To be a Pantheist is to see, and value above all else, the undeniable connection between all things. To quote Neil deGrasse Tyson, “We are all connected. To each other biologically, to the earth chemically, and to the rest of the universe atomically.” But there is more to it than that, a pervasive life force that permeates all things. It is beyond my comprehension. That is what I choose to call God. I do not see a conflict between God and science. I believe that God IS science, that God and science are one and the same. There is still abundant mystery in science, and that is where God lives.

I believe there is only one God. But there are billions of definitions as to what exactly God is. Even within a certain religion, each person will have their own unique vision of God. I believe God is the same no matter how differing religions choose to define God. Even if someone says, “There is no such thing. God does not exist.” Does that really mean God does not exist? No. It only means that God does not exist, in their mind.

Here’s the path that led me to this understanding:

I was born, baptized, and raised Lutheran. In case you’re not familiar, Lutherans are similar to, but more conservative than Catholics, without the “bells and smells.” At a very early age, I rejected the belief in God because it just sounded so “silly.” Later on, the rejection became more sophisticated with an understanding of hypocrisy. Hence, a long period of spiritual drought.

In the early 80’s, I started to explore. I went to a Unitarian Universalist church for awhile, where a liberal attitude embraces all religions. There I aligned with Humanists and Atheists, until I saw how negative it was – nothing more than Christian bashing. And I wanted more. I was looking for something to believe IN, not AGAINST.

I still had nothing. In the early 90’s, I was studying to be a botanist, and was in awe of the physiology of trees. As a student at The Evergreen State College, I was in the Native American Studies program. We were discussing Native American spirit animals, and I wasn’t able to comprehend that belief. Someone asked me, “With your understanding of how trees function, can’t you see how a tree could have a living spirit?” In that instant, I understood it on a cellular level. I was able to make a connection I was never able to before. That early seed laid dormant for many years. Germinating, but still dormant.

When I started to read the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous, (If it seems like there’s a big chunk of story missing, there is. That needs to be a separate post all to itself.) I read this sentence on page 12: “My friend suggested what then seemed a novel idea. He said, ‘Why don’t you choose your own conception of God?'” I nearly exploded! You mean I can do that? Why didn’t anybody say so before! Then, when I got to the chapter, We Agnostics, the fun really began! I now officially had permission to play with the idea of God. To mold it and shape it and define it a way that made sense to me. I discovered a God of my own understanding.

I’m still working on that definition. As I learn, the definition broadens. Today, it is more important than ever. When I read about the current events in the world, it scares me to insanity. Corporate rape of the planet, and the quest for world domination. They are buying up the water-rights to the worlds water supply, for crying out loud. Literally, I’m  CRYING OUT LOUD!  Dirty money owns our government. Small towns across America are armed with heavy-duty military equipment. Racism runs rampant. The quest for oil deadens the oceans. Climate change is now. Corporate greed is killing us.

Feeling so powerless against this imminent destructive power is what prompted me to write this post. My brain scrambled, “What can I do? What CAN I do?” I can speak out, is what I can do. I can speak to a creative solution. I believe that a spiritual solution is the only thing that will save us. To know that we ARE connected. We are one. The Spiritualism that I believe in is love, tolerance, and compassion. To look at all these hurtful situations and know that what hurts one, hurts me, hurts all. To take that to the other side, what helps one, helps me, helps all. To put these ideas out there with the hope of changing some minds. And changing some actions.

I must have faith. I must have hope. And I must share that.