Until this moment, I did not know what a "Pantheistic Deity" was. Here is the definition I found:
Pantheism is the view that the Universe (Nature) and God are identical.[1] Pantheists thus do not believe in a personal, anthropomorphic or creator god. The word derives from the Ancient Greek: πᾶν (pan) meaning ‘all’ and θεός (theos) meaning ‘God’. As such, Pantheism denotes the idea that “God” is best seen as a way of relating to the Universe.[2] Although there are divergences within Pantheism, the central ideas found in almost all versions are the Cosmos as an all-encompassing unity and the sacredness of Nature.
Issues
Use of religious vocabulary
A significant debate within the pantheistic community is about the use of the word “God.” Pantheists do not believe in a God in the common and traditional sense of a personal creator being. Some modern Pantheists avoid using God-words altogether, since they regard them as misleading. Others feel that the word God is essential to express the strength of their feelings towards Nature and the Universe.
Some critics have argued that pantheism is little more than a redefinition of the word “God” to mean “Nature,” “Universe”, or “reality”. However, in Pantheism the word God, when used, is more an expression of the user’s feelings rather than of some supernatural power in the Universe.
When pantheism is considered as an alternative to theism there is a denial of theistic claims. For example, theism is the belief in a “personal” God that transcends (is separate from) the world. Pantheists deny the existence of a personal God. They deny the existence of a “minded” Being that has intentional states and associated capacities like the ability to make decisions.
I am understanding that a Pantheistic Deity, is not personal, and is not separate from the world, or above it. A Pantheistic Deity is not a Creator of the Universe, but Nature and the Universe itself. If this is so, then, I don't have a personal saviour, and I am no more special than any other entity, including a rock, or a flower, or a butterfly.
Even I, a person who feels inadequate, unworthy, and at times as lowly as a worm, think that in the grand scope of things, my existence means more than that of any of these things.
There are disagreements as to whether Pantheism is atheistic or not. Atheists argue the non-theistic god of pantheism is not a god (according to the traditional definition),[13] while others suggest a deity is not necessarily transcendent.[14]
Day Three and What Drives My Life?
One of my followers, threw some thoughts into, my "Shift". I think it is no coincidence, and, I am searching, so, I have to admit I am a little intrigued. For some reason, I am not afraid of new ideas or concepts about God, in fact, I welcome them.
I have always thought of God as the Creator of all things. Perhaps this was taught to me during my childhood, or just a absorbed by osmosis by society around me. I am not sure.
I did not attend church as a child until the age of eleven, and I honestly don't remember any religious rituals, other than my mom teaching us to say our prayers each night, which consisted of:
"Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep,
if I should die before I wake, I pray the Lord my soul would take.
God bless Mommy and Daddy, Jimmy and Davey, Jackie and Danny, and all those I love. Amen"
I would usually throw in Susie Q too or any other pets we had at the time too, and quite frankly, this prayer scared the crap out of me, especially the part about dying before I wake, and taking my soul. I didn't understand it at all, and I never found it comforting except for the Blessings part. I always like the part about blessings...
My mom would always say "Do unto others, as you would have them do unto you", and she said this was the Golden Rule, and the only rule we needed to live by. I thought about this a lot, and understood it, and tried hard to live by it. I was a good kid, a really good, sweet kid. I never wanted to hurt anyone or anything.
I loved nature, animals, the sky, trees, the stars, all of this, but not once did I see it as God. I always thought God created a beautiful world.
I stopped believing in God for a time, when evil touched my life, I began to believe in darkness, and fear, and unfairness, guilt, resentment and anger, pain, the approval of others, and materialism, and I let these things drive my life...I didn't care much about the golden rule. Now I think, hurt people, hurt people, including themselves.
Today, mostly fear and guilt, drive my life. What do I want it to be? God and LOVE.
"You Lord give perfect peace to those who keep their purpose firm and put their trust in you" Isaiah 26:3
I can honestly say, the things that have been driving my life have not brought me peace. I want to trust in a Good God, but I am not sure I know how to do that, but I want to. I want change, more than I want to stay where I am. I hope there is a personal God, a loving God. I pray that He would reveal himself to me, I am also praying for ENERGY.
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