Is pantheism just theism in disguise?
No. Theism means belief in a personal God who is greater and older than the universe. This God may or may not be present in the universe. Pantheism says simply that the universe is worthy of the deepest reverence. This is a statement about the attitude we should adopt towards the universe and nature – an attitude which we have no choice but to adopt of we open our eyes to the full awe and mystery of reality. The universe has some features in common with the God of traditional religions – its power, immensity, and mystery. But it is not personal. It has no mind apart from the minds of intelligent species within it. It is neither loving nor vengeful. It does not sit in judgement over us and mete out rewards and punishments in an afterlife. Before we can really understand the “numinousness” of the cosmos, we must forget everything we have learned about traditional gods, and learn to look at what is in front of our eyes with an open mind.
