybe you haven't met bob smith to know he exists. Both of these entities have some amount of power within the universe. Belief in either of them does not constitute theism.
Maybe I need to clarify something I said earlier (if so go ahead and quote me so I can address it), or maybe you just don't get it. What I high lighted in bold is EXACTLY WHAT I AM SAYING. Just because the being exists or a person believes the being exist that does not mean the person is a theist. I am saying a person is a theist when they worship and show devotion (devotion in regards to religious ceremonies, rites, customs, etc) to the deity.
Your mom is a "goddess". Abracadabra, you're a theist. Anyone can attach "god" or "goddess" to a being and become a theist.
And you would be wrong because I do not worship my mother, nor do I show devotion to her in the form of religious activity. If anyone attaches god or goddess to a being and they WORSHIP that being that person is a theist. Are they worshipping the correct thing? No, does it go on? Yes.
"God" must be clearly defined as the Supreme Being otherwise there is no meaning to belief in a god to contrast what constitutes an atheist.
No, God does not need to be defined as such, because you have people who do not believe in a Supreme Being, yet they worship the beings, and atheist believe that the beings they worship do not exist. An athiest does not believe that gods or goddesses exist, and an athiest does not have belief in a god or goddess. One can use a general term (such as god or goddess) and it is still applicable. At the end of the day, an athiest WON'T believe it exists, nor will an atheist worship it.
Remember, the definition you cited from dictionary.com stated, "belief in the existence of a god or gods". In any case, you may believe in your mom; now all you have to do is attach the title of "goddess" to her. Not even belief in the Devil makes one a theist in the same way a devotion for bob smith doesn't constitute theism.
If I believe my mom is a goddess and I worship her I am a theist. If I believe in bob smith and worship him I am a theist. If I believe the devil is god and I worship him I am a theist. In EACH case I am WRONG (because I should be worshipping God Almighty), but I am still a theist. Why? Because I believe they exist AND I worship them.
Theism, as it should be understood, constitutes a philosophical concept; that of a supreme being.
This is your personal
opinion, and since theism and philosophy are not exclusive to each other, you cannot say for a FACT that theism, as it should be understood, constitutes a philisophical concept in regards to a
SOLE supreme being.
This semi-powerful-god, pseudo-theism sentiment is just a waste of time. In conversation I have found it necessary to make this distinction.
What you find necessary (or unecessary) in a convo makes no difference to me, bro.
Here is an easy distinction; Theism: worship and devotion to a god or gods.
I am not talking about believing that bob smith is god, but that he is a god.
Belief that bob smith is
a god does not mean you are a theist.
am not considering bob smith as the supreme God
But if you were WORSHIPPING bob smith what would you be considering him as?
I am considering him simply as a god.
And this does not make you a theist.
Actually, it is not because people do NOT understand this.
I'm a god, you're a god... makes no difference.
Only ONE God exists, I am not him. I am an extension of him. I am in him and he is in me, but I am NOT him. I can NEVER be him. I will NEVER be him. I am NOT greater than the creator. A vase or pot is not greater than the hands that molded it from clay.
This material nature can be (and is in what I follow) considered a goddess since it is God who impregnates her with the living entities. Although belief in the material universe and nature does not make one a theist. If it does, then everyone is a theist since everyone (I assume) believes in the universe. Atheists who believe in material nature distinguish themselves by rejecting the existence of a supreme God.
Belief in the universe would not make you a theist. Worship of the universe WOULD make you a theist (and some people DO worship the universe.)
Those so-called polytheists who believe in various incarnations of the One Supreme God are actually monotheists.It is simply a matter of how you understand the nature of God's oneness.
They can be considered as such.
Some Christians believe in a trinity concept.
(emphasis mine)
Everyone take note. This is
ALL x-raided had to do when he made his comments about "christians" and what they believed in. He did NOT have to make a paragraph, he did NOT have to write a novel.
That means that although God is one, He exists in different capacities. He is the Supreme Father, localized in Heaven, and He is also the all-pervasive Holy Spirit.
But the problem comes from people who believe trinitarians worship three gods, and another problem comes from people who believe God exist in ONE capacity but changed it three different times.
Variegatedness does not compromise oneness. Even if you don't believe in the trinity principle, would you be the one to limit God by saying that He hasn't the ability to manifest before you in Personal form?
God can manifest himself in whatever form he wishes. He can manifest himself in the form of a creature called a humilfugido (whatever that is) or he can manifest himself as bob smith. I can't place limits like that on God, and I wouldn't try to.
He can come in Personal form and He will still be all-pervasive. It is not that God takes up one feature and the other feature disappears. God can Personally manifest on earth and still remain in His eternal spiritual abode. God is one, but His oneness is omnipotent. We should not presume to think His oneness is like our limited oneness.
I agree with this 100%
As for those polytheists who believe in a supreme God and entirely different "deities" as well, these are not polytheists since they only believe in one Supreme God.
No, they are polytheist since they believe in and worship several gods.
Just go back to my reasoning about what constitutes a theist. Also, belief in "gods" is no different than belief in "angels".
Your reasoning is not valid, because you're simply saying if one believes in an absolute truth one is a theist. I am saying a theist is someone who WORSHIPS the god or goddess (and because they worship them it is only natrual to believe they exist.)
Also, belief in "gods" is no different than belief in "angels". It is simply a matter of label. Christians believe in angels through their being closely associated with God. Angels work for God. Therefore according to your reasoning, Christians are polytheist.
WRONG! Because "christians" do not WORSHIP the angels. They worship GOD. I'll show you how you are not paying attention to what I am typing,
Pay attention to what I have previously said:
Belief that the gods exist is simply believing that beings with some type of power in the universe exist. Most christians believe the Devil exists. Do they believe IN the devil meaning they WORSHIP him or are devoted to him? No. They have a belief in God.
Take out each word in bold and replace it with angels. This is what you get when you do so:
Belief that the angels exist is simply believing that beings with some type of power in the universe exist. Most christians believe angels exists. Do they believe IN angels meaning they WORSHIP angels or are devoted to angels? No. They have a belief in God.
With that being said how is my reasoning implying that christians are polythiest for believing angels exist? Here is more proof that you don't understand what I am typing:
You believe that Bob smith is god and you worship or devote yourself to him you have a belief in him. If you simply believe he has some amount of power you simply believe he has some amount of power.
and this is taken from page 2 (it is a response to comrade 206)
A buddhist may believe that Buddah existed, but how many believe IN buddah? Muslims believe that mohammad existed, but they do not believe IN him. If you believe IN God, you WORSHIP God. If you have NO belief IN God you do not WORSHIP God. What you are failing to grasp is I am making a distinction between believing IN a diety and simply believing a diety exists. Take the ancient followers of Ra for example. They believed IN Ra, and while they knew of Isis or Osiris and had a belief of them/believed they existed, they ultimately believed in Ra which is who they worshipped or who they were devoted to.
With that being said think about what I am saying before you actually respond to it, because I just proved that you are misinterprenting what I have typed (although I have made it as clear as day.)
These "gods" are simply angels. Same concept, different label.
But when one worships angels (which is forbidden) one has become a theist (or polytheist depending on how many were worshipped.)