pantheism

noun

pan·​the·​ism ˈpan(t)-thē-ˌi-zəm How to pronounce pantheism (audio)
1
: a doctrine that equates God with the forces and laws of the universe
2
: the worship of all gods of different creeds, cults, or peoples indifferently
also : toleration of worship of all gods (as at certain periods of the Roman empire)
pantheist noun
pantheistic adjective
or less commonly pantheistical
pantheistically adverb

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Pantheism and Religion

Pantheistic ideas—and most importantly the belief that God is equal to the universe, its physical matter, and the forces that govern it—are found in the ancient books of Hinduism, in the works of many Greek philosophers, and in later works of philosophy and religion over the centuries. Much modern New Age spirituality is pantheistic. But most Christian thinkers reject pantheism because it makes God too impersonal, doesn't allow for any difference between the creation and the creator, and doesn't seem to allow for humans to make meaningful moral choices.

Examples of pantheism in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Spinoza was infamous for his sometimes inscrutable variety of pantheism, in which God no longer sits outside Nature, paring his fingernails (James Joyce’s joke), but effectively is Nature, inextricable from it. James Wood, The New Yorker, 4 Sep. 2023 While some people might think pantheism is silly, that doesn't matter. Phil Plait, Discover Magazine, 1 Nov. 2011 If anyone is wondering, stoicism and pantheism are my preferred lenses through to view the world. Christa Allen, Allure, 28 May 2021 There’s a scene in The Wolf Gift where Reuben is staring up at the stars and musing about the nature of God, and his ruminations there almost seem to be a cosmic pantheism or something. Geek's Guide To The Galaxy, WIRED, 18 Apr. 2012

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'pantheism.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

French panthéisme, from panthéiste pantheist, from English pantheist, from pan- + Greek theos god

First Known Use

1732, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of pantheism was in 1732

Dictionary Entries Near pantheism

Cite this Entry

“Pantheism.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pantheism. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

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