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Is Pantheism Monotheistic?
- Thread starter The Sum of Awe
- Start date
Contemplative Cat
energy formation
This touches on mystisism.
Our minds creates distinctions of qualities, if we calm the mind(silent meditations) leave behind any notion of any multiplicity, and we end up in a nondual reality.
This is often what creates the notion of pantheism.in the west and east.in Christianity you could say "revelation".
But when the nondual experienced then reasoned by a brain. Which creates monism, and confirms pantheism.
When oneness is applied to God, it becomes monotheism.
Depends on how the connection between humans and god is viewed. In panentheism god is part of the universe as well as transcending it. So long as your interpretation doesn't have a problem calling humans divine, but my understanding of orthodox Judaism would be that God does not share in his glory and that we are separate creations from god. Of course a religion can hold just about any theology, I have even heard of atheist jews but I doubt they would be orthodox.
Caladan
Agnostic Pantheist
Perhaps in the same way the 'Orthodox' Christianity DIR might be your DIR. My suggestion is to read about Panentheism and see if it is what you adhere to. However, technically traditional Judaism falls outside Pantheism and Panentheism alike, since the idea that creation is akin to God, or that God is found in creation itself (or that creation is inside God) is not in line with traditional Jewish theology in which there is clear separation between Creator and creation.
Tumah
Veteran Member
I guess it depends what divine means. But we're on the Wikipedia page for Panentheism if that means anything.
It is a subtle difference that gets into the mechanics of gods connection with humans. Panentheism can be a personal creator god but to me it seems that panentheism makes it easier to fathom how humans can connect with god, because god is transcending and part of its creation. Otherwise god would have complete sovereignty and we would be completely at its mercy, which goes with the concept of an all powerful all knowing being.
Tumah
Veteran Member
I will open a new thread on this so that I stop derailing this one.
Maybe more like monism.
I'd probably go with:
1) In mainstream Western culture, monotheism tends to be taken as synonymous with classical monotheism, which places a very strong focus on transcendence with little (if any) belief in divine immanence.
2) Neither pantheism nor panentheism must be monotheistic, as has been noted earlier.
The terms Pan(En) are what make it distinct meaning "all is within" God. I understand monotheism in terms of Abrahamic religions to mean god can be omnipresent, which in a way is saying the opposite that god is within it's creation and distinct. When saying all is within god, god is omnipresent by virtue of being part of its own creation.
Immanence, that's the word I'm looking for, which really is transcendent IMO. At least immanence shows how transcendence could be even possible and not just a attribute of being all powerful.
Contemplative Cat
energy formation
Pantheism is pantheism. It can be applied to both monotheistic or polytheistic modes of worship.
Its up to the whim of that particular mind.
Its up to the whim of that particular mind.
Ouroboros
Coincidentia oppositorum
I don't think it matters in this discussion. The question could be made "Is Panentheism Monotheistic" as well.
Me Myself
Back to my username
Well personally, I'm panentheistic, there's infinite amount and one at the same time.
Maybe that doesn't make me 100% monotheist but in all I think it all boils down to one unity. I also revere some of the separate aspects so that might sound polytheistic to some.
In all, it's both simple and complicated.
If that doesnt make you 100% monotheistic then christian trinitarians arent either.
Then again, tome , they aren't
Just a label anyways.
Me Myself
Back to my username
It depends on how you define monitheism
I believe and worship more than one god, but this are still seen as manifestations of the same god.
If it works for thre trinity, then logic would say it doesnt matter if its three or a hundred.
Not that I care a heck of a lot about being called monotheist or polytheist. In a way I see myself as both, but still.