What is naturalistic pantheism?

Answer 1

The term pantheism is built upon the Greek roots pan, which means all, and theos, which mens god; thus, pantheism is either the belief that the universe is God and worthy of worship, or that God is the sum total of all there is and that the combined substances, forces, and natural laws which we see around us are but manifestations of God.

What is the difference between standard pantheism and panentheism?

It is true that both panentheists and pantheists share the view that the universe and every natural thing in it is pervaded by divinity. However, since panentheism postulates that the universe is contained within God and not God in the universe, panentheists believe in a God who is present in everything but also extends beyond the universe.

In other words, God is greater than the universe. Often they also believe that this God has a mind, created the universe, and cares about each of us personally. Pantheists on the other hand believe that the universe itself is divine. They do not believe in personal or creator gods.

Panentheism differs from Deism, which only postulates a god separate from nature. It differs from pantheism in that the latter identifies God with nature, although it agrees with pantheism that the god includes nature as a part of its being. Leading panentheists in more recent times have included Albert Schweitzer and Alfred North Whitehead.

Answer 2

Naturalistic pantheism is a form of pantheism that holds that the universe, although unconscious and non-sentient as a whole, is a meaningful focus for mystical fulfillment. Accordingly, Nature is seen as being god only in a non-traditional, impersonal sense. Also known as Impersonal pantheism and Impersonal Absolutism.

Answer 3

"Naturalistic pantheism is a form of pantheism that holds that the universe, although unconscious and non-sentient as a whole, is a meaningful focus for mystical fulfillment. Accordingly, Nature is seen as being god only in a non-traditional, impersonal sense. Also known as Impersonal pantheism and Impersonal Absolutism.

"Opponents of naturalistic pantheism allege that it constitutes an intentional misuse of terminology, and an attempt to justify atheism by mislabeling it as pantheism.

"Naturalistic pantheism places little emphasis on the concept of god. This raises the concern that it is really no longer pantheism at all, but something more like "spiritual naturalism" or "feel-good atheism".

"..many critics claim is essentially no more than "atheism for nature lovers". This charge seems to stem from the fact that scientific pantheism is not only naturalistic, but avowedly materialistic as well, with little tolerance for any reference to traditional theological concepts.

"To understand this, it must be re-emphasized that the theological concept which the term "pantheism" was originally intended to describe (the equivalence of the traditional God concept with nature) is considered to be essentially obsolete by many naturalistic pantheists. It is often maintained that the intent of such individuals in describing themselves as "pantheist" is chiefly to identify themselves as adherents of a naturalistic spirituality by using an established religious term.

>>>>>>"An argument intended to show that the term "pantheism" remains appropriate for the modern, or naturalistic interpretation of pantheism is that the contemporary pantheist sees the term "god" as a synonym for "nature". If nature is equivalent to the theological concept of god, then saying "all is god" (pan-theism) is the same as saying "all is nature". Accordingly, this is the way that many pantheists choose to view the term "pantheism" — all is nature, nature is all. Pantheism, then, is (in this view) essentially a form of spirituality based on nature rather than on supernatural entities such as deities. Accordingly, it is widely accepted that the modern interpretation of pantheism is essentially naturalistic, and therefore constitutes a form of naturalistic spirituality."<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Answer 4

It is kind of like nature being god. Pantheism is a toughy because one must first decide what everything is, and where would one say something becomes "not of nature" when all things are basically one.

Answer 5

Animism