Pantheism

Pantheism

Pantheism (/pænˈθiːɪzəm/; from Greek: πᾶν pan "all" and θεός theos "god") is the belief that the universe (or nature as the totality of everything) is identical with divinity, or that everything composes an all-encompassing, immanent god.

Etymology

The term "pantheism" was coined by mathematician Joseph Raphson in 1697 and has since then been used to describe the beliefs of several different people and organizations. The word is derived from the Greek words pan (meaning "all") and theos (meaning "god").

Beliefs

Pantheists do not believe in a distinct personal or anthropomorphic god, but describe a broad range of doctrines differing in forms of relationships between reality and divinity. Pantheistic concepts date back thousands of years, and some religions in the East continue to contain pantheistic elements.

Variations

There are a variety of different forms of pantheism. Naturalistic pantheism is a kind of pantheism that identifies god with the universe and the forces of nature. It is closely associated with the philosophy of Baruch Spinoza.

Related Terms

• Panentheism: The belief that the divine pervades and interpenetrates every part of the universe and also extends beyond time and space.
• Monotheism: The belief in the existence of one god.
• Polytheism: The belief or worship in multiple deities usually assembled into a pantheon of gods and goddesses, along with their own religions and rituals.

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