of pantheism

Now that the Chaplain has left us, I guess we have no regular antagonist for the conversation. So I’m going to throw a thought out there I’ve been mulling over for some time now: pantheism.

I like this definition, although you could put it a number of other ways: “Pantheism is the view that the Universe (Nature) and God (or divinity) are identical. Pantheists thus do not believe in a personal, anthropomorphic or creator god. The word derives from the Greek (pan) meaning “all” and the Greek (theos) meaning “God”. As such, Pantheism denotes the idea that “God” is best seen as a process of relating to the Universe. Although there are divergences within Pantheism, the central ideas found in almost all versions are the Cosmos as an all-encompassing unity and the sacredness of Nature.”

I’m just curious as to what a group of “non-believers” feel about the idea. Let me ask that you not get too hung up on semantics. The word “god” and the suffix “theism” are very touchy, but from a pantheistic perspective I think they only have a vague semblance to the Christian fundamentalist use of the words.

I have been kind of embracing this idea lately. I guess you could argue it’s just me trying to fit my Christian upbringing together with my more current secular views. To me it just more accurately expresses how I perceive as the connected nature of the reality we live in than the word “atheist” and the like. There is something almost “magical” about life and the way everything ties together and works, in my experiences. While I realize that the “magicalness” of it is purely my perception of natural laws and processes, I believe my perceptions merit the right to have some bearing on how I label my view of reality.

I wasn’t really sure how to bring up this topic but I’ll leave it at that…….

Joe Rogan vents on religion…..

I haven’t posted on here in forever, but watching this prompted me to……

 

http://youtu.be/eB1kZQMqiDI

“The Atheist Experience”

This show has some pretty funny call ins. This is just one example……..

owned!

Nothing to say about this one really, I just think it’s funny and most of you could appreciate it. My favorite is the last one when he’s playing soccer. If you have some time to waste though look up some of the other videos by Barats and Bereta. Some of it’s pretty clever.

Evolutionary Metaphysics

So I haven’t yet read this and have committed myself to study today, but I may get around to a chapter or two at some point. I figured I would go ahead and post it since I’m sure it will be of interest to this group. Matt Kronbach posted the link on facebook stating it was, “the best and most comprehensive summary I’ve found to date of what I believe about pretty much everything.” I’ve always respected Matt’s intelligence and points of view so I have no doubt it’s worth a read, if for nothing more than the conversation it will no doubt stir up.

Evolutionary Metaphysics

Irreligious Song #7: Gogol Bordello, “Super Theory of Super Everything”

In contrast to the last song I posted, let me lighten the mood a little with one of my favorite bands of the last few years. These guys define their music as “gypsy punk” and the band consists of an eclectic group of musicians from all over Europe, Africa, Asia, and both North and South America. I’ve seen them a couple of times live and have to admit it’s one of the funnest I’ve ever been to. Nonstop insanity from start to finish.

So back to the song, first of all his accent and poor grammar make it amusing within itself, but his lyrics always have depth to them.

First time I had read the Bible
It had stroke me as unwitty
I think it may started rumor
That the Lord ain’t got no humor

Put me inside SSC
Let’s test superstring theory
Oh yoi yoi accelerate the protons
stir it twice and then just add me, ’cause

I don’t read the Bible
I don’t trust disciple
Even if they’re made of marble
Or Canal Street bling

From the maelstrom of the knowledge
Into the labyrinth of doubt
Frozed underground ocean
melting – nuking on my mind

Yes give me Everything Theory
Without Nazi uniformity
My brothers are protons
My sisters are neurons
Stir it twice, it’s instant family!

I don’t read the Bible
I don’t trust disciple
Even if they’re made of marble
Or Canal Street bling

My brothers are protons
My sisters are neurons
Stir it twice dlja prekrastnih dam…

Do you have sex maniacs
Or schizophrenics
Or astrophysicists in your family
Was my grandma anti anti
Was my grandpa bounty bounty
Hek-o-hek-o-hej-o
They ask me in embassy!

‘Cause I don’t read the Bible
I don’t trust disciple
Even if they’re made of marble
Or Canal Street bling

And my grandma she was anti!
And my grandpa he was bounty!
And stir it twice
And then just add me!
Partypartypartypartypartyparty
now afterparty..

Irreligious Song #6: A Perfect Circle, “Judith”

So “Bob” has opened the doors to the “Irreligious Song” series of blogs, so I’ll kick off my authorship on here with one or two songs that immediately came to mind when I saw the first one he posted.

I’ve always loved Mayanard James Keenan’s lyrics (better known as vocalist for the band Tool). There’s something in them I’ve always connected with in every project he’s been a part of. He has a certain well-thought out, beautifully phrased way of getting his point across. He definitely didn’t make many people in the Christian world happy with much of his lyrics with Tool (i.e. “Sober”), but “Judith” is one of the most blatantly irreverent songs he wrote. Surprisingly enough, after a bit of expected editing, it got a lot of airplay and was one of the songs that pushed them into the mainstream.

Supposedly, the song is a response to his mother’s death from a long bout with cancer. There’s actually a song on Tool’s last album, “10,000 days” (which is a reference to the amount of time his mother suffered), that takes an almost opposite stance on her death. I just love the attitude of this one and thought it would fit in nicely.

Anyway, being my first time to post on here, I’m not sure I’ll get this link right but here it is……..

You’re such an inspiration for the ways that I will never ever choose to be
Oh so many ways for me to show you how your savior has abandoned you

Fuck your god
Your lord, your Christ
He did this
Took all you had and
Left you this way
Still you pray, never stray, never
Taste of the fruit
Never thought to question why

It’s not like you killed someone
It’s not like you drove a hateful spear into his side
Praise the one who left you broken down and paralyzed
He did it all for you
He did it all for you

Oh so many ways for me to show you how your dogma has abandoned you

Pray
To your Christ, to your god
Never taste of the fruit
Never stray, never break, never
Choke on a lie
Even though he’s the one who
Did this to you
Never thought to question why

It’s not like you killed someone
It’s not like you drove a spiteful spear into his side
Talk to Jesus Christ as if He knows the reasons why
He did it all for you
He did it all for you
Did it all for you