Welcome to my collection of Pantheist Essays – This essay is really more some background or just my 'organising thoughts' on .... EVB's Pantheism Project:

Aims: >> to promote the recognition of Eco-Pantheism as a true and valid, scientifically compatible, entirely relevant and modern philosophy / religion. Eco-Pantheism is essentially the same as Scientific Pantheism, with an ethical emphasis on both Economical and Ecological Living.

>> To `GIVE A NAME` to a common belief and help people realize that they may in fact be a Pantheist without realizing it. To help people get 'in touch' with Nature.

>> To provide a valid alternative to the dominant anthropomorphic religions – one which melds science and religion harmoniously.

>> To wrest some political power away from religious fundamentalists of all crazy creeds and build a solid base of scientific common sense in governments, education and especially our relationship to our environment.

Is it Religion?? >> YES!! It involves spiritual beliefs about the nature of the world we live in. BUT it is different from most religions in that the Pantheist NATURE-GOD is not anthropomorphic in any way, shape or form (except that we Humans ARE a part of NATURE-GOD).

Is it Philosophy?? >> YES!! Pantheism is undeniably philosophical in nature.

>> Furthermore , it is a Philosophy OF Nature.

What about the big God person ?? YES and NO!! For Pantheists GOD is everything and everything is GOD. God IS the Universe we live in. God is Nature !!

For Pantheists, GOD is NOT some human like higher being who thinks like us, watches us, controls us or passes judgment on us.

For Scientific Pantheists, the universe (which IS GOD!!) runs according to scientific principals and processes. Such as gravity, quantum mechanics, probability? And evolution. Such is the `Mind of God` to a science minded Pantheist.

What about a Name… What should we call this Nature-God?

Big-G? Just GOD?

(Thmaos Aquinas – The Summa Theologia : The names of God.

http://www.ccel.org/a/aquinas/summa/FP/FP013.html

In part 8 TA notes that things are named either from direct knowledge of their nature, or from their operation (action). He posits that, since the nature of God cannot be directly known, the name `God` comes from our knowledge of `his` (sic) operation.

Here we may ask – and I feel it is somewhat revealing that he uses language such as `nature` and `the nature of God – what do we now understand of the nature of God. And Pantheists would say that that word – NATURE – is itself about as good as we could get in applying a name to god, and describing the nature of god at the same time!! ie. The true nature of God IS `NATURE`; and equally `Nature` is the mode of operation of God.

Thus the name "God" signifies the divine nature, for this name was imposed to signify something existing above all things, the principle of all things and removed from all things; for those who name God intend to signify all this.

Aquinas, Names of God. From: http://www.ccel.org/a/aquinas/summa/FP/FP013.html#FPQ13A8THEP1

Dunno whether to use this??

The Force??!!

The Life Force

Chi

The role of science: Scientists are like the monks of Pantheism  tirelessly working and striving to understand the way Nature-God works. Most are inspired by their awe of nature.

The potential role of Pantheist Ethics: to provide a guiding hand for all people in their daily lives and work  INCLUDING the science-monks! Who must constantly ask ethical questions of themselves.

Is it Negative ? – I mean P says there is no hope for an afterlife etc. and there is no-one up there looking after me???

P is not negative – its just Different. P says that our life – here and now is (or at least should be and can be) paradise – rather that some kind of hell on earth – that we must survive to make it through to redemption!! (what a crazy f_`_ing idea??!!)

P says that (fundamentally) LIFE IS GOOD, PEOPLE ARE GOOD, ALL OF NATURE and the UNIVERSE (which is GOD) IS GREAT, WONDEROUS and SACRED (and therefore we should do our best to live freely within its bounds – live without leaving nature depleted and destroyed.)

Anthems:

maybe Monty Pythons - ` oh mighty god – you are so BIG – gosh were all really impressed down here`

`Amazing and Expanding Universe`

Yothu Yindi : dots on the shells.

Bob Geldof: Big Romantic Stuff

Related Ideas & Philosophies of Life.

Vegetarianism: (arguments) my idea: it’s a personal choice. But given that in nature many creatures eat others without incurring our negative judgement, people should be able to eat their natural diet (as natural history has shown) including meat.

BUT equally, the opposing argument – that as beings possessed of a higher level of intelligence (not to mention choice over the food we eat), we can make a moral (or ethical) choice about consuming meat – is certainly valid.

There is also a strong ecological argument regarding the environmental inefficiency of meat production and the harmful effects of same ie. Use of antibiotics on animals creating superbugs; accelerated desertification from overgrazing of animals for meat etc.

Given the above – For those people who want to eat meat (part of the natural diet of humans) - a minimal consumption of natural free-range meat products is best. – maximize efficient vege-protein production.

Eggs ??? – Hell go for it – BUT natural free range – multi cropping techniques.

Permaculture & Big Bill Mollison

He`s a Pantheist – no doubt!! (check any philosophical writings of his). Permaculture fits perfectly with Pantheism (except where a few creepy new-age concepts sneak in around the edges – and this is something to be wary of throughout all areas of Pantheism).

Other prominent Pantheists: Obviously – King Albert the great!! Spinoza, A swathe of Philosphers, Mollison; John Muir; US Photographer; Find modern environmentalists/scientists. Einstein.

Entertainers:

Politicians: Al Gore??

Similarities with other Philosophies and Spiritual concepts.

Okinawan and other SE Asian ancestor/nature spirituality.

Hindu : Upanishads.

The Philosophies of the Upanishads are similar in many ways to those of Pantheism.

I feel sure that most Pantheists would feel perfectly comfortable with the soaring majesty of the words and concepts held in the ancient and sacred texts of the Upanishads, particularly once they have understood that `Brahman` and `the Immortal Self` are almost exactly equivalent to our Nature-God.

Worship??

How do pantheist worship their nature god? – Put simply all you have to do is to do exactly as the old saying goes and `Take time to smell the roses`. It would also help to say `Thanks` afterwards to the chi-spirit of GOD that flows through everything and makes it exist and happen.

Certainly and significantly, you don’t have to go to some dark dingy building at a certain time on a certain day every week, to show your appreciation for the Universe you live in.: Anywhere is fine, but obviously some natural space that displays the awesome beauty of the Universal God may be more conducive to producing the effect.

The main point is that we must be aware and take notice of the awesome beauty surrounding us on a day to day, minute by minute basis. When you see it acknowledge it – acknowledge the chi of Big G at work, open your eyes wide like a child and sit back in awe for a few seconds or minutes or as long as you like. Feel the Power and Majesty of Nature. It is everywhere. It surrounds and engulfs you. It IS you!!

Of course, often we feel the power of nature when something big grabs our attention: A huge healthy tree, a magnificent mountain, a shooting star – even a beautiful person. But we should be careful to look more closely at the finer details of our life and universe and see the beauty that lies in the small things: a grain of rice; a handful of clean fresh earth; the patterns on the surface of a shell. Acknowledge even the apparently nasty and violent things: the incredible power of lightening; the miraculous construction of the virus waging war with my immune system!; the engineering and construction miracle that sends electrons flying around in coded messages inside this computer and the incredible individual and collective intelligence that created that machine!!

* Note: just thinking about this idea brings tears of joy to my eyes. Such is the power I can feel, even as I sit in front of a computer. If this is not a religious experience—then nothing is!! Note also that this is exactly the feeling that has inspired many great scientists and philosophers in their endeavors throughout the ages:

Welcome to my collection of Pantheist Essays 
– Essays basking in the Reverence of Nature from an Eco-Pantheistic Viewpoint.

At present, all of the essays on this site were written myself, some while attending University of Queensland, Australia. Others have been inspired by the amazing creatures and cultures in world around us.

In future, I hope to include contributions from like minded folks, so if you've put pen to paper to celebrate the wonders of Nature, feel free to send contributons by e-mail. 

I may also post some selections & quotes from well known Pathiests or like minded individuals from history, such as Spinoza, Bruno, Leopold, Al Gore, Bill Mollison (Mr. Permaculture) and the like.

Please note that not all would necessarily identify as 'Pantheists'.  But they will generally subscribe to a common viewpoint – that Nature is wondrous and amazing and fully deserving of our respect & reverence: both for the world it has borne and for evolving and bearing us into that world. 

I expect all of them would agree that we, the Humans on this planet, have a responsibility to preserve and foster our Natural World as much as possible, for the sake of future generations of ALL SPECIES: Plant, Animal or otherwise!!

Love your World.

Love your People.

Love your Life.