Definition

1. Noun:

   • One who believes in the existence of a god or gods: A person who holds the belief that at least one deity exists.

2. Adjective:

   • Of or relating to theism: Pertaining to the belief in the existence of a god or gods.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:

  • As a theist, she believes in a personal God who answers prayers.
  • The debate featured an atheist arguing against a theist about the origins of the universe.

• Adjective:

  • His theist worldview influenced his approach to ethics and morality.
  • Theist philosophies vary greatly across different cultures and religions.

Advanced Usage

• "Classical theist": A person who believes in a single, omnipotent, omniscient, and benevolent God, as in classical monotheistic religions.

  • Thomas Aquinas is considered a classical theist.

• "Polytheistic theist": A person who believes in the existence of multiple gods.

  • An ancient Greek polytheistic theist would have worshipped Zeus, Athena, and other Olympian gods.

Variants and Related Words

• Theism (n): The belief in the existence of a god or gods.

  • Theism is contrasted with atheism and agnosticism.

• Theistic (adj): Another adjective form meaning of or relating to theism.

  • Theistic arguments often center on the design of the universe.

• Deist (n): A person who believes in a God who created the universe but does not intervene in it. (Note: This is a distinct, related belief system).

  • Unlike a theist, a deist typically does not believe in divine revelation or intervention.

Synonyms

• Believer: One who has religious faith.
• Monotheist: Specifically, a person who believes in one God. (This is a type of theist).

Antonyms

• Atheist: A person who disbelieves or lacks belief in the existence of God or gods.
• Agnostic: A person who believes that the existence of God or the divine is unknown or unknowable.

Adjective

1. of or relating to theism

Noun

1. one who believes in the existence of a god or gods