Southwell - Pantheism Popularity
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Philosophy
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Apr 3, 2024
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Uploaded by TondaLynn
1
People find pantheism and New Age spirituality appealing for a variety of reasons. One
of the main reasons is that it allows them to judge their morality. In pantheism, everything is
seen as part of a single unified force or energy that is the source of all righteousness (
Myers, &
Noebel, 2015). People can choose to act by interpreting this source of morality, allowing them to
be their moral compass. This appeals to people who reject the idea of an external authority
determining what is right and wrong. Another reason why people find pantheism and New Age
spirituality appealing is because of their focus on self-discovery and self-realization (
Myers, &
Noebel, 2015). It encourages individuals to look within themselves to find the answers to life's
questions. This can appeal to people who want to control their destinies and seek guidance and
meaning. However, pantheism and New Age spirituality cannot coexist with Christianity because
they are based on fundamentally different beliefs. Christianity is founded on the belief that God is a personal, transcendent being who
created all things. At the same time, pantheism is based on the assumption that everything is part
of a single unified force or energy. This fundamental
belief difference leads to several other
differences, including the belief in a personal creator versus a deified natural world and an
objective moral law versus subjective personal morality (
Myers, & Noebel, 2015). Scripture also
speaks to this conflict. In Isaiah 45:5-6 (NIV, 2017), the Bible states, "I am the Lord, and there is
no other; apart from me there is no God. I will strengthen you, though you have not
acknowledged me so that from the rising of the sun to the place of its setting, people may know
there is none besides me. I am the Lord, and there is no other." This verse clearly states that there
is no other god besides the Lord and that He is separate from His creation. This directly
contradicts the beliefs of pantheism, which is that all things are part of a single unified force or
energy. As outlined in the Bible, the Christian worldview directly opposes pantheism and New
Age spirituality. The Bible teaches that God is a personal, transcendent being who created all
things and that He is separate from His creation (NIV, 2017). In addition, the Bible teaches that
God is the source of all morality (Deuteronomy 10:12-
13) and that an objective moral law must
be followed (Exodus 20:1-17). These beliefs are in direct conflict with the views of the
pantheistic worldview, which teaches that everything is part of a single unified force and that
morality is subjective and based on personal interpretation. Thus, it is clear that pantheism and
New Age spirituality cannot coexist with Christianity. While pantheism and New Age
spirituality may appeal to some people for various reasons, they are ultimately incompatible with
the teachings of the Bible (NIV, 2017). To follow the instructions of Christianity, one must reject
the pantheistic worldview and
instead embrace the personal, transcendent God, who is the source
of all morality.
In conclusion, pantheism and New Age spirituality cannot coexist with Christianity.
While pantheism and New Age spirituality may appeal to some people for various reasons, they
are ultimately incompatible with the teachings of the Bible. The Bible teaches that God is a
personal, transcendent being who created all things and that He is separate from His creation
(NIV, 2017). In addition, the Bible teaches that God is the source of all morality and that an
objective moral law must be followed. These beliefs are in direct conflict with the views of the
pantheistic worldview, which teaches that everything is part of a single unified force and that
morality is subjective and based on personal interpretation. Therefore, to follow the teachings of
Christianity, one must reject the pantheistic worldview and instead embrace the personal,
transcendent God, who is the source of all morality.
2
References
Bible, H. New International Version (NIV). Web. 14 Feb. 2017.
Myers, J., & Noebel, D. A. (2015).
Understanding the times: A survey of competing worldviews
.
David C Cook.
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