eutheism

English

Etymology

Nonce-coinage from eu- +‎ theism (as antonym of dystheism) Attestation in a 1998 theology lecture [1]. Humorous attestation on Usenet in 2002[2].

Noun

eutheism (uncountable)

1. The belief that there is a god, and that this god is benevolent.

   Antonyms: dystheism, maltheism

   Hypernym: theism

   Coordinate terms: atheism, antitheism, igtheism, misotheism, pantheism, transtheism

   • 2007 May 21, Jeckyl, “Ignorance and Delusion”, in alt.religion.christian (Usenet), message-ID <46522860$0$4607$61c65585@un-2park-reader-01.sydney.pipenetworks.com.au>:

     […] many of them still believe god exists, but that he has let them down and so they keep their belief in his existence, but no longer worship him (and even hate him). ie rather than switching to atheism, they switch from eutheism to dystheism (although they may incorrectly call themselves atheist).

   • 2013, David H. Schraub, "Our Divine Constitution", 44 Loyola University Chicago Law Journal 1201 (2013)

     Protest theology rejects the often axiomatic assumption that God is always good or just (eutheism). More to the point, it holds that the eutheistic outlook not only stunts our ability to have a true, meaningful relationship with God, but that the theological contortions it demands also cause us to miss several important themes and lessons latent in the Hebrew Bible.

   • 2019, Cometan, The Duodoxy: The Principles of The Logical Cosmos, page 254:

     Dystheism revolves around “the belief that a god, goddess, or singular God is not wholly good (eutheism) as is commonly believed (such as in the monotheistic religions of Christianity and Judaism), and is possibly evil.”

Anagrams

• hemusite