Naturalistic pantheism
Encyclopedia
Naturalistic pantheism is a naturalistic
form of pantheism
that encompasses feelings of reverence and belonging towards nature and the wider universe, but is realist
and embraces rationalism
and the scientific method
. It presupposes metaphysical naturalism
and as such it affirms the nonexistence of supernatural realms, afterlives, beings or forces.
has a long history but the term "pantheistic" was first used in English John Toland
to described the "opinion of those who believe in no other eternal being but the universe". . Thus Toland was probably the first naturalistic pantheist. Naturalistic pantheism is a relatively modern term, probably first used in the pages and email forums of the World Pantheist Movement
.
Naturalistic pantheists have included the 19th century German naturalist Ernst Haeckel
and the 20th century physicist Albert Einstein
.
The Roman Catholic Church
has attacked pantheism repeatedly since the mid-19th century, but most recently its attacks have been on the naturalistic version of pantheism in the encyclical Caritas in Veritate
of 2009 and the Pope's New Year's Day statement on January 1, 2010.
, as progressively revealed by the scientific method and rational interpretations of sensory information. Thus naturalistic pantheism does not believe in any Creator-deity distinct from nature, but rather that nature itself is the self-originating source of all being. This implies that anything referenced to as God or Deity
within naturalistic pantheism can equally well be associated with an impersonal physical process.
Some versions of naturalistic pantheism, including that of the World Pantheist Movement, embrace some notion of natural rights
, concern themselves with the welfare of humans and all living beings, and promote care for the environment (see secular humanism
); while others regard all human instincts and behaviors as part of the natural world, and thus do not adopt ethical and environmentalist attitudes (see amoralism
or moral nihilism). "Morality" is not objective, but codes of conduct are drawn from the need to coexist in a society.
Although naturalistic pantheism does not include belief in a personal afterlife, believers often promote ideas and even rituals to make the life and death process socially meaningful. These include the promotion of the ideas of genetic inheritance, persistence through memories and the results of actions. Additional solace is gained by the assertion that the matter which composes the human organism is neither created nor destroyed
and is recycled into other forms upon death.
It has been argued that the non-traditional God of pantheism is not God
(according to the orthodox theistic definition), suggesting that this form of pantheism is compatible with atheism. Many atheists choose the term "naturalistic pantheist" over "atheist" because it is a positive term describing what is affirmed and not a negative term describing what is denied.
and dualism
. This form of pantheism would be philosophically categorized as monist physicalist pantheism. It is believed that all phenomena are brought about through emergence
from physical processes. This is a widely held belief among scientists.
. The WPM website defines Naturalistic Pantheism as having the following characteristics:
The widest known complete expression of Naturalistic Pantheism is the belief statement of the World Pantheist Movement
.
Naturalism (philosophy)
Naturalism commonly refers to the philosophical viewpoint that the natural universe and its natural laws and forces operate in the universe, and that nothing exists beyond the natural universe or, if it does, it does not affect the natural universe that we know...
form of pantheism
Pantheism
Pantheism is the view that the Universe and God are identical. Pantheists thus do not believe in a personal, anthropomorphic or creator god. The word derives from the Greek meaning "all" and the Greek meaning "God". As such, Pantheism denotes the idea that "God" is best seen as a process of...
that encompasses feelings of reverence and belonging towards nature and the wider universe, but is realist
Philosophical realism
Contemporary philosophical realism is the belief that our reality, or some aspect of it, is ontologically independent of our conceptual schemes, linguistic practices, beliefs, etc....
and embraces rationalism
Rationalism
In epistemology and in its modern sense, rationalism is "any view appealing to reason as a source of knowledge or justification" . In more technical terms, it is a method or a theory "in which the criterion of the truth is not sensory but intellectual and deductive"...
and the scientific method
Scientific method
Scientific method refers to a body of techniques for investigating phenomena, acquiring new knowledge, or correcting and integrating previous knowledge. To be termed scientific, a method of inquiry must be based on gathering empirical and measurable evidence subject to specific principles of...
. It presupposes metaphysical naturalism
Metaphysical naturalism
Metaphysical naturalism, also called ontological naturalism and philosophical naturalism, or just naturalism, is a philosophical worldview and belief system that holds that there is nothing but natural elements, principles, and relations of the kind studied by the natural sciences, i.e., those...
and as such it affirms the nonexistence of supernatural realms, afterlives, beings or forces.
History
PantheismPantheism
Pantheism is the view that the Universe and God are identical. Pantheists thus do not believe in a personal, anthropomorphic or creator god. The word derives from the Greek meaning "all" and the Greek meaning "God". As such, Pantheism denotes the idea that "God" is best seen as a process of...
has a long history but the term "pantheistic" was first used in English John Toland
John Toland
John Toland was a rationalist philosopher and freethinker, and occasional satirist, who wrote numerous books and pamphlets on political philosophy and philosophy of religion, which are early expressions of the philosophy of the Age of Enlightenment...
to described the "opinion of those who believe in no other eternal being but the universe". . Thus Toland was probably the first naturalistic pantheist. Naturalistic pantheism is a relatively modern term, probably first used in the pages and email forums of the World Pantheist Movement
World Pantheist Movement
The World Pantheist Movement is the world's largest organization of people associated with pantheism, a philosophy which asserts that spirituality should be centered on nature...
.
Naturalistic pantheists have included the 19th century German naturalist Ernst Haeckel
Ernst Haeckel
The "European War" became known as "The Great War", and it was not until 1920, in the book "The First World War 1914-1918" by Charles à Court Repington, that the term "First World War" was used as the official name for the conflict.-Research:...
and the 20th century physicist Albert Einstein
Albert Einstein
Albert Einstein was a German-born theoretical physicist who developed the theory of general relativity, effecting a revolution in physics. For this achievement, Einstein is often regarded as the father of modern physics and one of the most prolific intellects in human history...
.
The Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
has attacked pantheism repeatedly since the mid-19th century, but most recently its attacks have been on the naturalistic version of pantheism in the encyclical Caritas in Veritate
Caritas in Veritate
Caritas in Veritate is the third encyclical of Pope Benedict XVI and his first social encyclical. It was signed on June 29, 2009, and was published on July 7, 2009...
of 2009 and the Pope's New Year's Day statement on January 1, 2010.
Beliefs
The core of naturalistic pantheism is reverence and respect for nature and the wider universeUniverse
The Universe is commonly defined as the totality of everything that exists, including all matter and energy, the planets, stars, galaxies, and the contents of intergalactic space. Definitions and usage vary and similar terms include the cosmos, the world and nature...
, as progressively revealed by the scientific method and rational interpretations of sensory information. Thus naturalistic pantheism does not believe in any Creator-deity distinct from nature, but rather that nature itself is the self-originating source of all being. This implies that anything referenced to as God or Deity
Deity
A deity is a recognized preternatural or supernatural immortal being, who may be thought of as holy, divine, or sacred, held in high regard, and respected by believers....
within naturalistic pantheism can equally well be associated with an impersonal physical process.
Some versions of naturalistic pantheism, including that of the World Pantheist Movement, embrace some notion of natural rights
Natural rights
Natural and legal rights are two types of rights theoretically distinct according to philosophers and political scientists. Natural rights are rights not contingent upon the laws, customs, or beliefs of any particular culture or government, and therefore universal and inalienable...
, concern themselves with the welfare of humans and all living beings, and promote care for the environment (see secular humanism
Secular humanism
Secular Humanism, alternatively known as Humanism , is a secular philosophy that embraces human reason, ethics, justice, and the search for human fulfillment...
); while others regard all human instincts and behaviors as part of the natural world, and thus do not adopt ethical and environmentalist attitudes (see amoralism
Moral nihilism
Moral nihilism is the meta-ethical view that nothing is moral or immoral. For example, a moral nihilist would say that killing someone, for whatever reason, is neither inherently right nor inherently wrong...
or moral nihilism). "Morality" is not objective, but codes of conduct are drawn from the need to coexist in a society.
Although naturalistic pantheism does not include belief in a personal afterlife, believers often promote ideas and even rituals to make the life and death process socially meaningful. These include the promotion of the ideas of genetic inheritance, persistence through memories and the results of actions. Additional solace is gained by the assertion that the matter which composes the human organism is neither created nor destroyed
First law of thermodynamics
The first law of thermodynamics is an expression of the principle of conservation of work.The law states that energy can be transformed, i.e. changed from one form to another, but cannot be created nor destroyed...
and is recycled into other forms upon death.
Naturalistic pantheism and classical atheism
Since there is no deity of a personal nature in naturalistic pantheism, some argue that it is in essence atheistic. Differences from atheism mainly come from the emotional and esthetic responses to nature and the universe, rather than differences in the beliefs themselves. Naturalistic pantheism is defined to be consistent with modern science, although science is purely a base and provides no moral interpretation.It has been argued that the non-traditional God of pantheism is not God
God
God is the English name given to a singular being in theistic and deistic religions who is either the sole deity in monotheism, or a single deity in polytheism....
(according to the orthodox theistic definition), suggesting that this form of pantheism is compatible with atheism. Many atheists choose the term "naturalistic pantheist" over "atheist" because it is a positive term describing what is affirmed and not a negative term describing what is denied.
Monist Physicalism
The key aspect of this form of pantheism is the rejection of idealismIdealism
In philosophy, idealism is the family of views which assert that reality, or reality as we can know it, is fundamentally mental, mentally constructed, or otherwise immaterial. Epistemologically, idealism manifests as a skepticism about the possibility of knowing any mind-independent thing...
and dualism
Dualism
Dualism denotes a state of two parts. The term 'dualism' was originally coined to denote co-eternal binary opposition, a meaning that is preserved in metaphysical and philosophical duality discourse but has been diluted in general or common usages. Dualism can refer to moral dualism, Dualism (from...
. This form of pantheism would be philosophically categorized as monist physicalist pantheism. It is believed that all phenomena are brought about through emergence
Emergence
In philosophy, systems theory, science, and art, emergence is the way complex systems and patterns arise out of a multiplicity of relatively simple interactions. Emergence is central to the theories of integrative levels and of complex systems....
from physical processes. This is a widely held belief among scientists.
Organizations
The primary naturalistic/scientific pantheist organization is the World Pantheist MovementWorld Pantheist Movement
The World Pantheist Movement is the world's largest organization of people associated with pantheism, a philosophy which asserts that spirituality should be centered on nature...
. The WPM website defines Naturalistic Pantheism as having the following characteristics:
- Reverence, awe, wonder and a feeling of belonging to Nature and the wider Universe.
- Respect and active care for the rights of all humans and other living beings.
- Celebration of our lives in our bodies on this beautiful earth as a joy and a privilege.
- Realism - acceptance that the external world exists independently of human consciousness or perception.
- Strong naturalism - without belief in supernatural realms, afterlives, beings or forces.
- Respect for reason, evidence and the scientific method as our best ways of understanding nature and the Universe.
The widest known complete expression of Naturalistic Pantheism is the belief statement of the World Pantheist Movement
World Pantheist Movement
The World Pantheist Movement is the world's largest organization of people associated with pantheism, a philosophy which asserts that spirituality should be centered on nature...
.
See also
- MaterialismMaterialismIn philosophy, the theory of materialism holds that the only thing that exists is matter; that all things are composed of material and all phenomena are the result of material interactions. In other words, matter is the only substance...
- Metaphysical naturalismMetaphysical naturalismMetaphysical naturalism, also called ontological naturalism and philosophical naturalism, or just naturalism, is a philosophical worldview and belief system that holds that there is nothing but natural elements, principles, and relations of the kind studied by the natural sciences, i.e., those...
- Moral universeMoral universeMoral universe has two distinct meanings which are found throughout the literature. One relates to the moral nature of the universe as a whole and thus to human life, and the other refers to the many moral universes of people, groups, things and concepts....
- Naturalism (philosophy)Naturalism (philosophy)Naturalism commonly refers to the philosophical viewpoint that the natural universe and its natural laws and forces operate in the universe, and that nothing exists beyond the natural universe or, if it does, it does not affect the natural universe that we know...
- Neutral monismNeutral monismNeutral monism, in philosophy, is the metaphysical view that the mental and the physical are two ways of organizing or describing the same elements, which are themselves "neutral," that is, neither physical nor mental. This view denies that the mental and the physical are two fundamentally...
- PanentheismPanentheismPanentheism is a belief system which posits that God exists, interpenetrates every part of nature and timelessly extends beyond it...
- PantheismPantheismPantheism is the view that the Universe and God are identical. Pantheists thus do not believe in a personal, anthropomorphic or creator god. The word derives from the Greek meaning "all" and the Greek meaning "God". As such, Pantheism denotes the idea that "God" is best seen as a process of...
- PhysicalismPhysicalismPhysicalism is a philosophical position holding that everything which exists is no more extensive than its physical properties; that is, that there are no kinds of things other than physical things...
- Quantum field theoryQuantum field theoryQuantum field theory provides a theoretical framework for constructing quantum mechanical models of systems classically parametrized by an infinite number of dynamical degrees of freedom, that is, fields and many-body systems. It is the natural and quantitative language of particle physics and...
- Quantum mindQuantum mindThe quantum mind or quantum consciousness hypothesis proposes that classical mechanics cannot explain consciousness, while quantum mechanical phenomena, such as quantum entanglement and superposition, may play an important part in the brain's function, and could form the basis of an explanation of...
- ReductionismReductionismReductionism can mean either an approach to understanding the nature of complex things by reducing them to the interactions of their parts, or to simpler or more fundamental things or a philosophical position that a complex system is nothing but the sum of its parts, and that an account of it can...
- Religious naturalismReligious naturalismReligious naturalism is an approach to spirituality that is devoid of supernaturalism. The focus is on the religious attributes of the universe/Nature, the understanding of it and our response to it . These provide for the development of an eco-morality...
- World Pantheist MovementWorld Pantheist MovementThe World Pantheist Movement is the world's largest organization of people associated with pantheism, a philosophy which asserts that spirituality should be centered on nature...