Pantheism: A Natural History

Pantheism has seen a resurgence of late primarily because of the rise of the new atheists and those who can no longer believe in a God set apart from Nature herself. In this purview, we no longer need to conjure up mythic beings or create anthropomorphic images of a supreme deity. Science, not religion, has pointed the way out of humankind's persistent dualistic tendencies, since it focuses on the interconnectivity of all life and of all matter. It is not merely an odd coincidence that Albert Einstein, the greatest theoretical physicist of the past two centuries, was a great admirer of the Spinoza, the champion of modern pantheism. With discoveries such as "E = MC2 (the interchangeability of matter and energy) and the indissoluble intertwining of space and time, the universe and its laws have taken on center stage, replacing the old pre-rational concepts of folk religion and psychology.

Equating God or Truth or Ultimate Reality with Nature makes sense, since this cosmos is the only arena for which we have access. Einstein and other scientists are awed by nature and saw no reason to postulate something metaphysical to it, since the Mystery itself is right here and now-from quantum physics to black holes to dark energy to photon entanglement to the apparent multiverse which surrounds us.

The following history of Pantheism by J. Allanson Picton, though written over a century ago, is still remarkably timely and readable today. The MSAC Philosophy Group is pleased to republish this book in a slightly edited edition (we have excised the footnotes) to make it more accessible for the modern reader. I think Picton's work is a valuable reference resource and provides a treasure trove of information.

Also included is a brief introduction by Professor David Christopher Lane about pantheism's relationship to science.