SCIENTIFIC PANTHEISM

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Pantheism is older than Buddhism or Christianity, and may already count hundreds of millions among its members. Most Taoists are pantheists, along with many Chinese, Japanese and Western Buddhists, deep ecologists, pagans, animists, followers of many native religions, and many Unitarian Universalists. The central philosophical scriptures of Hinduism are pantheistic. Many atheists and humanists may be naturalistic pantheists without realizing it.

Scientific or natural pantheism is a modern form of pantheism that deeply reveres the universe and nature and joyfully accepts and embraces life, the body and earth, but does not believe in any supernatural deities, entities or powers.

For Scientific Pantheists, nature is every thing past, present, and future. Nature is “security, mother, home, and peace” . How did the world, which we reside in, come to be? The universe creates, preserves, and destroys all. Human beings are made of the same matter and energy as the universe. Every aspect of this universe – matter, energy, and life – is inseparably interconnected with every other aspect. Even when human beings die, their carcasses will be reabsorbed back into nature from where they originated – there is no reincarnation, according Scientific Pantheists.

This universe is human beings’ home – not a place of exile. There are no other “imaginary worlds” (Harrison); therefore, there is no heaven or hell. Separation from nature is the only hell, which is more of a state of existence rather than a place. Even if a human being were to become separated from nature, there is no judgment – no punishment by supernatural agencies. For that matter, there is no reward by supernatural agencies for staying connected with nature.

Instead of explaining human beings’ existence through a mystical/mysterious approach, Scientific Pantheists adopt a scientific approach to Reality. Reality is divine. Reality encompasses “power, mystery, awe, creation, [and] omnipresence” (Harrison). Human beings are supposed to honor reality and keep their minds in tune to what their senses tell them and keep up-to-date with science’s quest for deeper understanding. According to Scientific Pantheists, human beings’ purpose while alive is to try to know Reality better by continuous encounter and study of nature. Empiricism, the idea that in order for some unknown to be accepted it must be repeated by others and verified by others.

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4 Responses

  1. Great site consider myself a pantheist with a taoist leaning

  2. Hi Trey,

    My first introduction to Oriental Philosophy was through the writings of Taoism…it had a significant influence on my life.

    My current interest is in the nature of the right brain…Taoism is considered the most right brain oriented among all the major world religions.

    Sid

  3. Hmm. Interesting. I never thought of myself as a pantheist. I’m still not sure if that really fits most Taoists as a great many of us question what is real and what is not.

  4. The Cosmos is Divine, and the Earth is Sacred.

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