Can you be a Pantheist and an Atheist?

I am an animistic atheist. I am also somewhat of a pantheist. My "god" is the forces of nature.

Hoonaw said:

Yes, it depends. Since there are no dogmas in Pantheism it will always vary on one's perspective towards it. Naturalistic pantheism is perfectly compatible with atheism for it is nothing else than the addition of a spiritual - not religious - dimension to one's life. Spiritual =/= Supernatural.

One can be an atheist and feel indifferent to the Cosmos. Therefore, an atheist who feels deep connection to Nature and all that belongs to it, is an atheistic pantheist. At certain point it ceases to be religion and becomes philosophy only.

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I fully agree with this. I am an atheist, but have a strong pantheistic view of the world. Spiritually, Nature fulfills me completely and that's all I need.

brbubba said:

Do you, or can you ascribe to both terms simultaneously and why?

My own personal view is that no, you cannot, by definition, ascribe to both beliefs simultaneously. I have found that in many cases, where this dual dependency exists, it is typically to assert one's differing views on God when approached from a Judeo Christian perspective. However, I posit that this is an antagonistic stance, that is likely done simply to be contrary instead of attempting to describe one's true feelings regarding Pantheism. Furthermore, it doesn't help the debate when people like Dawkins refer to Pantheism as "sexed up atheism," leading to even more confusion.

Here's a nice online source that might be good for the discussion. Is Pantheism Atheistic?

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Wonderful observation. I was a Christian. Now I am a Pantheist. I also believe in science particularly quantum physics. Many Christians do act in very negative ways. So, there has been a lot of animosity towards them. I am not antagonistic but I don't quickly tell people that I am a Pantheist because I don't want to debate with the "Christians". I see a lot of self righteousness in a vast majority of "Christians". This is not actually what Jesus taught. His philosophies were good but most Christians don't follow the true teachings of Jesus, they look at lesser things in the Bible and make those of primary importance. I also have a problem with a few things that Jesus supposedly said. They have led me to believe that Jesus could not have been God in the flesh. So, I am very happy to be a Pantheist because I totally believe in God but the God of all mankind, not the Christian, Jewish, Islamic or any other God.

Also, if existence is not always physical in a way we know it to be in our reality, is it not possible that God has a form of energy which is not yet knowable through our current science?

And I was an atheist before I found spirituality. So, I understand the thinking. My son is a devout atheist. We debate our beliefs often, in a positive way.

Can one be a pantheistic atheist?

The answer is yes. Pantheism can never approach middle ground between two opposed beliefs. This is because if we take away those points of disagreement coming from each side there is nothing left except the whimsical wish to find middle ground. Rather, Pantheism consists of two entirely opposed outreach programs competing to draw people away from middle ground. One of these is atheistic and is called naturalistic pantheism. It dwells at the extreme fringe of skepticism, right behind agnosticism.

I know this is an old thread, but yes. I'm a scientific pantheist, and believe God and the Universe are synonymous. God, to me, is not a personal deity, and I reject the idea of a personal God. Rather, God is Mother Nature, the Universe, the laws of nature.

Ashoka said:

I know this is an old thread, but yes. I'm a scientific pantheist, and believe God and the Universe are synonymous. God, to me, is not a personal deity, and I reject the idea of a personal God. Rather, God is Mother Nature, the Universe, the laws of nature.

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If God is impersonal, why call it God?

The Sum of Awe said:

If God is impersonal, why call it God?

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Because God is not synonymous with the personal creator deity. God to me is the same as the universe. It's a word used to convey the absolute beauty and infinite wonder of our cosmos. Though to be honest I prefer the term Mother Nature.

Can you be a Pantheist and an Atheist?: No. Atheism requires a negation of any creative divinity. An atheist is a 'naturist'.

Ashoka said:

God to me is the same as the universe. It's a word used to convey the absolute beauty and infinite wonder of our cosmos. Though to be honest I prefer the term Mother Nature.

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The word 'Mother Nature' is more beautiful than God. As you prefer 'Mother Nature', there is no need for any other word.

Neutral Name said:

.. is it not possible that God has a form of energy which is not yet knowable through our current science?

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What kind of energy? 'Physical energy' or some 'divine energy'? Why would it be necessary to turn 'energy' into a 'God'? Let it remain what it is, 'physical energy'. Is it a hangover from your theist childhood?

KelseyR said:

Rather, Pantheism consists of two entirely opposed outreach programs competing to draw people away from middle ground.

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Why should we crave for a middle ground? Call spade a spade.
As I read from Wikipedia, Pantheism accepts a creative entity, of which we have no evidence.That is not what atheism is.

".. pointing to the universe as being an immanent creator deity still expanding and creating, which has existed since the beginning of time, or that all things compose an all-encompassing, immanent god or goddess and regards the universe as a manifestation of a deity."
Pantheism - Wikipedia