Final answer:
In Theism, God is typically regarded as personal, in contrast to more abstract or impersonal notions of deity found in Deism, Pantheism, or Panentheism. Di-polar theism suggests a God with both omnipotence and the capacity for persuasion. However, traditional Theism faces problems reconciling divine attributes with the existence of evil and human freedom.
Step-by-step explanation:
In Theism, a common belief is that God is personal, contrary to what?
Within the framework of Theism, a significant belief is the concept of a personal God. This idea is juxtaposed with more abstract or impersonal notions of deity, such as those found in Deism, Pantheism, or Panentheism. A personal God is one who is involved in the lives of individuals, hears prayers, and has a relationship with believers, which contrasts with the impersonal force or essence often associated with other worldviews.
The concept of bipolar theism expands on this by suggesting that defining God's perfection might encompass seemingly contradictory traits.
Rather than a God exerting absolute control, a perfect deity might allow room for persuasion and freedom, blending omnipotence with a more nuanced approach to influencing creation.
There are, however, problems with traditional Theism, such as the issue of reconciling the existence of evil with an all-good deity, the coherence of a spiritual being causing material effects, and conflicts between divine omniscience and human freedom. These contradictions have historically pushed some towards Atheism or Agnosticism.
It's essential to understand that each religious tradition presents its unique interpretation of the divine. In the West, the Judeo-Christian-Islamic tradition emphasizes attributes like omniscience and omnipotence, while grappling with the problem of evil and other theological challenges. Yet, how individuals conceive of God within these traditions can vary significantly.
The diversity of religious beliefs includes Pantheism, where God is seen as identical with the universe, and Polytheism, which posits the existence of many gods. Agnosticism maintains that the existence of a god or gods cannot be known for sure.
Moreover, the Christian notion of the Holy Trinity, and the multifaceted expressions of Hindu deities, illustrate the complexities in categorizing religious beliefs strictly as monotheistic or polytheistic.
Concepts like Animism and Totemism reflect the broad spectrum of how the divine is experienced and understood across different cultures and traditions.