Acharya Prashant explains that the common understanding of theism and atheism is deeply flawed and distorted by external influences. In the modern context, theism is often reduced to a belief in a personal God, temple visits, and religious rituals, while atheism is seen as a rejection of such beliefs. However, he clarifies that the original Vedantic and Upanishadic definition of theism is rooted in an existential and philosophical inquiry. A true theist is one who recognizes that the sensory world of suffering, deception, and fragmentation is not the ultimate reality and seeks a truth that transcends the mind, senses, and language. This 'beyondness' or transcendence is the core of true theism, which is centered on truth rather than a belief in a creator deity.
