One of our long-time board members, the late Gary Suttle, explained the varieties of Pantheism this way:
"An extensive entry in The New Encyclopedia Britannica lists seven forms of Pantheism, but actually, there are as many forms of Pantheism as there are Pantheists to express them! Why? In Christianity and numerous other faiths, adherents follow the teachings of charismatic leaders. In Pantheism, everyone is the 'leader' of their own religion, frequently self-discovered from feeling a sense of divinity in Nature (many persons are at first unaware that there is a name for their self-discovery).
"Imagine looking through a colorful kaleidoscope to view the varieties of Pantheism. Like all pieces in a kaleidoscope, all Pantheists fit together harmoniously, united by their belief in the oneness and sanctity of creation. Yet every piece in the kaleidoscope has unique colors and shadings, just as every Pantheist has unique colors and shadings which personalize their beliefs.
"Scientific pantheism grades into atheism, naturalism, and humanism, which reject the divinity of Nature. Panentheism grades into theism, polytheism, and spiritualism, which may acknowledge divinity in Nature (and in so doing can lead to confusion with Pantheism). However, theism, polytheism, and spiritualism incorporate supernatural entities (such as angels and devils) and otherworldly elements (such as communication with the dead) entirely incompatible with Pantheism's view of a wholly natural world.
"The following diagram generalizes contemporary pantheistically inclined viewpoints. Adherents spread across the spectrum, some in the center of a category, others at some point in between. From modern reference book-defined Pantheism, to the strict materialism of Scientific Pantheism, and the broad transcendence of Panentheism, all outlooks consider the Universe divine, and all contain a religious sensibility rich in poetry, mystery, and imagination, kindled by the enthralling wonder of Nature."
"An extensive entry in The New Encyclopedia Britannica lists seven forms of Pantheism, but actually, there are as many forms of Pantheism as there are Pantheists to express them! Why? In Christianity and numerous other faiths, adherents follow the teachings of charismatic leaders. In Pantheism, everyone is the 'leader' of their own religion, frequently self-discovered from feeling a sense of divinity in Nature (many persons are at first unaware that there is a name for their self-discovery).
"Imagine looking through a colorful kaleidoscope to view the varieties of Pantheism. Like all pieces in a kaleidoscope, all Pantheists fit together harmoniously, united by their belief in the oneness and sanctity of creation. Yet every piece in the kaleidoscope has unique colors and shadings, just as every Pantheist has unique colors and shadings which personalize their beliefs.
"Scientific pantheism grades into atheism, naturalism, and humanism, which reject the divinity of Nature. Panentheism grades into theism, polytheism, and spiritualism, which may acknowledge divinity in Nature (and in so doing can lead to confusion with Pantheism). However, theism, polytheism, and spiritualism incorporate supernatural entities (such as angels and devils) and otherworldly elements (such as communication with the dead) entirely incompatible with Pantheism's view of a wholly natural world.
"The following diagram generalizes contemporary pantheistically inclined viewpoints. Adherents spread across the spectrum, some in the center of a category, others at some point in between. From modern reference book-defined Pantheism, to the strict materialism of Scientific Pantheism, and the broad transcendence of Panentheism, all outlooks consider the Universe divine, and all contain a religious sensibility rich in poetry, mystery, and imagination, kindled by the enthralling wonder of Nature."
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