What Is God To You?

[The Sum of Awe]

Please fellow pantheists respond to these questions:

Do you believe that God, the universe, is conscious or at least living?


What does God mean to you? What makes the universe God? What exactly is divinity and why is the universe divine?


What are your personal thoughts of a soul and the survival of a person after their death?


How does pantheism effect your daily life?


And, what are some practices that relate to your pantheism?

 

[Whiterain]

Depends on your version of "God". A cosmic deity was invented to meet
all needs, not exactly personified, continuing to evolve to suit the needs of
people. To many people want a God that meets their needs.

You worship this barbarian!?

ODIN!!!

 

[Willamena]

Please fellow pantheists respond to these questions:

Do you believe that God, the universe, is conscious or at least living?

Consciousness does not differ from the universe. The very "I" staring at the universe out of your eyeballs does not differ from what it is comprehending. The sensation of wind, the warmth of sun, the press of your toes into warm sand, and the sharp sting of hunger in your belly do not differ from the comprehension of them. They "live" in you (to quote Rafiki).

If you mean for the universe to be an "other," a stranger seeing you or some thing watching over you, that's not what I believe.

What does God mean to you? What makes the universe God? What exactly is divinity and why is the universe divine?

Divinity, in every form, pantheist, theist or other, means what lies on the other side of the divide. The divide is the veil that separates the known, defined, and spoken from the unknowable, undefinable, unspoken. This comes in many images, complements of the desire to use language to de-scribe what has, through consciousness, been scribed, or understood. With our inadequate languages, we stand-under the world; in our cleverness, we think we have adequately captured the world in our words. In wisdom, we know we have not (reference Socrates).

I believe the basic forms of theism are a matter of where that divide gets placed in an ontological picture. In my pantheism, where mind does not differ from the ontologically real world, that line is drawn in the recognition that the moment of consciousness is an inconceivable instance of creation suspended in absolutely nothing. The universe is also.

What are your personal thoughts of a soul and the survival of a person after their death?

Again, it depends on where the divide gets placed. Every occurrence of that divide is the product of imagination, but imagination is delimited by things like social conventions, what is logical, allowable or conceivable that will shape what these words mean to someone.

To me, the soul isn't a useful concept and death is just a sad thought.

How does pantheism effect your daily life?

It doesn't differ from daily life.

And, what are some practices that relate to your pantheism?

Brushing my teeth. Petting the cat. Taking delight in the morning sunrise.

 

[Infinitum]

Do you believe that God, the universe, is conscious or at least living?
Coming from a naturalistic pantheist viewpoint no, I don't believe the universe itself is conscious. Part of it is obviously conscious and alive, as we can see on our planet. For me the value of the natural world is actually increased on some level by it not being conscious in itself. Somehow it feels giving it some sort of personality would diminish the awe-inspiring wildness of it all.

What does God mean to you? What makes the universe God? What exactly is divinity and why is the universe divine?
I don't really want to use the term God when relating to the universe. Even divinity is a tricky concept, because it has the connotation of something coming from the outside and being attached to physical reality, instead of arising from physical reality itself. The divinity of the universe for me stems from the role it has in our lives. We wouldn't be here if it wasn't for the vast space out there that gave birth to our solar system over the course of a time so long we can't even begin to imagine it. We're capable of understanding how the universe works, while at the same time its true nature is so far beyond our human brain we're only able to grasp it through abstraction. The universe is a mystery, but contrary to many other mysteries, unlocking its secrets is actually able to shed light on some of the big spiritual questions, like why we're here and what our place is in the greater scheme of things.

What are your personal thoughts of a soul and the survival of a person after their death?
I'm highly sceptical there is such a thing as a soul. If there happens to be, then I don't mind, but I see no evidence for why there would be one. For me it's enough to know that I'm a link in the endless cycle of destruction and recreation. The atoms in my body were once in the heart of a star, when I die they will go on to become a tree and eventually perhaps join a star again. Who needs a soul with a future like that?

How does pantheism effect your daily life?
The appreciation for nature is at the back of my thoughts in various situations. I'm not an extremist hippie or anything, but I do my best to be environmentally conscious. I don't kill animals if I don't have to (not even bugs) and occasionally give a thought to the animals I eat, even if I eat them. The most obvious thing I guess is paying much more attention to what's happening in nature than people do on average.

And, what are some practices that relate to your pantheism?
My mental well-being is clearly tied to how often I get to walk in the forest. I visit forests as often as I can and just walk out there looking for signs of what the animals are up to and what's changed since I visited last time. Other than that I'd say just leading a life that allows retaining a connection to the grander scale of things. On some days it can be something as small as looking out of the window to watch the trees for a while.

 

[Ouroboros]

Do you believe that God, the universe, is conscious or at least living?

Living, yes, in a sense. It's an organism. Ever changing and dynamic.

Conscious... Can't say. I believe consciousness, as we know of it, can be in so many different ways, and I don't think we can understand how it comes to be either. In other words, it could be, or maybe it isn't. I'm agnostic on that point.

What does God mean to you?

The supreme power, ground of existence, the mystery of life.

What makes the universe God?

Because it's there. It's bigger than me, beyond my comprehension. It existed before me, will exist eternally, produced me, maintains me, and the particles making up my body will go back to it when I'm done.

What exactly is divinity and why is the universe divine?

The mind, consciousness, awareness, emotions, beauty, ... it's all divine.

The universe is divine because it produced all what is divine.

What are your personal thoughts of a soul and the survival of a person after their death?

It's a mystery.

And I don't think my personal mind, memory, etc will survive. I'm unique, right now, and when I'm gone, it will just be another phase of existence.

How does pantheism effect your daily life?

I can live everyday in awe of being alive and experience all these things, good or bad.

And, what are some practices that relate to your pantheism?

Living. Breathing. Eating. Drinking. Socializing. Learning. Being...

 

[Jainarayan]

Please fellow pantheists respond to these questions:

I'm not sure whether I'm pantheist or panentheist. Lately I am leaning towards pantheism, so here goes:

Do you believe that God, the universe, is conscious or at least living?

Living yes, because it changes, grows, dies, give birth; conscious, I don't know. There are too many things that don't support randomness. That's why I think there is a degree of consciousness involved.

What does God mean to you? What makes the universe God? What exactly is divinity and why is the universe divine?

God and existence - some people say "the universe" - are one and the same. There's the pantheism. The universe or universes, and material and non-material existence are manifestations of God. In panentheism God is a separate entity from the rest of "creation", transcending and being immanent. That, imo, goes against my belief sarvam khalvidam brahma - "all of this is God".

What are your personal thoughts of a soul and the survival of a person after their death?

I'm not sure. Some schools of Hinduism tells us that there is a distinct atma, soul, the same yet not the same as God. Other schools say the soul is completely separate. I lean towards our soul/atma being non-different from God, aham brahmasmi - "I am God", meaning. That sounds egotistical, but this explains it with a simple analogy:

If a gold bracelet could speak: Imagine two possibilities of what a gold bracelet might say, if it could speak. It might say one of these two things:

"I am a bracelet!"
"I am gold!"
Bracelet is temporary: Which is more true, more everlasting? We might be tempted to say that #1 is more accurate, in that bracelet seems more encompassing, being both bracelet and gold at the same time. However, the bracelet aspect is not eternal. It is temporary. It is only a matter of the particular shape in which the gold was molded. Is bracelet what it really is?

Gold is everlasting: What is always true, is #2, that "I am gold," everlasting, ever pure, and not subject to death, decay, and decomposition. (One might argue that gold is not everlasting either, but in the metaphor, gold is being only used as an example.)

Mahavakyas: Great Contemplations of Advaita Vedanta

We have a material life force, the jiva, which comes and goes. I think we keep re-manifesting and recycling as each body passes. Now, this goes against traditional Hindu and even Buddhist thought, but I believe our material nature can re-manifest as part of a star, a planet, a reindeer, but our soul is what it is and never changes.

How does pantheism effect your daily life?

It should make me see that we are not separate from each other, but are interconnected materially and spiritually, but I usually don't see that.

And, what are some practices that relate to your pantheism?

Helping others, which helps myself. Another Sanskrit saying is nara seva narayana seva - "service to man is service to God".

 

[StarryNightshade]

P

Do you believe that God, the universe, is conscious or at least living?

I do believe that it is living. After all, it is continuously changing and expanding. Conscious? That I'm not too entirely sure of.

What does God mean to you? What makes the universe God? What exactly is divinity and why is the universe divine?

"God", as we call it, is the divine manifesting itself in nature; which itself carries the essence of individual divinities.

What is "divinity"? I think the essence of all that there is.

Why is the universe (or nature) divine? Just look at it.

What are your personal thoughts of a soul and the survival of a person after their death?

All I know is that we return to the earth. Beyond that I'm not too sure. I do think reincarnation is possible.

How does pantheism effect your daily life?

Not much. It just is.

And, what are some practices that relate to your pantheism?

Revering individual divinites, revering nature, just looking up at a night sky, knowing my place in this grand scheme, etc.

 

[ShivaFan]

God and Goddess my lodestone, my magic wand, my door, to experience and to the great experience, to the greatest adventure and the greatest experience.

 

[idav]

The universe is living because divinity is about existence and life manifested, a creative spark that has the potential for many forms of life even complex as humans.

I see the universe as a soul. I do believe there to be a greater observer due to the fact that the parts are percieving.

In daily life it allows me to see things more integrated and meaningful because of it. Almost like existence can be seen as a machine or suoer computer even.

Every thing I do I try and do with the attitude that this earth is part of my family. Not always easy but a good exercise that allows me to approach things with compassion that comes more naturally, avoiding forced sorts of caring.

 

[Orbit]

Please fellow pantheists respond to these questions:

Do you believe that God, the universe, is conscious or at least living?

I am honestly not sure. The universe obeys laws; it that a kind of consciousness?

What does God mean to you? What makes the universe God? What exactly is divinity and why is the universe divine?

I am trying to figure out the difference between divinity and what I perceive as the pantheistic universe. Chalk up another "don't know"

What are your personal thoughts of a soul and the survival of a person after their death?

I don't think we survive in any supernatural way; our elements return to the earth.

How does pantheism effect your daily life?

I have a greater awareness and appreciation of the world around me.

And, what are some practices that relate to your pantheism?

It does inform my meditation practice.

 

[Orias]

I believe everything that is, is apart of god. Even what isn't. My idea of god is invocation, or will. Perhaps the laws of the universe...or something more emotional or spiritual.

Either way, I wouldnt say its entirely conscious...its just not entirely devoid of spectral influence. There is a limited amount of consciousness and an unlimited amount of unconsciousness, which is where god comes in. Everything has a spirit, but not all things are conscious. So life and general existence itself is a time capsule of sorts. And DNA. God is essentially...adaptability. God will play a role in everything that subjects us to change. You don't even have to believe because its inherit within our nature to attempt to perceive such things.

So its apart of everything, it affects everything, and is not limited to a single consciousness or even groups.

Personally I think this god is called 'Mot' or death.

 

[The Sum of Awe]

Apart of or a part of?

 

[Baladas]

Do you believe that God, the universe, is conscious or at least living?
Yes, I believe that it is both.

What does God mean to you? What makes the universe God? What exactly is divinity and why is the universe divine?

To me, the Divine is a transcendent, yet fully immanent existence. Not a being per se, but almost more of a field of energy. At the same time, god is conscious in some way in itself. The Universe, all of observable reality, is a part of the Divine and I therefore consider everything sacred.

I believe the Universe to be a part of the Divine. I have always loved Nature, and awed by it's majesty. Coupled with this, I have always had an intuitive awareness of a Spiritual undercurrent in the world. To me, this makes it Divine.


What are your personal thoughts of a soul and the survival of a person after their death?

I do believe in an individual soul, but this soul - like everything else - is a part of the Divine. Part of me wants individual survival of the soul to be true, but I am not sure. I have a sort of hunch that in leaving our physical forms, we may merge spiritually with the Divine, much as our bodies break down and merge with the earth.

How does pantheism effect your daily life?
A deep reverence for Nature, a greater value of all forms of life, a renewed sense of wonder.

And, what are some practices that relate to your pantheism?

I meditate frequently, spend more time admiring Nature (especially when camping), etc.

 

[Storm]

Pantheists only, or 'en's too?

 

[Pantheist in NC]

Do you believe that God, the universe, is conscious or at least living?


What does God mean to you? What makes the universe God? What exactly is divinity and why is the universe divine?


What are your personal thoughts of a soul and the survival of a person after their death?


How does pantheism effect your daily life?


And, what are some practices that relate to your pantheism?

Living and Growing? Yes. Conscious? That is a human characteristic.
God means to me, everything in nature and in the universe. Everything in it makes up the whole.
The English word divinity refers to God. To me it is something that has and always will exist. Out of IT comes everything else. It can not be duplicated or destroyed.
I believe the soul is simply the energy that is channeled through living vessels. That energy cannot be duplicated or destroyed. It will be recycled. I do not believe a person's conscious will exist after they pass. That consciousness exists inside the brain which dies along with the being.
Pantheism provides explanations for questions that are hard for those who subscribe to a religion. I feel as though my critical thinking skills are very acute which helps me deal with things in life that would be uncomfortable to deal with otherwise.

 

[Storm]

Living and Growing? Yes. Conscious? That is a human characteristic.

Indeed.

And what are humans, if not a characteristic of the living Godiverse?

Just another perspective.

 

[George-ananda]

Please fellow pantheists respond to these questions:

Do you believe that God, the universe, is conscious or at least living?

I believe He is pure consciousness. In Hinduism that is sat-chit-ananda (being-awareness-bliss).

What does God mean to you? What makes the universe God? What exactly is divinity and why is the universe divine?

God is all there is. The universe can be considered a thought-form of God into which He experiences through finite forms.

What are your personal thoughts of a soul and the survival of a person after their death?

These finite forms of God all realize their source but this takes many, many lifetimes. The individual at death continues his experience until he God-Realizes.

How does pantheism effect your daily life?


And, what are some practices that relate to your pantheism?

I try to live my life from the perspective of the temporariness of what we normally call 'real' and focus on my true purpose Self-Realization. More detachment from the results of my efforts is one effect.

 

[Unveiled Artist]

Merriam Webster Online defines pantheism as "a doctrine that equates God with the forces and laws of the universe." If that is true, I guess I fall under this category but I haven't claimed it.

--

Please fellow pantheists respond to these questions:

Do you believe that God, the universe, is conscious or at least living?

Actually, no. I don't believe the universe, God, so have you is a conscious. I'd say the universe, if you like, is living because the "forces of nature" are all made up of energy. Energy moves because of gravity and the like, so it is living. Energy fuels our bodies and that of living plants and animals. So the last part, yes.

What does God mean to you? What makes the universe God? What exactly is divinity and why is the universe divine?

God to me means the "spirit" that IS life rather than created it. Life is made up of the universe and all living, plants, animals, and humans. What makes the universe God? I'd say because "God" (I don't like the term universe) or the force of nature is the source that keeps everything going. It is what connects everything and everyone together as the universe and as humanity. Divinity I can only describe by gratitude. When we are thankful for being alive, that thankfulness --that feeling that you are grateful to be living--is the divine. It's the Wisdom we have as elders. It's the love we have in our relationships with others--strangers, friends, and family, its the interconnection we have with all living and how we live on Earth that brings our inner beings awareness. It is life.

Universe is divine, well, I rather say Life is divine because without Life you'd cease to exist.

What are your personal thoughts of a soul and the survival of a person after their death?

I believe we all will continue onto the next stage of existence. We are in a cycle and we keep going just as the cycle of life on earth with plants that are born, grow, wither, and die and reborn again. Humans are no different.

My family has seen souls or spirits that have passed on stay on Earth. I think the movie Ghost has some fact to it that maybe those who have not yet passed on need to complete a calling they had not on earth.

I also believe that we are are ancestors and our future generations; so, we live through our family. Our souls exist through our family.

How does pantheism effect your daily life?

It makes me more appreciative in how everything I do affects others. It gives me a better perspective on how I see life and death.

And, what are some practices that relate to your pantheism?

I just lost my grandmother last month. I start praying to her and my mother's mother and give my reverence to them. I believe learning more about my family is learning who I am. Since we are interconnected by one spirit, what best way to know about divinity in all is through those I close to.

 

[mainliner]

Please fellow pantheists respond to these questions:

Do you believe that God, the universe, is conscious or at least living?


What does God mean to you? What makes the universe God? What exactly is divinity and why is the universe divine?


What are your personal thoughts of a soul and the survival of a person after their death?


How does pantheism effect your daily life?


And, what are some practices that relate to your pantheism?

i believe god and everything is energy.


i died in ambulance for about 10 secs and i didnt know it .....it was like your mother turning the light off when your in bed as a child .......just quite and dark...... peacefully understood

the rest of your op iv no idea sorry