pantheism

[ pan-thee-iz-uh m ]

/ ˈpæn θiˌɪz əm /

noun

the doctrine that God is the transcendent reality of which the material universe and human beings are only manifestations: it involves a denial of God's personality and expresses a tendency to identify God and nature.

any religious belief or philosophical doctrine that identifies God with the universe.

Nearby words

pantaloons, pantechnicon, pantelleria, panth, panthalassa, pantheism, pantheist, pantheistic, pantheon, pantheonize, panther

Origin of pantheism

From the French word panthéisme, dating back to 1725–35. See pan-, theism

Related forms

pan·the·ist, nounpan·the·is·tic, pan·the·is·ti·cal, adjectivepan·the·is·ti·cal·ly, adverbnon·pan·the·is·tic, adjective

non·pan·the·is·ti·cal, adjectivenon·pan·the·is·ti·cal·ly, adverbun·pan·the·is·tic, adjectiveun·pan·the·is·ti·cal, adjectiveun·pan·the·is·ti·cal·ly, adverb

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for pantheistic

Wicca is a naturalistic religion whose followers generally worship a pantheistic Godhead and practice magic.
Witches Blast O'Donnell|Ben Crair|September 20, 2010|DAILY BEAST
It might easily have defined itself in some sort of pantheistic theory of the universe, but it never did so.
Among Famous Books|John Kelman
Dr. Martin, of China, has well styled it "a pantheistic medley."
The Gist of Japan|R. B. Peery
The common method of distinctly denying miracles is one involving either some atheistic or pantheistic principle.
Modern Skepticism|C. J. Ellicott

Swedenborg tried to avoid the pantheistic conclusion of his foundation principle, and believed that he had succeeded.
William Blake|Charles Gardner
And yet, perhaps it is worth it, for what a jocund and pantheistic merriment possesses us when we escape from the shop!
Mince PieAuthor: Christopher Darlington MorleyRelease Date: October 10, 2004 [eBook #13694]|Christopher Darlington Morley

British Dictionary definitions for pantheistic

pantheism

/ (ˈpænθɪˌɪzəm) /

noun

the doctrine that God is the transcendent reality of which man, nature, and the material universe are manifestations

any doctrine that regards God as identical with the material universe or the forces of nature

readiness to worship all or a large number of gods

Derived Formspantheist, nounpantheistic or pantheistical, adjectivepantheistically, adverb

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for pantheistic (1 of 2)

pantheistic

adj.

1732, from pantheist + -ic.

Word Origin and History for pantheistic (1 of 2)

pantheism

"belief that God and the universe are identical," from pantheist (n.), which was coined (1705) by Irish deist John Toland (1670-1722), from Greek pan- "all" (see pan-) + theos "god" (see Thea).

Toland's word was borrowed into French, which from it formed panthéisme (1712) which returned to English as pantheism "the doctrine that all is god" in 1732 (no evidence that Toland used pantheism).

Greek pantheios meant "common to all gods" (see pantheon). Other words used at various times for similar notions include panentheism, "philosophy founded on the notion that all things are in God" (1874), from German (1828), coined by Karl Christian Friedrich Krause (1781-1832).

Culture definitions for pantheistic

pantheism

The belief that God, or a group of gods, is identical with the whole natural world; pantheism comes from Greek roots meaning “belief that everything is a god.”