RE: Isn’t pantheism the same thing as atheism?
March 15, 2021 at 12:32 pm
(This post was last modified: March 15, 2021 at 12:35 pm by The Grand Nudger.)
(March 14, 2021 at 11:45 am)Ferrocyanide Wrote: Some people call it Spinoza’s god.
To answer the OPQ, and specifically with regards to this example - probably, yes. Spinoza was an atheist but gets remembered as history's most famous pantheist due to the necessity of conventions with respect to consequential laws and societal norms which existed at the time. He didn't believe that worshipful awe was an appropriate attitude towards god or nature. There was nothing holy or sacred to nature. He believed that these impulses, though genuinely felt, could only lead to superstitious behavior and submission to ecclesiastic authorities who were, themselves, intellectually bankrupt.
If a person indicates that they believe in spinozas god™ - they're telling you that they don't believe in a god at all.
(March 15, 2021 at 12:01 pm)Mister Agenda Wrote: So is pantheism just naming the universe God?
Not as a position, no - but in practice....? Well, yeah, nine times out of ten. In my experience, contemporary pantheists are describing a religion of nature - not a belief in gods or that nature/universe is god-alike or a part of some god or god-alike whatsit.
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