Theological Debates

noun A person who believes in the existence of a God or supreme being but does not follow any specific religious doctrine.

adjective Relating to or characteristic of deism.

• The deist believes in a higher power that created the universe but does not intervene in human affairs.
• My friend considers himself a deist because he believes in a higher power but doesn't follow organized religion.
• Some people think deists are just agnostics who are afraid to admit it.
• Being a deist is like believing in a cosmic clockmaker who set things in motion and then stepped back to watch it all unfold.

noun the belief that all events are already decided and cannot be changed

• The belief in predetermination is a central tenet of many religious faiths.
• Some people think that everything is predetermined and there's nothing we can do about it.
• I don't buy into all that predetermination stuff, I think we make our own fate.
• The artist felt a sense of predetermination as if the painting had already been decided before they even picked up the brush.

noun The act or process of adopting or being adopted

adjective Pertaining to adoption or the act of adopting

• The adoptian of new policies by the government has led to significant changes in the economy.
• Our company is considering adoptian a new work-from-home policy.
• I heard they're adoptian a no-phones rule in the office now.
• The adoptian of a healthier lifestyle can lead to a longer and happier life.

noun a Christological doctrine that Jesus was born human and was later 'adopted' as God's son

• The theological debate surrounding adoptianism was a major point of contention in the early church.
• Some people got really worked up over that whole adoptianism thing back in the day.
• Adoptianism was like the original church drama, causing all kinds of arguments.
• The concept of adoptianism can be seen as a symbol of the struggle for power within the church hierarchy.