Report, edit, etc...Posted by Vibrator on 2007-01-13 at 21:36:45
Many of the discussions about God around here are focused more on a theistic vision of god and many of you don't seem to know about a God that is not a personal one. Pantheism is the belief that God and the Universe, or nature, are somehow equal or the same or perhaps a self expression of God. This God would not be like a person, in essence not moral, intelligent or able to make decisions, he would not have any omniscient or omnipotent powers. But pantheism is not nearly a closed book, there are many forms of it along with many different interpretations. Here are a couple links to help you try to understand it better and see different views on pantheism.
http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/pantheism/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pantheism
http://members.aol.com/Heraklit1/basicpri.htm
http://www.geocities.com/HotSprings/6072/sci.html
I would just like to know your thoughts on this subject.
http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/pantheism/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pantheism
http://members.aol.com/Heraklit1/basicpri.htm
http://www.geocities.com/HotSprings/6072/sci.html
I would just like to know your thoughts on this subject.
Report, edit, etc...Posted by Lord_Agamemnon(MM) on 2007-01-13 at 22:08:55
Hm, yes, we mostly do think of personified gods when we discuss religion; I suppose that's because gods are personified in most major world religions.
As for pantheism, I believe that it's a very different view of the world from standard theism (with anthropomorphic god[s]) and one that lends itself to a different moral code, as Schopenhauer points out. I must ask, however: how is believing that the universe is a divine being or vice versa so different from merely believing in the universe? I'd like to know that before I comment more on it.
As for pantheism, I believe that it's a very different view of the world from standard theism (with anthropomorphic god[s]) and one that lends itself to a different moral code, as Schopenhauer points out. I must ask, however: how is believing that the universe is a divine being or vice versa so different from merely believing in the universe? I'd like to know that before I comment more on it.
Report, edit, etc...Posted by Vibrator on 2007-01-13 at 23:26:16
How is a divine being creating the universe different from the universe just existing? There is no real difference in how it affects us but there is a difference in the universe itself.
Also you can find traces of theism throughout all major religions, especially hinduism and judaism (although finding it in islamic texts is much harder to find any solid connections).
Also you can find traces of theism throughout all major religions, especially hinduism and judaism (although finding it in islamic texts is much harder to find any solid connections).
Report, edit, etc...Posted by Lithium on 2007-01-14 at 09:25:10
You forgot Voodoo and Shinto.
Report, edit, etc...Posted by green_meklar on 2007-01-14 at 10:50:03
QUOTE
I must ask, however: how is believing that the universe is a divine being or vice versa so different from merely believing in the universe?
This is the part I don't get too. Perhaps a better way to put it would be, what is it about the Universe that makes it God, rather than just a universe?
Report, edit, etc...Posted by Rantent on 2007-01-14 at 14:03:09
We don't understand either, so they must be the same. 
But what your asking about is the classic struggle between the two ways the world was created. (Genesis 1 and 2 I believe.)
The first time god created the world, it was done in a manner of him creating something, seeing that it was good and moving on. He created man and said flourish. That was the begining. Then in Genesis 2, he makes adam out of dirt, personafying him, giving him reign over the garden of eden and what not.
The first version, god is simply the creator, in the second, he interacts with the creation.
But what your asking about is the classic struggle between the two ways the world was created. (Genesis 1 and 2 I believe.)
The first time god created the world, it was done in a manner of him creating something, seeing that it was good and moving on. He created man and said flourish. That was the begining. Then in Genesis 2, he makes adam out of dirt, personafying him, giving him reign over the garden of eden and what not.
The first version, god is simply the creator, in the second, he interacts with the creation.
Report, edit, etc...Posted by PwnPirate on 2007-01-14 at 16:01:55
QUOTE
Many of the discussions about God around here are focused more on a theistic vision of god and many of you don't seem to know about a God that is not a personal one. Pantheism is the belief that God and the Universe, or nature, are somehow equal or the same or perhaps a self expression of God. This God would not be like a person, in essence not moral, intelligent or able to make decisions, he would not have any omniscient or omnipotent powers. But pantheism is not nearly a closed book, there are many forms of it along with many different interpretations. Here are a couple links to help you try to understand it better and see different views on pantheism.
I don't see the point of such a religion. There isn't any basis that the universe is a god, and it doesn't have any of the benefits of other religions. I might as well say that there are invisible men that warp space and time so that it is impossible for you to realize their existance.
Report, edit, etc...Posted by Vibrator on 2007-01-14 at 21:02:50
How do the benefits of pantheism differ from a theistic religion?
Report, edit, etc...Posted by Centreri on 2007-01-15 at 16:41:44
No benefits. A theistic religion can have benefits because you believe that you are protected by god if you belong to a certain religion; Pantheism seems to say that either everyone is protected or no one is. It's a belief, not something that gives you an advantage.
Report, edit, etc...Posted by PwnPirate on 2007-01-16 at 22:15:30
That and it doesn't promote non-violence, morals (doesn't seem to have any semblance of ethic value), etc.
Report, edit, etc...Posted by Vibrator on 2007-01-18 at 21:50:26
Again it all depends on how you look at it. I happen to be a natural pantheist so I think that God has no qualities like that but Classical pantheists do. Also natural pantheists do still think things like violence are wrong because it would still be in essence hurting God.
Also to answer other people's questions of it is jsut calling the universe by a new name. It is much more than that, it is redefining God in a new way so that we can have a more insightful perception of God.
If any of you want you can read this, it will help you understand more (as long as you can understand it) http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Ethics_%28Spinoza%29/Part_1
Also to answer other people's questions of it is jsut calling the universe by a new name. It is much more than that, it is redefining God in a new way so that we can have a more insightful perception of God.
If any of you want you can read this, it will help you understand more (as long as you can understand it) http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Ethics_%28Spinoza%29/Part_1