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Pantheism
The belief or
philosophical theory that God and the universe are identical (implying a denial of the personality and
transcendence of God); the identification of God with the forces of nature and natural substances. Oxford Dictionary
Richard: For a pantheist
their god/goddess is immanent (maybe expressed as ‘god/goddess is the infinitude of the universe’ or
‘god/goddess, as truth, pervades everything that is’) ... as compared with a theist whose god/goddess is
transcendent (as in ‘not the infinitude of the universe’ or ‘not all-pervading’).
Broadly speaking theism refers to
a creator god/goddess who is beyond the universe whereas in panentheism god/goddess is not only all-pervading
(immanent) but beyond the universe as well (transcendent). Vis.: http://atheism.about.com/library/FAQs/religion/blfaq_theism_pan.htm
Peter: I have oft said that the real world
and the spiritual world are so intertwined that it is almost impossible to separate them. Humanity literally
drips with spirituality, be it the influence of recognized Eastern or Western religions, be it the Pantheism
that drives the animal and earth worship of Environmentalism, be it the many and varied morals, ethics and
spiritual values of differing tribal groups or be it the general overwhelming agreement that human beings are
foremost feeling beings sharing a common spirit-ual linkage. Within the human condition there has been, up
until now, only one alternative to being normal and that was to be a seeker on the spiritual path – which is
why it is the dissatisfied-with-the-real-world, spiritual seekers who are the most likely be interested in
actualism.
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