THEOLOGY225TELEOLOGICAL ARGUMENT FOR
THE EXISTENCE OF GOD. Approaches
that stress the apparent value and purpo-
sive nature of the cosmos, arguing that
this provides some reason to believe there
is an intentional, powerful, good, and
creative reality that creates and sustains
the cosmos.
TELOS. Greek for “end.” The purpose or
end of a goal directed process or, more
broadly, the good or use of an object.
The telos of a tree may include growth;
the telos or end of human life may include
multiple goods.
TERTULLIAN (c. 160–c. 220 CE). A
North African theologian deeply opposed
to the bonding between revealed theo-
logy and pre-Christian, pagan philosophy.
He construed Christian truths as appar-
ent absurdities from the point of view
of pagan thought. Tertullian was deeply
opposed to Gnostic forms of Christianity
and he upheld what may be described as a
materialist account of human persons.
His works include Treatise against Her-
mongenes and De Anima (On the soul).
THALES (fl. 580s BCE). Pre-Socratic
philosopher from Miletus in Asia
Minor. Seeking a single material cause
for all being, Thales posited that it was
water. Thales appears to have advocated
hylozoism, the doctrine that all matter is
alive, or has a soul. See also PRE-
SOCRATICS.THEISM. A term that was introduced in
the seventeenth century in English to
refer to the belief in a single Creator-God
who is omniscient, omnipotent, all good,
omnipresent, eternal or everlasting, and a
being that does not depend on any other
being for its existence. Theists believe that
the cosmos exists due to the causal con-
serving power of God and, if the cosmos
had a beginning, it originated by God’s
creating it. As opposed to deists, theists
believe that God is revealed in human
history. Theism is not limited to Judaism,
Christianity, and Islam. Theistic elements
may be found in Hinduism and else-
where. See also ABRAHAMIC FAITHS
and MONOTHEISM.THEODICY. From the Greek theos “g o d”
+ dikē “judgment” or “right.” A theodicy
is an account of why an all-good, all-
powerful, all-loving God allows (or does
not prevent) what appears to be the evil
of or in creation. See also EVIL, THE
PROBLEM OF.THEOLOGIAN. One who engages in
theological inquiry.THEOLOGY. From the Greek theos +
logos (“God” + “word”). Theology is study