We seek renewed reverence for the biosphere as
the ultimate context for human existence....
We seek renewed reverence for the biosphere as
the ultimate context for human existence....
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Pantheist Ethics for People
One of the most often-heard criticisms of Pantheism is the charge that while Pantheism may promote good relations toward the natural world, it neglects to provide ethics for inter-human relationships. In reality, however, Pantheist ethics are directly applicable to the human world as well as the rest of Nature. Modern Pantheism recognizes the frailty of the prevailing anthropocentric world-view which is the cause of so many of our problems. Anthropocentrism represents the antithesis of modern Pantheism, being the attitude that all the world was created solely to serve humanity, and when something in Nature is of no use to Man it is worthless. The criteria of value in Anthropocentrism is whether some thing - plant, animal, or mineral - is useful for filling human needs and desires. The result is degradation and exploitation of all the natural world, merely for the (questionable) benefit of one species. Unfortunately, this same exploitive and arrogant attitude exists as well within human relationships. People all too often are seen as a means to fill the needs and desires of a few. At its most obvious this is slavery, but it is commonly found today in more subtle forms. It is perpetrated by child abuse, violence, racial and sexual discrimination, economic exploitation, physical or emotional cruelty, or any of the other forms of manipulation. As Michael W. Fox put it two decades ago, "The tragic flaw in human perception is that modern man does not really see the world as it is, but only in terms of how it can satisfy needs. 'See me for what I am, not as you wish to use me' is the cry of women's lib. It could also be the cry of wilderness, of wolves, of deer, rivers, and trees." The Pantheist rejection of anthropocentrism results in a recognition of the fundamental unity of all living things. The Pantheist strives for reverent behavior toward the Universe itself; behavior that includes respect for both human and non-human life. Most of the major world religions recognize some form of the Golden Rule. Confucianism phrases it as "What you do not want done to yourself, do not do to others." Christianity phrases it more positively: "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." Judaism simply commands: "Thou shalt love they neighbor as thyself." The Taoist approach is closer to the Pantheist spirit: "Regard your neighbor's gain as your own gain, and regard your neighbor's loss as your own loss." The Pantheist, in recognizing an unity with the Universe, knows that to hurt the earth is to hurt oneself. To fail to respect all life forms is to fail to respect the human life form. For the Pantheist, the maxim "Love thy neighbor as yourself" has a special meaning, for "neighbor" is understood to mean both humanity and non-humanity alike. The same appreciation for creativity and diversity which Pantheists feel for the natural world compels a tolerance for differences among people as well. The same attitude which rejects the exploitive destruction of natural processes also rejects the commercial or spiritual exploitation of people. Pantheist ethics expressed toward people as well as the rest of Nature requires a respect for diversity and an appreciation of our responsibility to safeguard the well-being of all life-forms, and the elements upon which superlative quality of living is based. - Harold Wood
Reprinted from Universal Pantheist Society Newsletter, Vol. 2, No. 2, Spring, 1978. |
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