Our Entry in the Encyclopedia of Religion and Nature

Founded in 1975, the Universal Pantheist Society (UPS) is the world’s oldest membership organization dedicatesd to the advancement of modem
pantheism. The Society's stated purposes are "to unite Pantheists every whete into acommon fellowship, to undertake the conveyance of information about Pantheism to the interested public, to encourage discussion and communication among Pantheists, to provide mutual aid and defense of Pantheists everywhere, to stimulate a revision of social attitudes away from anthropocentrism and toward reverence for the Earth and avision of Nature as the ultimate context for human existence, and to take appropriate action toward the protection and restoration of the Earth.

The Society's name underscores its "universal" in outlook, not tied to any single view of Pantheism, but rather recognizing a diversity of viewpoints within it.

UPS accepts and explores various interpretations of pantheism, stressing the importance of each member's personal pantheistic beliefs. Recognizing that freedom of belief is inherent in the Pantheist tradition, the UPS’s bylaws prohibit any particular interpretation of Pantheism or imposition of any particular dogma.

Comments by members on what Pantheism means to them reveals the insights that are our collective faith. One member stated simply: "Being one with all life and nature." Another said, "All are one - am apart of nature
not above nature." Similarly, another wrote, "I am somewhat surprised, but delighted to learn that there are other Pantheists... I find a grand Unity, a wonderful Oneness with the Universe."

This last statement shows Pantheism is not usually something that someone hears from others and then decides to become. Instead, our members typically say they already know how they feel and what they believe about religion and nature, and rejoice when they find the name "Pantheism", which they find an apt term for what they already believe. One new member wrote: "I feel a strange feeling of relief -because for many years I felt the forces of nature were "God" - without ever hearing about Pantheists.

Such statements testify that despite the diversity of viewpoints, members share one consistent direction in looking toward the natural world for our source of spiritual enrichment. Pantheism is an ancient faith experiencing a modem renaissance. Out of this understanding the UPS was born.

Accordingly the overall vision of the Society is more attuned to promoting reverence for nature and an ethical pantheism of responsible action and life-affirming practices than toward philosophical debate regarding the nuances of religion or philosophy. Persons joining the UPS may engage in seeking freedom and nourishment of religious experience from fellow pantheists and through the practice of the spiritual path of Pantheism in ways meaningful to themselves.

UPS publishes a quarterly journal Pantheist Vision and maintains awebsite offering an array of material on pantheism, including articles, reading lists,
and members reflections on their beliefs. An on-line forum addresses questions about pantheism, lifew^s, and other issues. UPS hosts an Ecological Community Preservation Fund that encourages donations from
members to protect natural habitats.

Bibliography

Universal Pantheist Society, "The Pantheist World View," 1979.
Wood, Jr. Harold, "The Inner Source of Pantheism", Universal Pantheist Society Newsletter, Vol. 1, No. 2, Autunm, 1976.
Wood, Jr., Harold, "Modem Pantheism as an Approach to Environmental Ethics," Environmental Ethics, Summer, 1985, pp. 151-

The Encyclopedia of Religion and Nature, originally published in 2005, is a landmark work in the burgeoning field of religion and nature. It covers a vast and interdisciplinary range of material, from thinkers to religious traditions and beyond, with clarity and style. Widely praised by reviewers it is the recipient of two reference work awards since its publication. It includes 1,000 entries from 520 international contributors. The entry (at left) for the Universal Pantheist Society was written by the Society's board of directors.

The Encyclopedia was compiled by University of Florida professor Bron Taylor, whose protege Bernie Zaleha is on our board. Pantheists will be especially interested in his essay "John Muir's Stance Against Anthropocentrism," from the John Muir Global Network and excerpted from his book Dark Green Religion.

For how your own version of Pantheism best fits in the galaxy of Nature spirituality and Earth-and-Cosmos based religious ideas, see Bron Taylor's book and website, Dark Green Religion.

Learn more about the Encyclopedia at religionandnature.com .