Annotated Pantheist Reading List
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In addition to the essays and articles on this website, you will want to go to your local library or bookstore to learn more about Pantheism. We regularly feature book reviews in our quarterly, Pantheist Vision.
For the most comprehensive information about books related to Pantheism, see our Library Catalog on Librarything.com! We also have a list of Books by Members, which are not always explicitly about Pantheism but show compatible ideas and the diversity of our members.
Our late Board Member Emeritus, Gary Suttle, has this to say about the "Holy Books of Pantheism":
"Many religions have sacred texts, like the Koran, the Torah, and the Bible. What about Pantheism?
Pantheists believe Nature and deity are one in the same. So the more we learn about Nature, the more we know about god. Informative writings on Nature may be considered holy texts because they illuminate our concept of divinity. Such books are also ‘inspired’ (by the unbounded inspiration of Nature).
Unlike religions with a single holy text, Pantheists have hundreds of them, many beautifully illustrated! The books may or may not be written by Pantheists themselves, but they further a pantheistic outlook. Volumes by naturalist John Muir, ecologist Aldo Leopold, poet Gary Snyder, scientist Carl Sagan, photographer Ansel Adams, and the works of countless other individuals, enhance communion with Nature.
Every Pantheist has a bookshelf that reflects his or her special interests; my favorite titles include the natural history field guides. These books open our eyes to the marvels of Nature as they draw us nearer to the Earth (animal, plant, and mineral guides), to the sky (weather guides), and to the universe (star guides). Taken together, I think of them as ‘field guides to God,’ to the sacred reality all around us.
I felt a real, if diffused, sense of sacredness in Nature before consulting field guides. But the books gave breadth and depth to my religious feelings by bringing me incloser touch with myriad manifestations of the divine. Now more aware of mysurroundings than ever before, I live in constant amazement at the wonder of it all."
We provide below an annotated bibliography for recommended books related to the world-view of Pantheism, organized by category. Even when not expressly promoting Pantheism, these books feature some of the best, and most important works on the pantheist world view. We have organized this into categories of Experience, Pantheist Ethics and Lifestyles, Pantheist Philosophy, Pantheist History, Pantheist Ethics, Pantheist Temples, and Comparative Religions.
For the most comprehensive information about books related to Pantheism, see our Library Catalog on Librarything.com! We also have a list of Books by Members, which are not always explicitly about Pantheism but show compatible ideas and the diversity of our members.
Our late Board Member Emeritus, Gary Suttle, has this to say about the "Holy Books of Pantheism":
"Many religions have sacred texts, like the Koran, the Torah, and the Bible. What about Pantheism?
Pantheists believe Nature and deity are one in the same. So the more we learn about Nature, the more we know about god. Informative writings on Nature may be considered holy texts because they illuminate our concept of divinity. Such books are also ‘inspired’ (by the unbounded inspiration of Nature).
Unlike religions with a single holy text, Pantheists have hundreds of them, many beautifully illustrated! The books may or may not be written by Pantheists themselves, but they further a pantheistic outlook. Volumes by naturalist John Muir, ecologist Aldo Leopold, poet Gary Snyder, scientist Carl Sagan, photographer Ansel Adams, and the works of countless other individuals, enhance communion with Nature.
Every Pantheist has a bookshelf that reflects his or her special interests; my favorite titles include the natural history field guides. These books open our eyes to the marvels of Nature as they draw us nearer to the Earth (animal, plant, and mineral guides), to the sky (weather guides), and to the universe (star guides). Taken together, I think of them as ‘field guides to God,’ to the sacred reality all around us.
I felt a real, if diffused, sense of sacredness in Nature before consulting field guides. But the books gave breadth and depth to my religious feelings by bringing me incloser touch with myriad manifestations of the divine. Now more aware of mysurroundings than ever before, I live in constant amazement at the wonder of it all."
We provide below an annotated bibliography for recommended books related to the world-view of Pantheism, organized by category. Even when not expressly promoting Pantheism, these books feature some of the best, and most important works on the pantheist world view. We have organized this into categories of Experience, Pantheist Ethics and Lifestyles, Pantheist Philosophy, Pantheist History, Pantheist Ethics, Pantheist Temples, and Comparative Religions.
Pantheist Experiences
Pantheists have "religious experiences" which are contained in the "Way of Celebration." This will include the deep passion we can feel when scanning the stars of the night sky, or watching a squirrel run through the forest, or a stream cascading down a mountain, or a sunset, or gazing into the eyes of a Great Horned Owl. It can also include deliberate "celebrations" or recognitions of significant events - Pantheist Holidays - recognizing historical occurances or stages of life in yourself or your family.
The Sacred Depths of Nature, 2nd Edition by Ursula Goodenough – Book Review by Harold Wood, excerpted from Pantheist Vision. Vol. 40, No. 1, Spring. 2023. (PDF from box.com). This reviews the second edition of the masterwork by Ursula Goodenough In our review of the first edition in 1998, we wrote: "An articulate biology professor strives to "reconcile the modern scientific understanding of reality with our timeless spiritual yearnings for reverence and continuity." The author examines evolution, emotions, sexuality, death and other topics through the lens of science and then focuses on religious emotions elicited by the findings of science. Goddenough describes herself as a"religious naturalist," yet she observes that God may be apprehended "as a pantheistic-inherent in all things." Click on the link for our updated review.
Dark Green Religion: Nature Spirituality and the Planetary Future by Bron Taylor. University of California Press, 2009. In this innovative and deeply felt work, Bron Taylor examines the evolution of "green religions" in North America and beyond: spiritual practices that hold nature as sacred and have in many cases replaced traditional religions.
The Epic of Evolution by Cathy McGowan Russell.
The Soul Unearthed, Celebrating Wildness & Personal Renewal Through Nature, Editor Cass Adams, New York: G. P. Putnam's Sons, 1996. Over 60 stories, poems, and essays examine how wilderness affects us spiritually. The anthology approaches wilderness as a place of worship.
Cosmic Consciousness by Richard M. Bucke, rev.ed. Dutton, 1959.
Interesting proposal that historical religious leaders, and certain individuals such as Whitman and Emerson, experienced "cosmic consciousness," and that their teachings should be understood in that light.
The Sacred Balance, Rediscovering Our Place in Nature. by David Suzuki with Amanda McConell. New York: Prometheus Books, 1998.
An acclaimed geneticist artfully explains the diverse web of life, our kinship with other species, and declares "Nature is the ultimate source of our inspiration, of our sense of belonging, of our hope that life will survive long after we are gone. In order to realize this hope, we must learn to regard the planet as sacred."
A Walk Through Time, From Stardust to Us, The Evolution of Life on Earth. by Sidney Liebees, Elisabet Sahtouris, & Brian Swimme. New York: John Wiley & Sons, 1998.
A richly illustrated account of evolution within the immensity of geologic time. Author Liebes asks "Is it possible that a sense of awe, wonder and humility, of origins, place, possibilities, and recovery of a belief in the sacredness of nature, can, and perhaps must, become operational imperatives in guiding humanity into the future?"
This Sacred Earth, Religion, Nature, Environment. edited by Rodger Gottlieb, New York: Routledge, 1996.
The 75 selections from historical and contemporary writers, naturalists, theologians, and others examine relations between ecology, religion, and society. The book is described as "an introduction to the theory and practice of religious environmentalism."
Earth Festivals by Dolores LaChappelle, Finn Hill, Silverton, 1977.
A compilation of seasonal celebrations, especially for children, drawn from various cultures but primarily Amerindian.
Earth Wisdom by Dolores LaChappelle, Finn Hill, Silverton, 1977.
Fascinating appraisal of the failure of Civilization, with a solid analysis of the benefits of primal cultures and paleolithic religious views.
The Sacred Earth: Writers on Nature & Spirit, Editor, Jason Gardener, Novato, California: New World Library, 1998.
A splendid collection of excerpts and quotations from more than 60 mostly contemporary writers which aims "to rediscover and reconnect our spirituality with the natural world." With a forward by David Brower.
Cosmic Humanism and World Unity by Oliver L. Reiser.
A discussion of what the author calls "cosmic humanism" but defines as a pantheist theology, resting heavily upon a scientifically consistent view of the universe.
The Beginning and the End, and Other Poems by Robinson Jeffers, Random House, 1963.
Poems by one of the few twentieth-century poets to celebrate the entire biotic community - yet, unlike the romantic poets, for Jeffers, Nature is the center of value, not merely an illustrious backdrop for sentimental Man. His earlier philosophy of "Inhumanism" later evolved into a scientific pantheism.
The Earth Speaks Ed. by Steve Van Matre & Bill Weiler, 1983.
A collection of inspirational poems, essays, and drawings on the topics of "Earth Magic", "Earth Wisdom", and "Earth Spirit," by well-known authors.
Green Space, Green Time, The Way of Science by Connie Barlow New York: Copernicus, 1997.
The author, a member of the Universal Pantheist Society, describes how some of today's leading scientists and philosophers are working to reunite knowledge of the world with a sense of the sacred. Barlow states "the ecoreligious revolution is unfolding along five distinct-but not mutually exclusive-paths." These paths include the greening of traditional beliefs, retrieving ancient faiths, meditation, mysticism, and science. Science can "nurture reverence for the natural world...and promote beautiful acts of a decidedly green hue."
The Pantheist World View , Universal Pantheist Society, Big Pine,, 1979.
This booklet describes for the general reader the philosophy and, more importantly, the life-style of modern Pantheism.
Elemental Birthdays by John and Heather Cleland-Host, 2014. Elemental Birthdays lets anyone celebrate birthdays while having fun with science. All the elements of the universe have an atomic number (Z). Elemental Birthdays matches that number with a birthday. The first element (Hydrogen) is the first birthday. Helium (Z=2) is the second birthday, and so on. The book uses this simple idea to incorporate the elements into fun, easy party themes, and it provides a step-by-step guide to games and activities. The result: a party where kids and adults have fun learning science!
For Small Creatures such as We: Rituals for Finding Meaning in our Unlikely World by Sasha Sagan. A beautiful exploration of how science can inform our celebrations and how we mark the passage of time, inspired in part by the work of her parents, Carl Sagan and Ann Druyan.
Pantheist Ethics and Lifestyles
For the Pantheist, the "Way of Works" is a valid form of religious expression.
The Little Green Book: A guide to Self-Reliant Living in the 80's by John Lobell, Shambhala Books, 1981.
This book is a useful guide for consciously ordering your everyday life to minimize impact on the biosphere. Topics covered include food and diet, healing, education, housing, energy, gardening, consuming, and more.
The Greening of Faith, God, the Environment, and the Good Life. edited by John E. Carrrol, et al., Hanover: University Press of New England, 1997.
An anthology by writers of various faiths call on us "to awaken from our benumbed and bewitched state" which allows such rampant environmental degradation. "A profound sense of sacredness throughout nature" can help us recognize our responsibility to protect biodiversity.
How to be a Survivor by Paul Ehrlich & Richard Harriman, Ballantine, 1971.
A doomsday approach is scary and arguably not persuasive (and certainly not inspirational), but this book nonetheless describes the kind of changes of thinking and behavior which are necessary on the part of both individuals and society if we are to survive the ecological crisis.
Diet for a Small Planet 10th Anniversary ed. by Frances Moore Lappe,Ballantine, 1981.
The classic has been updated, containing the author's prognosis of the world hunger situation and the continuing need for eating "lower on the food chain"; the recipes have been made easier, more varied, and tastier.
The Integral Urban House by Helga Olkowski, Sierra Club Books, 1979.
A description of how even urban living can be made compatible with ecological realities.
The Rights of Nature, A History of Environmental Ethics by Roderick Nash, Madison: University of Wisconsin Press, 1989.
An overview of philosophical and religious beliefs regarding Nature. An informative chapter detailing "the greening of religion," makes a specific reference to the Universal Pantheist Society.
Voluntary Simplicity by Duane Elgin, Bantam Books, 1982.
Explores the psychological, spiritual, and ecological arguments for a lifestyle of voluntary simplicity. Not a "how to" book; but a "why to."
Pantheist Philosophy
Two currents of modern thought merge to form modern Pantheism: the theological arguments denying personality to Deity, and the stream of modern environmental philosophy.
Accepting the Universe by John Burroughs, Houghton Mifflin, 1920.
An excellent discussion by one of America's foremost naturalists of the reality of Nature and man's place in it; Burroughs forthrightly identifies Pantheism as the best solution to the problem of having a religion based on truth not superstition.
The Riddle of the Universe by Ernst Haeckel, (translated from the German by Joseph McCabe) Harper & Brothers, New York, 1900.
A superb analysis by the scientist who coined the term "ecology", who advocated modern Pantheism as a religious form consistent with science but rejecting the dualistic world-view which separates Deity from Nature.
"The Universe and Me" by D.H. Lawrence in Phoenix: The Posthumous Papers of D.H. Lawrence , Viking Press, 1964.
This is only a lengthy paragraph, but succinctly encompasses the meaning of modern Pantheism in poetic prose.
"The Death of Pan," by D.H. Lawrence, Ibid.
This essay describes the religious problem of modern America and Europe as being the feeling that Pan is dead; Lawrence advocates a return to Pantheism.
"If You Don't Mind My Saying So..." by Joseph Wood Krutch, in American Scholar Spring, 1970.
A well-known essayist and naturalist writes on "Trust in Wildness" as the faith needed in the twentieth century, and expressly recognizes this as a form of Pantheism; but carefully distinguishes it from the Romantic fallacies of the 18th and 19th centuries.
God & Belief: The Pantheist Alternative by Irv Thomas, Universal Pantheist Society, 1986.
This booklet describes the often-neglected pantheist alternative to both atheism and theism, with special attention to the problems of both the nihilism of atheism and the fallacy of an anthropomorphic masculine deity.
Available from our Publications List
An Ecological and Evolutionary Ethic by Daniel G. Kozlovsky, Prentice Hall, 1974.
Provocative application of ecological science and philosophy to the problems of ethics and spirituality in a series of brief, one-or two page capsule essays.
Environmental Philosophy from Animal Rights to Radical Ecology, Second Edition. by Michael E. Zimmerman et al., New Jersey: Prentice Hall, 1998.
A rich collection, edited by leading environmental philosophers, includes sections on environmental ethics, deep ecology, ecofeminism, and political ecology.
The Lost Gospel of the Earth. by Tom Hayden, San Francisco: Sierra Club Books, 1996.
A longtime activist, environmentalist, and politician argues that the displacement of tribal religions by monotheism contributed to the environmental crisis. Hayden explores ways people can again live in kinship with a sacred natural world.
Deep Ecology: Living as If Nature Mattered by Bill Devall and George Sessions, Peregrine Smith, 1985.
An exhaustive description of the various ideas and people who best posit the idea that more than mere environmentalism, what humankind needs is a radical re-thinking of Man - Nature relationships.
The Universe is a Green Dragon by Briane Swimme, Bear & Co., Santa Fe, 1985.
A parable explaining the 'New cosmic creation story' - a poetic celebration of basic scientific and spiritual principles. Useful for introducing non-Pantheists to a new world view compatible with that of modern Pantheism.
Ishmael by Daniel Quinn
A parable wherein a captive lowland gorilla explains the lie that has held people of our culture captive. The lie is what Pantheists know as anthropocentrism. The solution begins with understanding why our culture has fallen into that lie.
Pantheist History
These books illustrate that Pantheism is not a strictly modern phenomenon, but is a philosophy which has enjoyed a long history, and several modern resurgence.
Pantheism: Its Story and Significance by James Picton, Constable, 1905
Rather old-fashioned account of the history of Pantheism; nonetheless valuable for its description of the variety of sources contributing to a Pantheist world-view. UPS publishes Picton's chart on the Evolution of Religions, showing Pantheism as the ultimate and enlightened completion of what began as mere animism.
General Sketch of the History of Pantheism by Constance Plumptre, 1878.
Another old-fashioned work, valuable only for its historical perspective.
Ethics by Benedict de Spinoza, E.P. Dutton, 1910.
Formidible reading; but no list of Pantheist thought can be complete without the leading publication by the founder of western Pantheism.
The Idea of Wilderness from Prehistory to the Age of Ecology by Max Oelschlaeger, New Haven: Yale University Press,1991.
A sweeping scholarly account of our relationship with Nature which includes many direct and indirect references to pantheism, particularly in the examination of Paleolithic religion and in the discussion of Muir and Jeffers.
Pantheism and the Value of Life by William Urquhart, Epworth Press, 1919.
Another thick old book, useful to gain a view of Pantheism as deeply imbedded in western philosophy.
Pantheism: Its Story and Significance by James Picton, Constable, 1905
Rather old-fashioned account of the history of Pantheism; nonetheless valuable for its description of the variety of sources contributing to a Pantheist world-view. UPS publishes Picton's chart on the Evolution of Religions, showing Pantheism as the ultimate and enlightened completion of what began as mere animism.
General Sketch of the History of Pantheism by Constance Plumptre, 1878.
Another old-fashioned work, valuable only for its historical perspective.
Ethics by Benedict de Spinoza, E.P. Dutton, 1910.
Formidible reading; but no list of Pantheist thought can be complete without the leading publication by the founder of western Pantheism.
Pantheism and the Value of Life by William Urquhart, Epworth Press, 1919.
Another thick old book, useful to gain a view of Pantheism as deeply imbedded in western philosophy.
Pantheist Ethics
No formalized Code of Ethics is available for Pantheists, but these books may help each of us to formulate our own.
A Sand County Almanac by Aldo Leopold.
Written in the 1940's, a classic by one of the first persons to write popularly on the ecological perspective. His essay on "The Land Ethic" provides the foundation for most modern environmental philosophy.
The Invisible Pyramid by Loren Eisely,Scribners & Sons, 1970.
Poetic, magical prose showing what man has lost by forgetting natural values.
Between Animal and Man by Michael W. Fox.
A veterinarian and humane society activist, Dr.Fox describes the scientific and philosophical reasons of why man needs to have a better relationship with other animals.
Exploring New Ethics for Survival by Garrett Hardin, Viking Press, 1972.
A disturbing, thought-provoking book; often funny yet scary; you may not agree with everything Hardin says but you cannot ignore his facts.
Replenish the Earth by G. Tyler Miller, Wadsworth, 1972.
Describes several alternative approaches to an environmental ethic; Miller points out the derivation of environmental ethics is not as important as getting on with the business of actually developing that ethic.
Pantheist Temples
Pantheists don't build church-houses; Nature is our church.
The Place No One Knew ed. by David Brower, Sierra Club, 1963.
Eliot Porter photography combined with quotations about the value of wilderness: see especially the second part of the book, "The Idea".
The Desert Year by Joseph Wood Krutch, William Morrow & Co, 1952.
Essays about the desert illustrate the meaning a Pantheist derives from nature.
Baja California & The Geography of Hope by Joseph Wood Krutch, Sierra Club, 1967.
More Eliot Porter photographs, with excerpts from Krutch's many books, offering perhaps the best anthology of Krutch's pantheistic religious views on the meaning of man and nature.
Desert Solitaire by Edward Abbey, Ballantine Books, 1968.
A modern classic; Abbey describes himself as "not an atheist but an eartheist."
John of the Mountains ed by Linnie Marsh Wolfe, Houghton Mifflin, 1966.
All of John Muir's writings are infused with Pantheism; this collection from his journals represent his most "religious" writing.
Temple Wilderness, A Collection of Thoughts and Images On Our Spiritual Bond with the Earth. eited by Tom Petrie, et al., Willow Creek Press, 1996.
Nature photography and quotations of past and present writers, poets, theologians, and others from around the world. The compilation contains a number of pantheistic passages and strives for "a higher understanding of the spiritual connection between humankind and the Earth."
Gaia: A New Look at Life on Earth by James Lovelock, Oxford Univ. Press, 1979.
This increasingly influential book advocates a view of the Earth as a single, self-regulating organism, with the non-living environment being described as intimately related to and even regulated by the living biosophere.
Comparative Religion
An examination of what other world religions have to offer toward harmonizing relationships between the human and non-human world.
Religion Without Revelation by Julian Huxley, New American Library, 1957.
The author, usually thought of as an atheist, affirms that religion is necessary to mankind, but that it need not be based upon superstition but upon intelligence and can be made compatible with the scientific method.
Original Blessing by Matthew Fox, Inst. for Creation Spirituality, 1984.
This ex-Dominican theologian argues for a Christian spirituality which celebrates passion, playfulness, and ourselves as part of the earth process. He contrasts this "Creation spirituality" with the historically predominant "Fall/Redemption spirituality."
The Upanishads: The Breath of the Eternal ed. by Swami Prabhavananda & Frederick Manchester, New American Library, 1957.
The original texts of Hinduism translated from the Sanskrit, meditate on the unity of self and the All.
Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu, translated by R.B. Blakney, New American Library, 1955.
The basic text of Taoism, filled with wisdom of the awareness of the Universe of the ancient Chinese.
The Spiral Dance: A Rebirth of the Ancient Religion of the Great Goddess by Starhawk, Harper & Row, 1979.
A book about Wicca, or Witchcraft ( not Satanism), the pre-Christian form of paganism practiced by agricultural people of Europe, currently regaining popularity especially in feminist circles.
The Book of the Vision Quest by Steven Foster, Island Press, 1980.
Not merely insights, but "personal transformation" to be achieved in the Wilderness, derived from the fundamentals of Amerindian religion.
The titles listed in these pages illustrate a variety of perspectives of interest to modern Pantheists. Mention here does not constitute an endorsement by the Universal Pantheist Society.