Larry C. is building a model of reality which he calls ‘PanenDeism’. Like all thinkers participating on this site, Larry has put a great deal of thought into his model and is doing so for the betterment of humankind. Larry’s web sites: http://panendeism.com.futuresite.register.com/index.html
http://www.geocities.com/larrycopling/Introducing_Part_1.html
051230b
Dan: Panentheism states `all in God', symbiotic panentheism describes how things work in God as opposed to how things work in the universe.
In terms of your statement, can you elaborate? How is panendeism a variant of the `all in God' class of conception?
Larry: I am beginning to grow weary with explaining the difference between PanenTheism and PanenDeism, but I will try one more time with yet another approach...
Dan: My apologies. Sometimes I am not very quick.
In essence it appears your last statements, as quoted below, best explain the differences:
Larry: By the way, in my understanding, there is no distinction between how things work "in God" and how things work "in the universe" because they are essentially one in the same…
Dan: ‘…because they are essentially one in the same…’ This appears pantheistic. This is not a criticism. (Source: The Encyclopedia Britannica Vol. 13, 1974: ‘Pantheism is monistic in finding the world’s unity a sense of the divine.’ ‘Classical theism is dualistic in conceiving God as separated from the world and mind from body.’ ‘Panentheism is typically monistic in holding to the unity of God and the world, dualistic in urging the separateness of God’s essence from the world, and pluralistic in taking seriously the multiplicity of the kinds of beings and events making up the world.’)
Larry: …One of the inferior philosophical elements found in classical Theism that seems to remain in the mind of many who embrace Panentheism is the idea of "separation" (known technically as, "Transcendence"). …
Dan: (Source: The Encyclopedia Britannica Vol. 13, 1974: ‘ Expressions of the divine as intimate rather than as alien, as indwelling and near dwelling rather than remote, characterize pantheism and panentheism as contrasted with Classical Theism. Such immanence encourages man’s sense of individual participation in the divine life without the necessity of mediation by any institutions.’ ‘Classical Theism has, in consequence, held to the transcendence of God, his existence over and beyond the universe.’ ‘…panentheism – unlike pantheism, which holds to the divine immanence – maintains that the divine can be both transcendent and immanent at the same time.’)
Larry: It is very difficult for some who were reared in theistic circles to let go of that concept.
Dan: Agreed
Larry: There is no God "out there somewhere".
Dan: ‘…panentheism – unlike pantheism, which holds to the divine immanence – maintains that the divine can be both transcendent and immanent at the same time.'(from above)
Larry: There is no seperation between the Creator and the thing created.
Dan: ‘Panentheism is typically monistic in holding to the unity of God and the world, dualistic in urging the separateness of God’s essence from the world, and pluralistic in taking seriously the multiplicity of the kinds of beings and events making up the world.’(from above)
Larry: Applying the Buddist concept of "detachment" in this area has been very helpful to me.
Dan: I understand.
Larry: You know, if I keep this up, I'm going to get that book written yet!
Dan: You very well may.