Can pantheism be at all reconciled with Catholicism

[Ahimsa]

Here is another book review that describes how Fr. Tom Stella defines pantheism:

If you don’t know, Panentheism is a way of explaining that “Everything is in God”. At the surface that sounds great. But there is more to it. It also ascribes that God is so intertwined in the creation that he cannot live apart from it.

Again, context, context, context. To say that God cannot live apart from creation might be heretical or not, depending upon the context. If the statement refers to God as God has existed since before time began, then the statement would be problematic, since it would imply that creation has always existed. However, if the statement refers to the time after creation, then it becomes much less problematic. For instance, if Jesus’ incarnation fully redeemed matter, and if Jesus Christ now exists in heaven in human, bodily form, then, at least in the case of Jesus Christ, creation and Creator are now fully intertwined. And since Christ is God, that makes God and creation fully intertwined. One could then argue that, ever since the Incarnation, God cannot exist (fully, completely) without creation.

Then again, maybe the good priest has a totally different idea in mind.

 

[nobody]

I hope I’m not breaking any rules by resurrecting an old thread, but is there any update on this?

 

[Donald45]

A really excellent new book on the subject:



alibris.com/search/books/isbn/0801027241

Perhaps you can send a copy to Fr. Stella, as well as to the bishop (but don’t forget to read it yourself!).

God bless,

Don
+T+