Transtheism - What Is It?

[McBell]

It has come up in another thread and even had this link:

Transtheism - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

​

Problem is the link did not clarify anything for me.

 

[sun rise]

I'm not really sure but what appears to being suggested is the reconciliation of theism and atheism. Theism asserts there is God (or gods). Atheism is the opposite position. Both are ideas of the mind. But from what I read there's various views of the meaning of the word.

Personally I focused on "they are transcended by moksha". Advaita is a non-dual view so realization of the truth of advaita means that the dual ideas of theism and atheist are experienced to be as false as all other mental dual concepts.

 

[SalixIncendium]

I'm not sure if this post helps clarify my position: https://www.religiousforums.com/threads/is-transtheism-a-non-theistic-position.273951/#post-8361108

In the simplest terms, transtheism is a position that acknowledges that gods exist in transactional reality but are irrelevant to the transtheist. A transtheist would have no practical use for them.

 

[McBell]

Lets use me as an example.
I do not believe nor disbelieve in any deity.
It really matters not to me if one (or more) exists or not.
Mainly because they have not shown any interest in me.

Now if one or more show me they are interested in me, I will have to adjust my position.

 

[Alien826]

I had not heard the word before, but "trans" suggests a movement from or through something (transfer. transition, etc). So, and I think the link supports this, to be a transtheist one would need to have to have been a believer in some religion, or have moved through such. I don't think simply not caring about theism one way or the other qualifies. Hmmm, I suppose one could jump straight into such a position, but the adopted belief would still contain the element of having "transed" another belief, no?

 

[The Hammer]

Lets use me as an example.
I do not believe nor disbelieve in any deity.
It really matters not to me if one (or more) exists or not.

Agnostic then. Not transtheist.

Mainly because they have not shown any interest in me.

You could very well be missing the messages. It takes development of philosophical discernment and internal focus to notice the message from the noise.

Now if one or more show me they are interested in me, I will have to adjust my position.

What are you looking for?

No God drops from the sky holding a neon sign pointing to themselves and says! Follow me, believe me! You have to look for them.

 

[Left Coast]

I'm not sure if this post helps clarify my position: https://www.religiousforums.com/threads/is-transtheism-a-non-theistic-position.273951/#post-8361108

In the simplest terms, transtheism is a position that acknowledges that gods exist in transactional reality but are irrelevant to the transtheist. A transtheist would have no practical use for them.

What does "transactional reality" mean?

 

[The Hammer]

What does "transactional reality" mean?

Physical/material world. The realm where cause and effect are occuring.

 

[SalixIncendium]

What does "transactional reality" mean?

The reality one perceives in waking consciousness.

 

[SalixIncendium]

Lets use me as an example.
I do not believe nor disbelieve in any deity.
It really matters not to me if one (or more) exists or not.
Mainly because they have not shown any interest in me.

Now if one or more show me they are interested in me, I will have to adjust my position.

If you've shown no interest in them, why would they show interest in you?

Imagine seeking a relationship with a person using this logic. I would guess that one would remain single indefinitely.

 

[Left Coast]

The reality one perceives in waking consciousness.

Okay, so just...reality, then?

 

[SalixIncendium]

Okay, so just...reality, then?

Are you asking for further clarification or trying to make a point?

 

[Left Coast]

Are you asking for further clarification or trying to make a point?

I'm not sure yet. You seemed to think it was important to say gods exist "in transactional reality" rather than just say "gods exist." I'm trying to figure out if there's a meaningful difference.

 

[SalixIncendium]

I'm not sure yet. You seemed to think it was important to say gods exist "in transactional reality" rather than just say "gods exist." I'm trying to figure out if there's a meaningful difference.

Not from the perspective of "just...reality."

 

[Left Coast]

Not from the perspective of "just...reality."

Say more.

 

[SalixIncendium]

Say more.

From the perspective of Ultimate Reality, gods, as with anything else experienced in transactional reality, are a temporary appearance. Similarly, anything you experienced in your dream as you slept last night was a temporary appearance in transactional reality.

 

[Kfox]

Lets use me as an example.
I do not believe nor disbelieve in any deity.

Would it be fair to say you are a non-believer?

 

[McBell]

Agnostic then. Not transtheist.

You could very well be missing the messages. It takes development of philosophical discernment and internal focus to notice the message from the noise.



What are you looking for?

No God drops from the sky holding a neon sign pointing to themselves and says! Follow me, believe me! You have to look for them.

I am not looking for either.
If it happens, great.
If it does not happen, great.

I have not enough interest to chase one down.

 

[McBell]

If you've shown no interest in them, why would they show interest in you?

Imagine seeking a relationship with a person using this logic. I would guess that one would remain single indefinitely.

My point is that they have not shown an interest in me.
Which may very well be because I have not hunted one down.

 

[Left Coast]

From the perspective of Ultimate Reality, gods, as with anything else experienced in transactional reality, are a temporary appearance. Similarly, anything you experienced in your dream as you slept last night was a temporary appearance in transactional reality.

So there's no distinction to be made between the reality of the potted plant I'm looking at right now and the monster I had a dream about once?