What is God? theism? non-theism?

Question

I ask because people here often use the terms theist, non-theist, and atheism, but there are rarely defined.

For example, I believe in a spiritual reality, in that I tend to feel there is a purpose to the universe, even if it is too vast for us to fully understand what it is. I think Jesus, like the Buddha, was a spiritual guide whose teachings can lead us toward an intuitive and experiential understanding of our place in this cosmic mystery. But I don't believe he was the son of God in the literal sense: I think the idea of a personal God is only a stepping-stone to this deeper understanding.

Is this still a kind of theism? Does theism refer to a belief in a personal God, or in any kind of idea that there may be meaning to the universe? If it's the latter, why is, say, Buddhism considered non-theistic, when it attributes a moral order to the universe in the form of karma and reincarnation (thus implying there is some sort of cosmic design, even if the designer is nameless and remote)?

In general, what definitions do you use, and where do you draw the line?

Answer 1

The question "Who is God?" is a good question. It is better than asking "What is God?" This is because God exists, created us, loves us, is concerned for our being, desires to provide for us, and sent the Son to redeem us. If we were to ask "What is God?" we might be tempted to say that God is the infinite being, the creator, a presence, or something like that.  In some respect, this would be true.  But the first question brings us closer to understanding more of who God really is in His character and His love for us as revealed in the Bible.

     The Bible teaches us that in all existence, from all eternity, there has been and always will be only one God. God was never created, is completely loving, completely just, completely holy, completely merciful, and that He desires the best for us.  God is holy and He can have nothing to do with sin as the Bible says, "His eyes are too pure to look upon evil," (Hab. 1:13). This does not mean that God cannot see what someone does that is wrong. It is a way of describing how holy God is. God cannot sin. He is perfect.  

     In Christianity, God is a Trinity. This means that God is three persons, not three gods. Technically, the doctrine of the Trinity states that in the one God is the person of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Each is not the same person as the other; yet there are not three gods but one. This is similar in analogy to the nature of time. Time is past, present, and future. The past is not the same as the present, which is not the same as the future. But, there are not three times.  There is only one thing called time.  

     The reason the word "person" is used in describing the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit is because each exhibits attributes of personhood -- not in a body of flesh and bones, but in personality.  In other words, each has a will, loves, speaks, is aware of others, communicates with others, etc.  These are attributes of personhood and we see the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit each demonstrate these qualities.

      Because of the Trinity, God can become flesh in the form of the Son, and still exist in such a way so that He can run the universe.  Therefore, the Son can communicate to us on our level.

     Following are a couple verses that hint at the Trinity.

Matt. 28:19, "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit."

2 Cor. 13:14, "The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all."

     The Bible says there is only one God:  "I am the Lord, and there is no other;

Besides Me there is no God," (Isaiah 45:5).  Yet, the Bible teaches that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are each called God.

     Below is a very brief chart that shows that each of the persons in the Trinity share the same attributes that only God shares.  But remember, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit each have wills, and speak, etc.  Therefore, we say there are are three persons.

Answer 2

"What is God" is too nebulous a question to answer here.

Theism is the belief in gods.

Non-theism is the non-belief in gods.  A less awkward way to word it is atheism.

The name for what you believe is deism.  A belief in a kind of spiritual reality but lacking personal gods.

Buddhism is considered a non-theistic or atheistic philosophy because it does not involve any personal gods.  Some believe Buddhism is deistic.  Some believe it's purely atheistic.

This is why I prefer the cut-and-dry atheism of Taoism.  It has all the benefits of Buddhism without any of the ridiculous karma and reincarnation c**p.

Answer 3

What Gos is according to Jesus: "God is a Spirit, and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in Truth.

(John.4:24)

Answer 4

An Atheist is one who lacks belief in a god or gods.

From a strictly philosophical standpoint, a Theist is one who believes in a Creator god with unlimited power and intelligence. From the standpoint of the lay people, it usually refers to anybody who believes in a god(s).

Answer 5

They're not defined because they're in the dictionary. It's assumed you know what they mean, if you don't... look em up. You can't argue the definition of a word, sorry.

Answer 6

Theism = belief in God...

it is an umbrella idea and doesn't specify the details of that belief.

Interesting thoughts on Jesus.... have you read and tried to understand His teachings?  What do you take on His perspective of h**l?

EDIT - I understand your position but I don't agree with the idea of citing Jesus as a reason for it, or as in support of it.  Gnostic ideas come from Gnostics, not the teachings of Christ.

a couple reasons...

... 1 - the writers of the canonical gospels were the followers of Jesus, they sat under his tutelage for 3 1/2 years.  Jesus himself commisioned them to go and spread the gospel, showing that He had confidence in their understanding of it.

... 2 - Jesus was a Jew... He endorsed the Jewish cannon (Law, prophets, writings).  This establishes many beliefs about God and man.

... 3 - it is only when you start with a group of presupossitions that are different than those of the Old Testament that a person would be able to allegorize all that Jesus said.

Sir, you are obviously intelligent, and you have some researched beliefs, but please recognize that, if you were to sit at a table in first century earth with Jesus and have a talk with Him about your opinions of h**l and heaven and sin and judgment and forgiveness and salvation, that He and you would not agree.