What would this belief be? Pantheism?

[PlipPlop]

Hello there. I was thinking about God, and I thought about this:

What if God is the natural order? The abstract of how things work? The physical laws of the world?

At first, this seems to be similar to pantheism or panentheism, but as far as I can tell these things say that God is the material world, not the laws that govern the material world.

Until I find a better term, I’ll name it “physiojurtheism”.

 

[grace_singh]

yes, i’d say that’s basically pantheism. not sure what a better or more exact term would be, though there may be one. actually, it’s a bit more abstract even than pantheism.

there is also panentheism, the belief that God is both manifest in and through and greater than His creation. God is both the world, and greater than it.

personally, i would not trade knowing God as Father for anything… i spent my whole life thinking of God as a Something, and am thankful now to know Him as a Someone who loves, cares for, knows, rebukes, forgives, and wants me, in Christ.

 

[PlipPlop]

Perhaps “Incorporeal Pantheism”?

That rejects the notion that God is material.

Some might call that atheism, though. Dawkins does.

 

[grace_singh]

mmmm… i think the concept may warrant its own term. i’ve never heard of it before.

i have heard of monism, but i don’t think that’s what you mean. are you basically describing your own belief?

 

[bpbasilphx]

Perhaps “Incorporeal Pantheism”?

That rejects the notion that God is material.

Some might call that atheism, though. Dawkins does.

As I understand pantheism, it basically says that if the physical universe did not exist, God would not, either.

However, the natural order and way things work WERE established by God.

 

[PlipPlop]

As I understand pantheism, it basically says that if the physical universe did not exist, God would not, either.

However, the natural order and way things work WERE established by God.

The natural order was, arguably what caused the universe to exist (even strict Catholics don’t have to deny this - just say that’s what God employed to do His work).

They existed before the material universe, and will exist long after the material universe will cease to exist.

Thanks, grace_singh, for talking. Yes, I am describing my own beliefs. Monism doesn’t seem quite right, though it would seem that the natural material universe is closely related to God, but not divine.

I’m not sure what would define me, exactly, but I am exploring spirituality to decide that.

 

[James_S_Saint]

Hello there. I was thinking about God, and I thought about this:

What if God is the natural order? The abstract of how things work? The physical laws of the world?

At first, this seems to be similar to pantheism or panentheism, but as far as I can tell these things say that God is the material world, not the laws that govern the material world.

Until I find a better term, I’ll name it “physiojurtheism”.

Or…

You could call it Hebrewism, or Judaism, or Jesusism, or even Christianity (maybe even Muslim…not too sure bout those guys).

What makes you think that you understand enough about God to declare Who He isn’t??

The God of the Bible is NOT the physical universe itself. But you weren’t saying that. You mentioned, “natural order”. You probably have some notion of what natural order might mean, but realize there is no order in Creation that is not God’s. Those who believe they have order, but it isn’t God’s, are the ones who fail and fall, because their idea of order, wasn’t.

Nothing at all happens without God’s direct permission. That includes ALL of nature - those “natural laws” are God’s laws - an extension of Him.

 

[prodigalson12]

Hello there. I was thinking about God, and I thought about this:

What if God is the natural order? The abstract of how things work? The physical laws of the world?

Think of him as a computer programmer and we are working within the code that’s written.

At first, this seems to be similar to pantheism or panentheism, but as far as I can tell these things say that God is the material world, not the laws that govern the material world.

And many, many new agers think this exact same thing, then then go on to tell you that if he’s all things, he is us as well, which gets them to think they are God himself.

 

[grace_singh]

Plip ~

have you ever tried asking God what is right about Him?

there are as many ways to think of or imagine God as there are human minds.

yet there is still, One God, and if this is True there must be some things which are real or true about Him, and other things which do not apply.

clearly you are spiritually curious, and wish to solidify what you believe about Him, and what exactly you believe Him to be. that is not a bad idea, but it basically negates the fact that God is not patterned after our own ideas about Him.

like, if it were up to my own understanding i could say “i basically think God is everywhere an everything, He is with all people, He is great, immanent, and His presence can be felt everywhere; we just have to realize He is already here to be enlightened, and have peace”. that is basically what i thought of God before i became a Christian. it’s a nice-sounding idea, but it’s basicaly my own idea. it may not reflect who God really is, and how we can come to know Him, and have peace with Him.

the only way for me to know, and stop assuming, is to come to the conclusion that perhaps what i think about God does not reflect reality, and maybe God has a different perspective, or in entirely unlike how i imagine Him. the only way to really know God, is to ask Him what is right, on His terms.

and whether or not He truly does have a Son named Jesus, and who this Man is. whether or not we “believe” or can understand this, Jesus truly is the key. He is God made Man, the only way to know the Father and come to the Father, and He loves you. that may not sound very philisophical or intellectual at all. it may not make much sense in light of how you understand God, or even “sound right”.

but God promises that if we ask, we will recieve. we do need Jesus, and we need to know Him as Lord, Messiah, Saviour, and God.

 

[AmericanJosiah]

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Deism.

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