Ralph Cudworth used the specific term theism for the first time in 1678 within his book The True Intellectual System of the Universe. He defined true theists as those who affirm a perfectly conscious understanding being existing from eternity caused all other things.
Major religions such as Christianity, Judaism, and Islam embody classical theistic traditions today while Sufism represents a form of classical theism found within Islamic theology. Vaishnavism serves the same role in Hinduism and Platonism also contributes to these classical theistic frameworks through its philosophical approach to divinity.
Joseph Raphson coined the term pantheism in 1697 to describe belief that reality equals divinity. Baruch Spinoza popularized pantheistic thought through his book Ethics published in the 17th century while Giordano Bruno expressed similar ideas during the 16th century as both philosopher and cosmologist.
Agnostic theism combines personal belief in deities with acceptance that their existence remains fundamentally unknowable. Non-theism describes belief in no gods or god distinct from atheism which most define as non-existence of gods goddesses and messiahs.
The 2020 Philpapers survey of professional philosophers found 18.64% accepted or leaned towards theism while 66.72% accepted or leaned towards atheism. This data reflects contemporary academic attitudes regarding belief in deities among trained thinkers.