I am now a Pantheist

[Eddi]

In a previous thread I told of how I was in a state of despair because I felt there was no reasonable basis for believing in a concerned and loving God.

Having made that post I did a lot of thinking about various things and quite a few searches online and am now a Pantheist who believes in Panpsychism and that there is a kind of Holy Spirit.

My spiritual crisis is now over!

I found some of the responses to my original post very helpful and inspiring too. So thanks for those

Now that I believe in those things God has become far more imminent for me, I see it everywhere indeed I believe I am a part of God, as are all people.

This does of course make God as evil as he is good although I think this is offset by a Holy Spirit who is of good character. And of course, there can be no good without evil.

However: I no longer call God "God" though, and I don't want to anymore. Although I'm not sure what I should call he - or should I say "it" - instead.

I have a friend who calls it "The Universe" so perhaps I could start calling it that although I don't really like the sound of that.

Pantheism is a fascinating belief system and now that I have adopted it I am going to create my own personal version of it. It has most certainly captured my imagination.

Panpsychism is fascinating too, the notion that consciousness is not simply a function of the brain but is instead the substance out of which reality emanates.

So, in this thread I would like to discuss (rather than debate!) Pantheism......

What do people think about it?

 

[endlessvoid2018]

I do happen to agree that Pantheism is a fascinating philosophy. Almost poetic. I think it is a lot more logical and reasonable than most religions. My own thought process is pretty similar to Pantheism. However, I would not call everything "God." I would call this more so some kind of "universal spiritual essence." I'm a member on the Pantheism subreddit, and there are lots of people who would call this "God."

Pandeism is also fairly interesting, but a little bit different. Both Pandeism and Pantheism basically equate God as the universe however.

 

[Erebus]

I didn't offer advice in your other thread as other people had said what I wanted to say in a far more eloquent manner than I could have managed.

It's a bit of a controversial subject but it seems likely to me that some people are naturally inclined towards either theism or atheism. When people feel compelled to believe/disbelieve in something that goes against that natural inclination, the general result tends to be misery. Pantheism is in my opinion a good way for those with an inclination towards theism to resolve a crisis of faith. It avoids many of the pitfalls inherent in some forms of theism and encourages respect for one's environment.

I'm glad that you found something that brings you happiness and I wish you all the best

 

[SalixIncendium]

You say in the OP that you're a pantheist, but you have your religion listed as panentheist. While the two are related, they are not the same.

Pantheism posits that the divine is immanent, whereas panentheism posits the divine is both immanent and transcendent.

As you are describing in your OP, it appears you tend toward pantheism more than you do panentheism, but perhaps you think otherwise.

Also, if you are going to be a pantheist, it's useful to know the difference between imminent and immanent. The former means "about to happen," wheres the latter means "inherent to; existing/operating within."

 

[Eddi]

You say in the OP that you're a pantheist, but you have your religion listed as

I know

After I wrote this OP I realised that my belief in a Holy Spirit made me a Panentheist rather than a Pantheist so I changed my religion status accordingly

Also, if you are going to be a pantheist, it's useful to know the difference between imminent and immanent. The former means "about to happen," wheres the latter means "inherent to; existing/operating within."

Thanks for pointing that out!

 

[endlessvoid2018]

OP, do you know anyone personally that is a Pantheist? I am wondering if there is anyone out there who is a Pantheist, but doesn't necessarily refer to this "essence that is everything," being God. I have read that there are some that don't. I think this might possibly be called a Natural Pantheist?

"Natural pantheists don’t believe in any God, though they do worship the universe as if it was one. They believe in science, hence the name scientific pantheist, instead of a deity."

I have been deconstructing from my previous Christian faith, and so far, I've landed on being Agnostic with some slight "Pantheistic," notions. Any thoughts?

 

[Eddi]

OP, do you know anyone personally that is a Pantheist? I am wondering if there is anyone out there who is a Pantheist, but doesn't necessarily refer to this "essence that is everything," being God. I have read that there are some that don't. I think this might possibly be called a Natural Pantheist?

"Natural pantheists don’t believe in any God, though they do worship the universe as if it was one. They believe in science, hence the name scientific pantheist, instead of a deity."

I have been deconstructing from my previous Christian faith, and so far, I've landed on being Agnostic with some slight "Pantheistic," notions. Any thoughts?

My thoughts?

I have found that Panentheism makes more sense to me tha Pantheism

I am therefore now a Panentheist rather than a Pantheist

Because I am certain there is a Holy Spirit which you can have with Panentheism but not really so much with Pantheism

I also prefer Panentheism's notion that God is both transcendent as well as immanent

Panentheism says that nature and God are the same but that there is more to God than nature. I believe this!

Do you have any ideas as to how such notions might be reconciled with Christianity?

I ask because they have lead me to totally abandon it

 

[Bthoth]

In a previous thread I told of how I was in a state of despair because I felt there was no reasonable basis for believing in a concerned and loving God.

Having made that post I did a lot of thinking about various things and quite a few searches online and am now a Pantheist who believes in Panpsychism and that there is a kind of Holy Spirit.

My spiritual crisis is now over!

I found some of the responses to my original post very helpful and inspiring too. So thanks for those

Now that I believe in those things God has become far more imminent for me, I see it everywhere indeed I believe I am a part of God, as are all people.

This does of course make God as evil as he is good although I think this is offset by a Holy Spirit who is of good character. And of course, there can be no good without evil.

However: I no longer call God "God" though, and I don't want to anymore. Although I'm not sure what I should call he - or should I say "it" - instead.

I have a friend who calls it "The Universe" so perhaps I could start calling it that although I don't really like the sound of that.

Pantheism is a fascinating belief system and now that I have adopted it I am going to create my own personal version of it. It has most certainly captured my imagination.

Panpsychism is fascinating too, the notion that consciousness is not simply a function of the brain but is instead the substance out of which reality emanates.

So, in this thread I would like to discuss (rather than debate!) Pantheism......

What do people think about it?

I've seen the term pantheism before but I had not looked into it.

Let me read a bit more and I will get back

 

[Eddi]

I've seen the term pantheism before but I had not looked into it.

Let me read a bit more and I will get back

I'd been vaguely familiar with it for a while but only recently looked into it

But I find Panentheism more convincing!

 

[Sand Dancer]

In a previous thread I told of how I was in a state of despair because I felt there was no reasonable basis for believing in a concerned and loving God.

Having made that post I did a lot of thinking about various things and quite a few searches online and am now a Pantheist who believes in Panpsychism and that there is a kind of Holy Spirit.

My spiritual crisis is now over!

I found some of the responses to my original post very helpful and inspiring too. So thanks for those

Now that I believe in those things God has become far more imminent for me, I see it everywhere indeed I believe I am a part of God, as are all people.

This does of course make God as evil as he is good although I think this is offset by a Holy Spirit who is of good character. And of course, there can be no good without evil.

However: I no longer call God "God" though, and I don't want to anymore. Although I'm not sure what I should call he - or should I say "it" - instead.

I have a friend who calls it "The Universe" so perhaps I could start calling it that although I don't really like the sound of that.

Pantheism is a fascinating belief system and now that I have adopted it I am going to create my own personal version of it. It has most certainly captured my imagination.

Panpsychism is fascinating too, the notion that consciousness is not simply a function of the brain but is instead the substance out of which reality emanates.

So, in this thread I would like to discuss (rather than debate!) Pantheism......

What do people think about it?

I like pantheism, but it seems the only books out there on it are very scientific, which I don't care for.

 

[Eddi]

I like pantheism, but it seems the only books out there on it are very scientific, which I don't care for.

Yes, I looked for books about it but they all seemed rather heavy going and dry

 

[Shaul]

How are you differentiating your pantheism from universalism and panentheism?

 

[Eddi]

How are you differentiating your pantheism from universalism and panentheism?

I am now a Panentheist

I think that the difference between Panentheism and Patheism is that in Panentheism God is more than just nature

The way I see it this allows for supernatural things, I personally believe in a kind of Holy Spirit

 

[endlessvoid2018]

The way I see it, I wouldn't call God just in "nature," specifically.
I think it's meant to be a general term as for in everything, or in the nature of everything.
But I can definitely see how God could be in everything, and also transcend space, and time.
After all, isn't that sort of the idea behind the theist concept of Christianity?

 

[Shaul]

I am now a Panentheist

I think that the difference between Panentheism and Patheism is that in Panentheism God is more than just nature

The way I see it this allows for supernatural things, I personally believe in a kind of Holy Spirit

Ok. But your OP states, as noted by @SalixIncendium, that you identify as a Pantheist and not as a Panenthiest. You might want to clarify things better.

 

[Eddi]

Ok. But your OP states, as noted by @SalixIncendium, that you identify as a Pantheist and not as a Panenthiest. You might want to clarify things better.

Yes, I changed my identified religion having made the OP

 

[The Hammer]

I've always been a fan of panentheism. It's a sort of base layer of my "theism". My caveat is it's not "All in God" but "All in a God"

As the Germanic tribes would say: part of the Giant Ymir that makes up All.

 

[Bthoth]

I'd been vaguely familiar with it for a while but only recently looked into it

But I find Panentheism more convincing!

That is what I am bridging. No rituals, no set criteria, and allowed to observe the contributions of any belief system as good or bad based on coming from within the system of life.

Thank you Eddi for helping me see a new idea that in many ways fits my own paradigm of comprehension.

 

[Eddi]

No rituals, no set criteria, and allowed to observe the contributions of any belief system as good or bad based on coming from within the system of life.

I'm going to make my own rituals, I like ritual

 

[Bthoth]

I'm going to make my own rituals, I like ritual

Please keep me informed.

I'll water the plants out front and out back as ritual while "saying thank you lord, i am alive." Aaaaaaameeeeeeeeen!

Then if people walk across the yard, i can stand at the window and play like a pope with the hand signal.

" Using my right hand....Up and down hand movement and say: "Hey a you wops,"

Left to right hand waiving: "get off a the lawn"

Again, Thank You Eddi!