is this theism or atheism?

[Eddi]

I believe in a thing which is absolute, a kind of self-existent unmoved mover which is why there is something rather than nothing

I call this "The Monad"

I think it may or may not be conscious (whatever that means.....) but I don't think it has a personality or an organised mental life however I think Jesus Christ and The Holy Spirit emanate from it and that each of these do have a mental life of some sort

I haven't yet figured out what exactly I believe yet or how exactly the different pieces fit together.....

But is this theism or atheism?

I mean it's not anthropomorphic like the God of Abraham, and I wouldn't go about describing it by calling it omni-this and omni-that, which is how Theists describe their God as these would be personal qualities and I don't believe it is personal

However, my beliefs involve beings who basically do much of what Theists say that God does and I believe these exist and do things........

I'm deeply confused so any help would be much appreciated

I'm hoping that @ChristineM and @Rival will be able to please help me here!

 

[SalixIncendium]

Theism.

 

[Eddi]

Theism.

That's what I was leaning more towards

I was thinking perhaps "Theism without God" might cover it?

 

[SalixIncendium]

That's what I was leaning more towards

I was thinking perhaps "Theism without God" might cover it?

If you still believe in "beings who basically do much of what Theists say that God does and I believe these exist and do things," such beings would be considered deities, rendering your beliefs theism regardless of "The Monad."

You didn't say much about "The Monad" in your OP. Why do you believe it exists?

 

[Eddi]

If you still believe in "beings who basically do much of what Theists say that God does and I believe these exist and do things," such beings would be considered deities, rendering your beliefs theism regardless of "The Monad."

OK, thanks for clarifying that for me!

You didn't say much about "The Monad" in your OP. Why do you believe it exists?

I know that there is something rather than nothing (obviously there is!) and there has to be a reason why there is something rather than nothing, that something (existence) has to have a cause - I now call that which is why there is something rather than nothing "The Monad", I believe there is only one of them and that it is absolute and is itself above and beyond causation. So I believe that it exists because existence exists, basically - it's how I explain existence

Does this make sense at your end?

 

[LuisDantas]

It is definitely not atheism. Perhaps deism or panentheism, but not atheism.

 

[Eddi]

It is definitely not atheism. Perhaps deism or panentheism, but not atheism.

Thanks for that!

I had to look panentheism up and in so doing I came across this:

Emanationism - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

I think this is a better fit for what I believe than panentheism is

 

[Eddi]

This is a lot like what I have started to believe in but I have other ideas about some of the details:

Emanationism - Kheper

 

[Evangelicalhumanist]

That's what I was leaning more towards

I was thinking perhaps "Theism without God" might cover it?

No, I think perhaps "theism without identifying God" might be a better description. God is still inherent in your belief.

 

[Eddi]

OK, so my beliefs are Theistic.....

They just aren't Abrahamic

Many thanks to @SalixIncendium @LuisDantas and @Evangelicalhumanist for helping me realise this