This is pantheism defined cinematically.
Pantheism is a departure from Christianity or other theisms as it does not have at its center a God, but suggests that all things, people, animals, creatures, elements, are of the collective; that the collective, together, in its entirety, is the "god (Levine, Michael P., 1994, p. 147)."
The philosophies that surround pantheism are many, and make sound and tempting arguments in favor of a superior being as opposed to the superiority of being the collective. Renee Descartes was one such philosopher, and certainly Descartes' philosophy is supported by many philosophers and academicians today. Descartes set about to prove the existence of God, and he began his research by becoming a skeptic and questioning everything, even existence itself (de Spinoza, Benedictus and Britan, Halbert Hans, 1943, p. 12). Descartes proved, at least in the minds of many philosophers, the existence of God (de Spinoza and Hans, p. 12). Descartes' proof has been uttered time and again in the phrase, "I doubt, I think, therefore, I am (de Spinoza and Hans, p. 14)." "In this truth, he finds the ground of all knowledge, as well as the measure of all other truth, viz, Whatever is as clearly and distinctly perceived as this is true (p. 14)." However, a close read of Descartes' principles of philosophy are more easily envisioned and understood in terms of pantheism, as opposed to monotheism. Descartes has described "the collective" in his statement, "I doubt, I think, therefore, I am (de Spinoza and Hans, p. 14)." Spinoza, too, agreed that this is what Descartes had proven the mind and body were not, as Descartes had suggested, of a different substance, but that they were in fact the same substance. Further, that the "substance" was part of a greater and singular totality, even though Descartes perceived them to be two: God and Nature.(de Spinoza and Hans, pp. 12-17).
The rejection of the...
The ideals of freedom and self-government obviated the need for the traditional 'supreme being' (Mellert, Robert B., 1999, p. 30)."
In the modern world, it is only by way of pantheism that we can understand the true nature of man's relationship to himself, and to his environment and the universe around him. In terms of philosophy, pantheism is expressed by Taoism. "The Tao is the central unifying feature (Levine, M.P., 1994, p.25)." Taoism puts into perspective man's relationship to all things around him, and to his very existence within the universe (p. 245).
The philosophy of pantheism is one that seeks to bring about mankind's peaceful existence with himself and the universe around him. Only by accepting himself as an adjunct of a greater humanity, a greater life, can mankind find real truth as described by the prophets of monotheism.
Works Cited
http://www.questiaschool.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=108391773
Levine, Michael P. Pantheism: A Non-Theistic Concept of Deity. New York: Routledge, 1994. Questia. 13 Nov. 2007 http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=108391775.
A www.questiaschool.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=5001773405
Mellert, Robert B. "The FUTURE of GOD." The Futurist Oct. 1999: 30. Questia. 13 Nov. 2007 http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=5001773405.
A www.questiaschool.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=28182498
Spinoza, Benedictus de. The Principles of Descartes' Philosophy. Trans. Halbert Hains Britan. La Salle, IL: Open Court Publishing, 1943. Questia. 13 Nov. 2007 http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=28182603.
Spirit of Baraka, found online, at http://www.spiritofbaraka.com/baraka.aspx, retrieved 11 November 2007.
