Oh, and...

[poorwendy]

Panentheism.

(not pantheism)

...why haven't I discovered this word before?  Ahh. . .

EDIT:  My apologies, it was not my intent to be cryptic.  I felt so happy when I came across this word.  It basically means the belief that everything exists *within* God.  It's not, there is a distant creator -- we are *living* the creator.  I particularly like the

Comments

[peacewind]

I see you've been reading the Higginbotham's book, "Paganism: An Introduction to Earth-centered Religions"? It's EXCELLENT - and I highly recommend it. It's one of the required books in the 1st Realm (like 1st Degree) class I'm currently taking from Summerland Grove, one of the two pagan churches in Memphis. (I'm also studying toward 2nd Degree with Southern Delta Church of Wicca, the other church.) My own local group had a fantastic discussion about that chart in the same chapter where panetheism is discussed - continuum of abstract Deity vs concrete Deity against the continuum of transcendent Deity vs. permeable Deity

WOW

[poorwendy]

No, actually -- I have *not* been reading that book, but after your fantastic comment I will be soon! I just came across the word online and it just seemed to sum it all up without boxing it all up, which was very refreshing to me.

I love what you say about faith not being static, and yes, it is so important to be open to change! Otherwise we will eventually stagnate when we aren't willing to let anything else in, and who wants that?

Ooh, and another Southerner! I'm only four or so hours away from you, in Huntsville. Nice to meet you, & Namaste!

[animamea]

Can you share with the rest of the class? Some of us apparently ain't got no learning. ^_^

[poorwendy]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panentheism

[animamea]

Well, yes. I sort of figured that. Google works, too.

It was more of a friendly request from your mod to change the 'content' to 'cryptic one-liner' ratio.

[poorwendy]

Oh! Very sorry! Didn't get it...

To be honest, I guess I made the ignorant assumption that the majority of the people here would be more familiar with the word than I was, and looking back now I'm not entirely sure when I thought that. If it was new to me, I should have assumed it might be new to others as well.

Also I'm at work, so I'm very sorry for the quick impersonal link. I was just trying to reply quickly.

When I get home in about an hour I will edit the entry. ;)

[batshua]

Maybe I'm just tired (as usual) and thus confused (as usual), but how much does this differ from the idea that God is within all of us, or all things, or that God is everything?