MALTHEISM Meaning and
Definition
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Maltheism is a philosophical or religious concept that posits the existence of a deity or deities who are fundamentally malicious or evil. Derived from the combination of the Latin term "mal-" meaning "bad" or "evil" and theism, which refers to the belief in the existence of a higher power, maltheism represents a belief system that perceives the divine being as malevolent or harmful.
Maltheism challenges the traditional notion of a benevolent or good-natured god commonly associated with conventional religious practices. It asserts that the divine entity deliberately inflicts suffering, pain, or destruction upon humanity and the world at large. In other words, maltheism rejects the idea of a loving or compassionate supreme being and instead ascribes negativity or ill-intent to the divine entity.
Followers of maltheism may believe that the malevolent nature of the deity exists due to reasons such as an inherent sadistic desire for human suffering, a result of their frustration with inherent flaws in creation, or a calculated intention to cause harm. This belief system provides an alternative perspective to more optimistic religious or spiritual ideas and offers a framework to understand and interpret the existence of evil and suffering in the world.
Etymology of MALTHEISM
The word "maltheism" is a term that was coined relatively recently, but its etymology can be traced back to two root words: "mal-" and "theism".
1. "Mal-" is a prefix derived from Latin and means "bad" or "evil". It is commonly used to convey something negative or harmful. Some other words that feature the "mal-" prefix include malevolent, malice, malignant, etc.
2. "Theism" is derived from the Greek word "theos", meaning "god". It refers to the belief in the existence of a god or gods, or the worship of a divine being. Theism is often used as a suffix in words related to different beliefs in deities, such as monotheism, polytheism, pantheism, etc.
