History UsefulNotes / Pantheism

Many east Asian religions have strong Pantheistic leanings, with UsefulNotes/{{Hinduism}}, UsefulNotes/{{Buddhism}}, and UsefulNotes/{{Taoism}} all exhibiting substantial forms, as well as some some African and Native American folk beliefs, and even Classical philosophy schools like UsefulNotes/{{Stoicism}} and those of some Pre-Socratic philosophers. The earliest known Pantheistic thoughts are found in those currents, although the whole matter is complicated due to the often intensely philosophical, inscrutable nature of their ideas (and the usual diversity of sects and branches of those religions which might have their own interpretations each of the whole concept), something that has led many western academics to argue unceasantly about which of the subtypes below it is actually being spoused every time.

* MadeOfIndestructium: The [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conservation_of_mass Law of Conservation of Mass]] explicitly states that energy can neither be created nor destroyed - only converted from one form of energy to another. Therefore it is scientifically ''impossible'' for any creator deity to have made the universe. Proponents of Pantheism bypass this conundrum by arguing God ''is'' the universe.

Many east Asian religions have strong Pantheistic leanings, with UsefulNotes/{{Hinduism}}, UsefulNotes/{{Buddhism}}, and UsefulNotes/{{Taoism}} all exhibiting substantial forms, as well as some some African and Native American folk beliefs, and even Classical philosophy schools like UsefulNotes/{{Stoicism}} and some Pre-Socratic philosophers. The earliest known Pantheistic thoughts are found in those currents, although the whole matter is complicated due to the often intensely philosophical, inscrutable nature of their ideas (and the usual diversity of sects and branches of those religions which might have their own interpretations each of the whole concept), which has led many western academics to argue unceasantly about which of the subtypes below it is actually being spoused every time.

Pantheism is a theological theory, commonly associated with the New Age movement, which equates God with the Universe. Often characterized as "Nature worship", it has been equally attacked by theists as being UsefulNotes/{{Atheism}} in disguise and by atheists as being theism in disguise. Because of this ambiguity, it has also served as a label applied to many scientists of questionable religiosity, but who clearly had a spiritual reverence for energy and nature, such as UsefulNotes/AlbertEinstein and Creator/CarlSagan. Many east Asian religions have strong Pantheistic leanings, with UsefulNotes/{{Hinduism}}, UsefulNotes/{{Buddhism}}, and UsefulNotes/{{Taoism}} all exhibiting substantial forms, as well as some Classical philosophy schools like UsefulNotes/{{Stoicism}}. Pantheist leanings appear in even the earliest texts of Buddhism and Hinduism, but the roots of the Western form are basically OlderThanSteam.

* Panentheism: Tries to bring back some of the theism by saying God ''is'' the universe but ''also'' exists transcendent to it. More specifically, it says the universe is ''within'' God (part of his mind, usually). This is generally idealist.

Pantheism is a theological theory, commonly associated with the New Age movement, which equates God with the Universe. Often characterized as "Nature worship", it has been equally attacked by theists as being UsefulNotes/{{Atheism}} in disguise, and by atheists as being theism in disguise. Because of this ambiguity, it has also served as a label applied to many scientists of questionable religiosity, but who clearly had a spiritual reverence for energy and nature, such as UsefulNotes/AlbertEinstein and Creator/CarlSagan. Many east Asian religions have strong Pantheistic leanings, with UsefulNotes/{{Hinduism}}, UsefulNotes/{{Buddhism}}, and UsefulNotes/{{Taoism}} all exhibiting substantial forms. Pantheist leanings appear in even the earliest texts of Buddhism and Hinduism, but the roots of the Western form are basically OlderThanSteam.

* YouKeepUsingThatWord: Basically the big issue between atheists, theists, and pantheists. Effectively, pantheists define their religion differently than the former two.

Pantheism is a theological theory, commonly associated with the New Age movement, which equates God with the Universe. Often characterized as "Nature worship", it has been equally attacked by theists as being [[UsefulNotes/{{Atheism}} atheism]] in disguise, and by atheists as being theism in disguise. Because of this ambiguity, it has also served as a label applied to many scientists of questionable religiosity, but who clearly had a spiritual reverence for energy and nature, such as UsefulNotes/AlbertEinstein and Carl Sagan. Many east Asian religions have strong Pantheistic leanings, with Buddhism, Hinduism, and Taoism all exhibiting substantial forms. Pantheist leanings appear in even the earliest texts of Buddhism and Hinduism, but the roots of the Western form are basically OlderThanSteam.