Theism is broadly defined as the belief in the existence of a Supreme Being or deities. In common parlance, or when contrasted with deism, the term describes the classical conception of God, found in monotheism – or gods found in polytheistic religions—a belief in God or in gods without the rejection of revelation as is characteristic of deism. Atheism is understood as rejection of theism in the broadest sense of theism, i.e. the rejection of belief in God or gods. The claim that the existence of any deity is unknown or unknowable is agnosticism; the term theism derives from the Greek theos or theoi meaning "god" or "gods". The term theism was first used by Ralph Cudworth. In Cudworth's definition, they are "strictly and properly called Theists, who affirm, that a conscious understanding being, or mind, existing of itself from eternity, was the cause of all other things". Monotheism is the belief in theology; some modern day monotheistic religions include Christianity, Islam, Baha'i Faith, Zoroastrianism, Eckankar.

Polytheism is the belief. In practice, polytheism is not just the belief. Within polytheism there are hard and soft varieties: Hard polytheism views the gods as being distinct and separate beings. Soft polytheism views the gods as being subsumed into a greater whole; some other forms of Hinduism such as Smartism/Advaita Vedanta serve as examples of soft polytheism. Polytheism is divided according to how the individual deities are regarded: Henotheism: The viewpoint/belief that there may be more than one deity, but only one of them is worshiped. Kathenotheism: The viewpoint/belief that there is more than one deity, but only one deity is worshiped at a time or and another may be worthy of worship at another time or place. If they are worshiped one at a time each is supreme in turn. Monolatrism: The belief that there may be more than one deity, but that only one is worthy of being worshiped. Most of the modern monotheistic religions may have begun as monolatric ones, although this is disputed. Pantheism: The belief that the physical universe is equivalent to god, that there is no division between a Creator and the substance of its creation.

Panentheism: Like Pantheism, the belief that the physical universe is joined to a god or gods. However, it believes that the divine pervades and interpenetrates every part of the universe and extends beyond time and space. Examples include the philosophy of Baruch Spinoza; the distinction between these two beliefs may be ambiguous and unhelpful, or a significant point of division. Pantheism may be understood a type of Nontheism, where the physical universe takes on some of the roles of a theistic God, other roles of God viewed as unnecessary. Classical Deism is the belief that one God exists and created the world, but that the Creator does/do not alter the original plan for the universe, but presides over it in the form of Providence. Deism rejects supernatural events prominent in organized religion. Instead, Deism holds that religious beliefs must be founded on human reason and observed features of the natural world, that these sources reveal the existence of a supreme being as creator. Pandeism: The belief that God preceded the universe and created it, but is now equivalent with it.

Polydeism: The belief that multiple gods exist, but do not intervene in the universe. Autotheism is the viewpoint that divinity, whether external or not, is inherently within'oneself' and that one has the ability to become godlike; this can be in a selfless way, a way following the implications of statements attributed to ethical and religious leaders. Autotheism can refer to the belief that one's self is a deity, within the context of subjectivism. Hindus use the term, "aham Brahmāsmi" which means, "I am Brahman". Eutheism is the belief. Dystheism is the belief that a deity is not wholly good, is evil. Maltheism is the belief that a deity is wholly malicious. Misotheism is active hatred for gods. Āstika and nāstika Theistic evolution

Arabi Ponnu is a Malayalam novel jointly written by M. T. Vasudevan Nair and N. P. Mohammed; the theme is the smuggling of gold from Arab countries Arab states of the Persian Gulf, in its early period. The novel is unique in the aspect that it was written jointly by two writers-M. T. Vasudevan Nair and N. P. Mohammed; the two had maintained a close personal relationship right from their first meeting in 1954. At the time, NP was 25 but a recognized author while MT was still a budding writer, having published a few short stories. About the meeting, MT said in an interview to The Hindu, "I had only admired him from a distance till then. I was thrilled when he said he had read some of my stories. We had tea together that evening." In 1956, MT moved to Calicut where NP was residing and they became close friends. MT would recall that it was NP who always first read the draft of his novels; the idea of co-authoring a novel struck the writers after they came across The Ugly American, a novel penned by Eugene Burdick and William J. Lederer.

For writing Arabi Ponnu, the duo stayed at a rented house in Karuvarakkundu village, Calicut for about two weeks. The Arabs came in their dhows laden with dates to Calicut, the Port of Truth, through the dates smuggled in gold; the Port of Truth became the Port of Treachery. Koya, the protagonist, saw his hands smeared with the stink of Arab gold, smuggled liquor and women, he saw them, he lived with them. He loaded opium on a Chinese vessel anchored off Beypore, but he emerged as a new man from the world of treachery and robbery and betrayal

The third season of the American television drama series Empire premiered on September 21, 2016, in the United States on Fox. The third season was ordered on January 15, 2016; the show is produced by 20th Century Fox Television, in association with Imagine Entertainment, Lee Daniels Entertainment, Danny Strong Productions and Little Chicken Inc. The showrunners for this season are Danny Strong and Lee Daniels; the season aired on Wednesday at the same slot as the previous seasons. The season contained 18 episodes; the show centers around a hip hop music and entertainment company, Empire Entertainment, the drama among the members of the founders' family as they fight for control of the company. Terrence Howard as Lucious Lyon Taraji P. Henson as Cookie Lyon Bryshere Y. Gray as Hakeem Lyon Jussie Smollett as Jamal Lyon Trai Byers as Andre Lyon Grace Byers as Anika Lyon Gabourey Sidibe as Becky Williams Ta'Rhonda Jones as Porsha Taylor Serayah as Tiana Brown Morocco Omari as Tariq Cousins Xzibit as Shyne Johnson Bre-Z as Freda Gatz Kaitlin Doubleday as Rhonda Lyon Leslie Uggams as Leah Walker Tasha Smith as Carol Holloway Vivica A.

Fox as Candace Holloway Sierra A. McClain as Nessa Parker Ajiona Alexus as Young Cookie Jeremy Carver as Young Lucious Taye Diggs as Angelo DuBois Andre Royo as Thirsty Rawlings Samuel Hunt as Xavier Rosen Romeo Miller as Gram Phylicia Rashad as Diana DuBois Ezri Walker as Zeah Juan Antonio as Phillip Tobias Truvillion as D-Major Nia Long as Giuliana Green Demi Moore as Nurse Claudia Veronika Bozeman as Veronica Mike Moh as Steve Cho Claudette Burchett as Juanita French Montana as Vaughn Birdman as himself Mariah Carey as Kitty Eva Longoria as Charlotte Frost Sticky Fingaz as Brick Remy Ma as Herself Rumer Willis as Tory Ash Estelle as Delphine Tinashe as herself Fetty Wap as Trig Empire was renewed for a third season on January 15, 2016, it was announced that the season will premiere on September 21, 2016. Fox released a promotional poster on July 14, 2016, for the season, showcasing both Lucious Lyon and Cookie Lyon. TVLine announced on June 18, 2016, that Xzibit who plays Shyne Johnson, Lucious’ drug-dealing adversary, was upgraded to a series regular for the third season after being a recurring role in the second season.

On July 8, 2016, Entertainment Weekly announced that rapper French Montana will appear in the third-season premiere, playing music mogul Vaughn, a member of Lucious Lyon's powerful inner circle. Birdman will appear on the show as himself; the Hollywood Reporter announced on July 13, 2016, that Sierra McClain will join the show in a recurring role. She will be playing Shyne's loyal protege whom Lucious is eager to sign. In August 2016, it was announced Mariah Carey would appear as Kitty, a superstar who collaborates with Jamal. On August 29, 2016, it was announced. On November 22, 2016, it was announced Nia Long would appear in a recurring role as Giuliana, a night club owner. On January 30, 2017, it was announced. On February 21, 2017, Demi Moore was announced to be joining the cast of the series, making an appearance in the season finale, before recurring in Season 4. In episode 13, Estelle will reprise her season 1 role as Empire recording artist Delphine