Pantheism/Panentheism Is Superior To Atheism

Atheism: The disbelief in God, in any way, shape or form. Just to clarify, this does not exclude a conscious deity that is not self-aware, impersonal.1. Pantheism and Panentheism as a BeliefThe totality of existence is God. While the individual things within the totality of existence are aspects of God. This is the belief of Pantheism. Panentheism is the same exact belief, but takes it a step further, saying that there is a transcendent source that is immaterial, completely unlike the universe, yet at the same time is also another part of God, another part of the totality of existence, which is God. I will say that this transcendent source is impersonal, not self-aware, and pure intellect.2. Calling the Totality of Existence GodThere is no other word, term and concept in all of the languages of mankind that is more powerful than the word, term and concept of "God." You can say that it is just semantics, and that it is just the idea behind the word that has the powerful effect, but this simply isn't true. As we all know, the majority of the world all perceives the word, "God," as being the most powerful word, term and concept in every language. You can make up a word, like "Jarwatabanee," and attach to it the same term, concept and power, but the fact is, the vast, vast majority of mankind wouldn't see it that way. As of right now, the vast, vast majority of mankind sees "God" as the most powerful word, term and concept. God, Dios, Allaah, Brahma, Monad, all of these words are already established with this term and concept, with this power. And they all mean the same thing, God.And as GeoLaureate8 said:"The Universe dictates the laws of nature.The Universe gave you life.The Universe punishes evil.The Universe is infinite.The Universe is the totality of existence (by traditional definition).The Universe handed down a moral code.Nobody should have any gripe with calling the Universe "God.""3. Psychological Superiority of Pantheism and PanentheismBecause of this belief, you see your family, your friends, your lovers, your enemies, your neighbors, your town, your state, your country, your very species, as one, and yourself as a mere piece of the whole. You see the environment, the many, many other species, animals, trees and plants, everything, as apart of you, it is you. For you are an aspect of God, every individual thing is an aspect of God. All is God.What would this mean? This means that you are now inclined to be compassionate, merciful and caring to yourself, something that you already are without this belief. Except that now, "yourself" is everything that is.When you're about to kill a bug with no good reason, you stop, refrain from doing so, because that bug is now "you." This applies to so many other scenarios, involving humans as well.When you see the chopping down and destruction of the rainforests, destroying so many species in the process, you are now seeing yourself being chopped down and destroyed. You now on a deeper level feel the pain and suffering of those environments. This also applies to many other scenarios.You're no longer allowed to view the world as black and white, everything is dependent upon multiple causes and conditions that allow it to be. This applies to everything. War, politics, suffering, and much more.The Iraq War, the Afghanistan War, the Revolutionary War, all of these are no longer allowed to be seen in a black and white way. It wasn't just about dictators and the like, it was also about greed, politics and much more.Would you hurt yourself? Not if you're sane. Well now "yourself" applies to all that exists. You are now more cautious of your actions. You are one with everything, and everything is one with you, everything is God all-mighty.Now think of those we despise, the criminals, the rapists, pedophiles, murderers, thieves, and all of the like. The mentally insane. Now that you see them as yourself, you are more inclined to be more compassionate. You will now look upon these people through the lens of clarity, through Independent Origination. You will see that we as a people may very well have contributed a lot to their making, and then you will do your best to stop causing the causes.4. The Foundations of Pantheism and PanentheismYou will find this belief, amazingly, all across the world. In the largest religion of mankind, Christianity, you find Gnosticism. In the second largest religion of mankind, Islan, you find Sufism. In the third largest religion of mankind, Hinduism, you find the Vedanta and various others. In the fourth largest religion of mankind, Buddhism, you find this belief as well. They all hold the belief of all being one, of all being God, with the exception of Buddhism, though Siddhartha himself did speak of a "Luminous Mind."Even at the height of Greek Philosophy, before Christianity took hold of it, you find this belief in Neoplatonism.5. The Spirituality of Pantheism and PanentheismAtheism offers no spiritual sustenance, however, Pantheism and Panentheism does. In fact Pantheists and Panentheists can draw upon many, many traditions for this. And many of these practices such as meditation and mindfulness are proven to be clinically helpful.Not only that, but these spiritual practices can also lead your mind to union with God, the totality of existence.And so many practitioners of these practices experience bliss, contentment, true happiness, and all of the like. Panentheism could also be the explanation for the many spiritual experiences of religious people all over the world. Plotinus, the founder of Neoplatonism, actually meditated in a very, very similar way to Zen Buddhists, and described very much the same experience.6. The Religion of Pantheism and PanentheismNow on top of everything I have just told you, bundle it all into the most powerful social system known to mankind, a religion. Picture if you will the structure of the Catholic Church, but based upon everything above. But probably more democratic. Propagating this beautiful message and philosophy to our youth, our future generations. This religion combining all of these like-minded people under one flag, with the same message, we are one, we are all God.7. What Con has to ProveCon has to prove to me how we are not all connected, one, and not dependent upon various causes and conditions, interconnected.Con has to show me how he could change the very concept attached to the word, "God," and attach it to another all new word, for all of mankind, realistically. Because as I see it, the concept is fixated permanently to the word "God" for every culture. Thanks mostly to Christianity and Islam.Con has to show me how this belief system and philosophy is not superior to general Atheism. By general Atheism I mean how most Atheists simply disbelieve in God, and leave off at that. Neither trying to become spiritual, philosophical, or anything of the like. The laymen of Atheism if you will. Just as there are laymen of Theism, such as Christianity and Islam, who don't really go much further than the basics.