The Scientific Pantheist Universe vs. Classical Pantheist Universe

Scientific Pantheists say:

The universe exists for itself, without cause or purpose. Nothing existed before it that could have been its cause. Nothing exists outside it that could be the source of its purpose *1

In my opinion, the statement above can be rewritten as follows to suite a Classical Pantheist:

The Omniverse exists for itself. Nothing exists outside of it that could be the source of it. The Omniverse is eternal**.

** eternal means: Without beginning or end of existence; always existing, everlasting.

This statement is my personal view of what the Classical Pantheist view of the Omniverse (i.e. the Pantheist equivalent of the god) is.

In my statement I purposefully avoided discussing the “Universe’s purpose”. I think it is speculative to assume that the Universe has no purpose or that we can comprehend what its purpose is, or is not, if one(s) existed. Since I do not have sufficient knowledge, I am comfortable leaving speculation (regarding purpose) out of this statement. Further I use the word Omniverse, not Universe as the Omniverse is a better word to describe all of existence and everything that ever did or will exist, including multiple universes.

Humans have a need and strong urge to know the origin of things, the purpose behind things existing and what caused  these things to exist (the cause of things). Thus, understandably, we are uncomfortable with concepts such as eternity, infinity and simply not knowing.  This driving need inside of us to know, to understand “cause” and “purpose” is a hallmark of what makes us human. We can all identify with this desire to know.

When primitive people saw a comet (eclipses, shooting stars, lightning or felt the destruction of earthquakes or volcanoes etc..) they assumed that some god(s) was behind such event(s) and that this god must have had a message or a cause that prompted her/him to take such action. Their gods were anthropomorphic (with human-like characteristics). Their need to know the cause and purpose of things coupled with their lack of information prompted them to seek supernatural gods as the cause. These pre-scientific humans made up (and found) their cause and purpose.

Today, our quest goes on. Scientists are more driven than ever to study the origins of life, the beginnings of our universe, as well as the future of the universe and life. In doing so, we continue to seek the (and assume that there is a) purpose and a cause for everything, including the Universe and life.  The Omniverse is eternal, ever lasting, infinite. The definition above does not claim to know its purpose or even if one exist.

Nowadays, many (similarly to pre-scientific humans) assume God is eternal, has a purpose and is the cause for (is the creator of) the universe and life, based on their limited definition of universe and life. However, as I have shown under the label of “Classical Pantheism” a creator God is not needed once one defines the Omniverse.

Pantheists do not assume the existence (nor do they need to) of the Abrahamic God. Once one accepts the notion that there is something that exists that is eternal and infinite (i.e. as people that believe in an Abrahamic God do), it becomes imminently clear how this eternal and infinite thing is the Omniverse itself.  The Omniverse does not need a creator because it is eternal, and is infinite as well. Both Classical and Scientific Pantheists agree that a man-made anthropomorphic creator or Abrahamic God is not needed to explain the Omniverse or universe.

Let’s celebrate our commonalities, not differences of opinion.

Read more about the Pantheist God, here and the Pantheist Universe, here.

* 1 – from http://www.pantheism.net/paul/cause.htm retrieved 02/17/2010

Updated: Dec 19, 2010

Why is Pantheism not Theistic?

Pantheism is not theistic in today’s sense of the word, it is META-theism, META meaning: beyond, outside and above ordinary theism. A Pantheist views the Omniverse as a spiritual unity, which could be equated to the idea of the one theistic god but is better understood beyond and above the ordinary accepted understanding of theism.

When a Scientific Pantheist says “God” they are referring to the Universe and Nature only.

A Classical Pantheist would be referring to the Omniverse. The Pantheist God “is” the Omniverse itself. In fact using the word god may be confusing to some. Panthesist prefer to use words such as oneness or divinity, or omniverse rather than say God.

To those who want to know how the Pantheist God is different than a theistic God, consider these points. The divinity, oneness or Omniverse itself is not something that:

• is supernatural -> everything in the Omniverse is natural.
• preceded the Omniverse-> It was always there
• exists outside the Omniverse
• extends outside/beyond the Omniverse
• greater than the Omniverse-> it does not transcend itself

All the above are things people think of when they think of a theistic god. Because of this some say the pantheistic god is not theistic. It has to do with how we defined the word “theistic”.

Like most theistic religions, the pantheistic philosophy allows for the so called “supernatural” events to occur. However, supernatural is just that is an oxymoron. In an Omniverse, everything is natural.. including things that people may consider supernatural such as angels, guides, spirits, life force, visions, etc.. They are not super-natural, they are a natural part of the fabric of the Omniverse only referred to as supernatural because we may not fully understand them or scientifically prove them.

A Conversation with a Believer

Believer: How come no one created the universe?

Me: I didn’t say it wasn’t created, what we know as the universe was created but it wasnt by what you think of as god.

Believer: Are you saying God didn’t create the universe and give you life?

Me: Not God as you define it.

Believer: Is there another God that you believe in?

Me: I guess so. I don’t believe in the Abrahamic God.

Believer: If I was you I’d be careful with what I say, don’t blaspheme about God, he could hurt you, you’ll go to hell.

Me: Well, my god is not a “he”, and hell doesn’t exist.

Believer: Oh God!

Me: Yes?

Believer: So, who created the Universe?

Me: It created itself, I call it Omniverse.

Believer: How can something create itself?

Me: I see the universe to be God, and God was never created.

Believer: If the universe exists, it must have been created, and the only one who can create it is God.

Me: True, but what is God?

Believer: Are you an Atheist?

Me: No, but try to define God please.

Believer: The God the bible talks about.

Me: Eternal, Infinite, Transcendent, Holy, Divine, Omni present, all powerful God?  (note to self: sounds like my god!)

Believer: Exactly.

Me: So, God was always there, and he created everything?

Believer: Exactly!!

Me: Sounds like my god, except mine is not sitting on a throne judging people

Believer: silence.

Me: Who created God?

Believer: He is God, he doesn’t need to be created!

Me: I thought for anything to exist it must have been created.

Believer: But not God, he is eternal.

Me: My god is eternal too.

Believer: So you believe in Jesus?

Me: No, what I said was my god was also eternal. He was not created.

Believer: So you are a Christian?

Me: No. I don’t believe in the god talked about in the bible. My god is the universe.

Believer: What!  My God created the universe! Why do you worship his creation but not him?

Me: My universe is god, it did not need to be created. I call it Omniverse, and our universe is one of many possible universes within this Oneness I call the Omniverse.

Believer: How could something exist without being made by God?

Me: God exists, doesn’t he? Who made Him (your God)?

Believer: God is eternal, the bible says so.

Me: Do you know what I mean by an Omniverse?

Believer: I don’t care.

.. end of conversation ..

One conclusion you may reach from the above discussion: Things get lost in translation, thanks to one’s perceptions (mostly subconscious) and fears. People will see, when they are ready to. Planting a seed of wisdom or vision is sometimes all you should do. Once the person is ready to see, explore, get out of their shell, they will but only then.

Read: But who created the universe?

How is the Omniverse Similar to the Abrahamic God?

Panthesim is META-theism, META meaning: beyond, outside and above ordinary theism. A Pantheist views the Omniverse as a spiritual unity, which could be equated to the idea of the one theistic god but is better understood beyond and above the ordinary accepted understanding of theism.

Some similarities could be drawn between the Omniverse and the Theistic God, as follows:

• The Omniverse creates
• The Omniverse is greater than our universe
• The Omniverse is infinite
• The Omniverse is eternal
• Since it is infinite and eternal and all there is, it is also all powerful
• The Omniverse is considered as the divine, one, all that there is
• The Omniverse may have preceded some local universes

Now that we’ve seen the similarities, let’s consider the differences. The Omniverse is not something that:

• preceded the Omniverse -> It was always there
• exists outside the Omniverse
• extends outside the Omniverse
• greater than the Omniverse -> it does not transcend itself