It took me twenty years, but I think I finally figured out a “religion” that suits me: Pantheism. If you need proof, it’s on my Facebook profile.
I used to ascribe to Buddhism, and I continue to adhere to the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path. That’s wisdom for everyone. What bothers me about Buddhism, though, is the excess baggage of traditions, sects, sutras, and other details. The framework of what the Buddha said some 2500 years ago has been added to and adjusted and reinterpreted to the point where the term “Buddhist” has 
become a meaningless label. You can eat meat, drink alcohol, believe in God, spurn the afterlife, and still legitimately be called a Buddhist. In fact, you’d be no more or less of a Buddhist than your vegan, dry, atheist, and reincarnated friend. Even a term like Enlightenment has become subject to interpretation.
As far as I’m concerned, Pantheism is Buddhism simplified. It’s also Stoicism simplified, Humanism simplified, Taoism simplified, and probably most major world religions simplified. It’s like calling yourself “spiritual,” but with no heavy baggage attached. Everything you need to know is in your little carry-on, which fits snugly into the overhead compartment.
So what is Pantheism? The word Pantheism literally means “all” (pan) is “divine” or “God” (theos). Essentially it’s the belief that everything is God. Yeah, okay, but what does that mean? To believe that everything is God means that you acknowledge that you are able to experience a tangible connection with something greater than yourself, and this connection can be felt with respect to everyone and everything. If you believe this, then you’re a Pantheist. Everything else is details (to be discussed in Part II).
Notice the terminology. For starters, I used the phrase “everything is God” rather than “God is everything.” Sometimes they are used interchangeably, but I believe the latter (although not logically incorrect) paints an inaccurate picture of the Pantheist worldview. Pantheists don’t believe there is a God somewhere who manifests himself in everything. Rather, we believe that everything that exists has “divine” properties.
Secondly, I used the phrase “tangible connection.” There is a connection, and it is very much tangible. You can feel it, sense it, or experience it. Often times Pantheists will describe this feeling as profound wonder and awe for the universe and for nature—but don’t be misled. It’s more than just reverence and curiosity, which are abstract words (i.e. can you experience curiosity?). There’s a genuine connection there as well.
I pointed out that one is “able to” experience this connection. That’s because people do not experience it 24 hours a day, but at intermittent times throughout one’s day or one’s lifetime. Different people experience this connection in different ways. Some through meditation. Others through prayer or religious services. Others arbitrarily, for example, when dumbstruck by a beautiful sunset or the night sky. Yes, Pantheism is kind of Romantic, isn’t it? It also isn’t, but more on that in Part II.
“Something greater than yourself” is an abstract concept, and one that cannot easily be described in words. Some people call this thing God, or the universe, or oneness, or nature. To an outsider, this aspect of Pantheism seems very religious; to a Pantheist, all those terms mean exactly the same thing. Thus, Pantheism is not religious in the traditional sense. “Something greater than yourself” does not correlate to a supernatural, omniscient, or omnipotent being. Rather, this thing that is “greater than yourself” is, literally, a great thing. It is divine because it is “magnificent” and “surpassing excellence.”
See what I mean about words failing? Okay, maybe Pantheism isn’t simpler than Buddhism. I guess you’ll have to stick around for Part II.
Comments (32)
Mike,
After you spurned my last comment in a mocking voice (don't tell me you don't remember), I have a more classy comment for this post. GREAT WRITING. How about printing this in the magazine once in a while...maybe if you print an article again then people will be encouraged to transition from print to blog.
Posted by: Michael Skocay at February 8, 2007 11:42 AM
You're wayyyyyy too philosophical, just let loose!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Sara Goldberg at February 10, 2007 2:12 PM
I concur with Skocay. Way more people read The Observer than your blog. Go back to publishing in print, the community needs to hear your side.
Posted by: A. Cohen at February 14, 2007 1:40 PM
Congratulations on an intelligent, clearly 'backgrounded' explanation of the Perennial Philosophy. I was searching the web to see who, if anyone, 'blogged' on pantheism and came upon your essay. It seemed like the only one with a straight forward, philosophic, and therefore (to me) acceptable approach to the subject. Are you a teacher? Writer? You may want to check out my web site -- www.capricornbrae.com -- and click on 'books.' It might surprise you to see that all the 'strange bedfellows' I've written about fall under the pantheistic umbrella. My last book, SHEPHERDS OF PAN, is about the nature wisdom of some famous writers on the Big Sur-Monterey coast. Thanks for your 'blog.'
Posted by: E. W. Fitzpatrick at April 26, 2007 11:10 PM
Did you go from CWG to Buddhism to pantheism? Your pantheism is similar but not quite the same as this guy's view: http://www.kansascity.com/656/story/334503.html. I would describe his view as naturalism, since he's an atheist who values science and probably wouldn't say "everything is God."
""There’s a genuine connection" -- or there's activity in your brain that makes you feel like there's a "connection."
"Searching for God in the Brain
Researchers are unearthing the roots of religious feeling in the neural commotion that accompanies the spiritual epiphanies of nuns, Buddhists and other people of faith."
http://www.sciam.com/print_version.cfm?articleID=434D7C62-E7F2-99DF-37CC9814533B90D7
Posted by: Nina at October 27, 2007 1:46 PM
Hi Nina,
No, I went from Buddhism to CWG to pantheism. But, you'll be happy to know, I also enjoy Dawkins, Harris, and Greg Epstein at Harvard. Finding out my beliefs is... an evolving process.
To simply call myself atheist or a secular humanist is, in my opinion, unsatisfying. Though I do not believe in God, I still recognize this "force" that connects me to, and draws me to, the world and humanity. I still recognize this "feeling of oneness" that is generated through meditation and "divine experiences" or whatever. This feeling is probably due to chemicals and connections in the brain, a "God Spot" as the Scientific America article describes--just like every other emotion and sensation we process.
I feel that secular humanists leave this "God Spot" out of the discussion. Instead of relying solely on logic and reason, I acknowledge as a pantheist that there is logic, reason, AND the sensation of being connected that is important in guiding the way we live life. This sensation of being connected affects humanity in such a significant way, because everybody in the world is touched by it at some point, that to discount it entirely, or brush it off, can be dangerous. To properly approach the world, and live a self-fulfilling life with an eye towards the greater good, one cannot simply ignore this "God Spot." Remember: logic and reason also have a "spot" in the brain, but that doesn't make them phony.
To summarize: I do not believe in "God" in the traditional sense, no, but I DO believe in the existence of something else that secular humanists do NOT recognize (but have certainly experienced nevertheless). That's why I'm pretty much a secular humanist with a twist. When people ask me what pantheism is, I don't tell them that "everything is God," but "everything is connected, and life is better if people attempt to experience this connection (aka reach out to connect)."
Maybe I'll do a new blog entry on this sometime.
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