Panentheism
Panentheism, derived from the Greek words pan (all), en (in) and theos (God) literally translates to "all-in-God". In the context of religious and philosophical classification, this term refers to the belief that God is all of the universe, but also beyond it as well. Thus, the panentheistic God is an immanent force within all Creation, and can often be seen as the animating force behind the universe. The term "panentheism" arose relatively recently, coined by German idealist philosopher Karl Christian Friedrich Krause (1781-1832), in the process of replacing a scholastic notion of the transcendent God with a participatory notion.
Panentheism as a Category of Religion
Implications and Debates
Pantheism is typically viewed as a theological and philosophical middle ground between theism and pantheism. For the theist, God and the world are separate, with God seen as completely transcendent. For the pantheist, in contrast, God is identified with the universe as a whole, and is seen as immanent within the world rather than transcending it. Panentheisms seems to reflect a philosophical urge to balance immanent and transcendent properties of the divine, preserving aspects of God's transcendent self-identity while also promoting a sense of intimacy between God and the universe.
Related Terms
Panentheism is easily confounded with pantheism, a belief system which holds that the totality of God is infused in the universe. Unlike pantheism, panentheism does not mean that the universe is synonymous with God. Instead, it holds that there is more to God than the material universe. Under both classifications, God (G) is considered to be of the same ontological substrate as the universe. However, for the pantheist the universe is the whole of God, while for the panentheist it is only a part of God. Thus, in panentheism, God maintains a transcendent character, and furthermore is viewed as both the creator and the original source of universal morality. To summarize, in pantheism, G = W, while in panentheism, G > W. While many of the major faiths categorizeed as panentheistic could also be described as pantheistic, no explicitly pantheistic belief systems could also be considered panentheistic Pantheism simply cannot be described as panentheistic, since God could never transcend the scope of the natural universe.
Examples of Panentheism in Human Culture
Hinduism
Process Theology
For Process theologians, God contains the universe but is not identical with it. This God is immanent within human lives, providing a power of persuasion over human will rather than explicit force. Thus, humans still have free will rather than being at the mercy of God's coercion. Furthermore, because God contains a universe which is in a constant state of flux, God Himself is also considered to be changeable, affected by the actions that take place in the universe over the course of time. However, the abstract elements of God, such as benevolence, wisdom, and so forth remain constant. Thus, God is a function of the universe He contains and is immanent within, however, the abstract elements he maintains represent his transcendent elements. Hence, process theology is essentially pantheistic.
Significance of Panentheism
For some, panentheism allows for the resolution of some philosophical difficulties inherent in the closely related doctrine of pantheism. For example, some claim that pantheisms conception of a completely immanent god mitigates the sense of power attributed to a God conceived as more transcendentally. In panentheism, God is always present in the immanent world, however, God also possesses all the transcedence of traditional theist conceptions of God. Thus, not only does panentheism address these philosophical issues, but also, as mentioned above, bridges the gap between theism and pantheism. Further, panentheists feel that their philosophical outlook affirms the freedom of humanity in a way that neither theism or pantheism do. While theism denies that the world as a part of God's being and pantheism can be interpreted as denying the existence of individual choice apart from God, panentheists believe their viewpoint provides an all-encompassing and fully perfected God, while affirming the reality of individuals and their ability to choose freely within God. Despite the fact panentheism bridges the philosophical gap between theism and pantheism, it has still not been explicitly espoused by a large amount of major religious groups, instead persisting in small sects or else personal philsophies. This is perhaps due to panentheism's highly abstract nature. However, elements of panentheism arise in virtually every religious system, from tribal animism to Islam, whenever a given deity is described as both wholly powerful but also deeply imbued in worldy existence. With that said, it should be noted that a significant number of contemporary theologians and philosophers of religion have adopted panentheism as a means for recociling difficulties with other beliefs concerning the nature of God.
ReferencesISBN links support NWE through referral fees
- Anderson, C. Alan and Whitehouse, Deborah G. New Thought: A Practical American Spirituality. New York: Crossroad Publishing Company, 1995.
- Clayton, Philip and Peacocke, Arthur, eds. In Whom We Live and Move and Have Our Being: Pantheistic Reflections on God's presence in a Scientific World. Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Co, 2004.
