Pantheism

Pantheism (Greek: pan = all and Theos = God) literally means "God is All" and "All is God". It is the view that everything is of an all-encompassing immanent God; or that the universe, or nature, and God are equivalent. More detailed definitions tend to emphasize the idea that natural law, existence and/or the universe (the sum total of all that is was and shall be) is represented or personified in the theological principle of 'God'.

Pantheistic concepts in religion

Hinduism

In Hindu theology Brahman is the ultimate, both transcendent and immanent, the absolute infinite existence, the sum total of all that ever is, was, or ever shall be. As the sun has rays of light which emanate from the same source, the same holds true for the multifaceted aspects of God emanating from Brahman, like many colors of the same prism. This concept of God is of one unity, with the individual personal Gods being aspects of the One; thus, different deities are seen by different adherents as particularly well suited to their worship. Pantheism and panentheism are key components of Advaita theology.

Related Topics:
Theology - Brahman - The ultimate - Transcendent - Immanent - Absolute infinite - Existence - Advaita

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In Smartist tradition, which follows Advaita philosophy, Brahman is seen as the one God, with aspects of God emanating therefrom. With all Hindus, there is a strong belief in all paths, or true religions leading to One God.

Related Topics:
Smartist - Advaita

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Some of the Hindu aspects of God include Ganesa, Devi, Vishnu, and Siva.

Related Topics:
Ganesa - Devi - Vishnu - Siva

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Hindus who follow the Smarta tradition believe that these different aspects of God can bring worshippers closer to Moksha, end of the cycle of rebirth.

Related Topics:
Smarta - Moksha - Cycle of rebirth

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Other subdivisions of Vedanta do not strictly hold this tenet. For example, Dvaita school of Madhva holds Brahman to be only Vishnu. In contrast, Arya Samaj believes in worshipping Brahman directly, without conceptualizing God through form such as Ishta-deva or using an icon, the Hindu murti to focus. Arya Samaj only takes into consideration the formless Brahman while Advaita states that the formless Brahman (Nirguna Brahman) and the formful God Saguna Brahman are the same and hence worship of either is valid and equivalent.

Related Topics:
Dvaita - Madhva - Vishnu - Arya Samaj - Ishta-deva - Icon - Murti - Nirguna Brahman - Saguna Brahman

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However, Advaita agrees with Arya Samaj that the Ultimate Reality is attributeless, in contrast to the theistic schools of Ramanuja, who also stressed panentheism, and Madhva, an advocate of duality.

Related Topics:
Ramanuja - Madhva - Duality

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Vedanta, specifically, Advaita, is a branch of Hindu philosophy which gives this matter a greater focus. Most Vedantic adherents are monists or "non-dualists" (i.e. Advaita Vedanta), seeing multiple manifestations of the one God or source of being, a view which is often confused by non-Hindus as being polytheistic.

Related Topics:
Vedanta - Advaita - Hindu philosophy - Monists - Dualists - Advaita Vedanta - Polytheistic

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Judaism

The radically immanent sense of the divine in Jewish mystical Kabbalah is said to have inspired Spinoza's formulation of pantheism. Additionally, the Baal Shem Tov, the founder of Hasidism, had a mystical sense of the divine that could be described as pantheism or panentheism.

Related Topics:
Immanent - Kabbalah - Baal Shem Tov - Hasidism - Pantheism - Panentheism

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Christian

From the tiny groups such as Process theology and Creation Spirituality, up to the Liberal Catholic Church, and as far back into history as the Brethren of the Free Spirit and many gnostics, the idea has had currency within some segments of Christendom for some time.

Related Topics:
Process theology - Creation Spirituality - Liberal Catholic Church - Brethren of the Free Spirit - Gnostic - Christendom

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