pantheism

play

noun pan·the·ism \ ˈpan(t)-thē-ˌi-zəm \

Updated on: 9 Aug 2017

Definition of pantheism

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)

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pantheist

play \ˈpan(t)-thē-ist\ noun

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pantheistic

play \ˌpan(t)-thē-ˈi-stik\ or less commonly pantheistical play \ˌpan(t)-thē-ˈi-sti-kəl\ adjective

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pantheistically

play \ˌpan(t)-thē-ˈi-sti-k(ə-)lē\ adverb

Recent Examples of pantheism from the Web

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, "With The Wolf Gift, Anne Rice Returns to Supernatural Horror," 18 Apr. 2012

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'pantheism.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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.