Between theism as a concept, and any specific God-containing worldview or culture, there is quite a big gap.
In fact, I do not think that atheism can be compared to theism, because 'theism' isn't a label of identity that is claimed and worn in the way 'atheism' is. I would go so far as to say that it provides a clearer view of the world if you consider 'ex-religious' atheisms as a handful of worldviews among hundreds, rather than to oppose all kinds of atheism to all worldviews that include a god.
The worldviews and beliefs of people who accept the existence of a God or gods are culturally heterogeneous, and there is much more to it than the simple philosophical concept of God existing or not existing. Far beyond the question of God or gods simply existing, their beliefs include specific things about their gods being true, and what these gods are and what they can do, and what humanity's relationship to the divine can or ideally would be.
People with a theistic outlook on the world define themselves as Christians, or Muslims, or as Hindu, or as 'spiritual but not religious', but not as 'theists'.
'Mere theism' cannot encompass much or even any of the heterogeneity found in these identities. A 'mere theist' and an atheist would probably be indistinguishable from one another because if all a God does is exist, and has no attributes, preferences or history of working with people, this God will not have much of an influence on people's lives.
why are you atheist? why are you theist?
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Between theism as a concept, and any specific God-containing worldview or culture, there is quite a big gap.
In fact, I do not think that atheism can be compared to theism, because 'theism' isn't a label of identity that is claimed and worn in the way 'atheism' is. I would go so far as to say that it provides a clearer view of the world if you consider 'ex-religious' atheisms as a handful of worldviews among hundreds, rather than to oppose all kinds of atheism to all worldviews that include a god.
The worldviews and beliefs of people who accept the existence of a God or gods are culturally heterogeneous, and there is much more to it than the simple philosophical concept of God existing or not existing. Far beyond the question of God or gods simply existing, their beliefs include specific things about their gods being true, and what these gods are and what they can do, and what humanity's relationship to the divine can or ideally would be.
People with a theistic outlook on the world define themselves as Christians, or Muslims, or as Hindu, or as 'spiritual but not religious', but not as 'theists'.
'Mere theism' cannot encompass much or even any of the heterogeneity found in these identities. A 'mere theist' and an atheist would probably be indistinguishable from one another because if all a God does is exist, and has no attributes, preferences or history of working with people, this God will not have much of an influence on people's lives.