Posts and Notes from the Net Community

Pantheism
part1

When the discussion of Pantheism began on this Forum, it was emphasized that Frater Ralph M. Lewis, former Imperator, quoted from the philosophy of a Dutch philosopher, Baruch (Benedict) Spinoza. In fact Frater Lewis has made several references to Spinoza in many of his writings. The first citation was in Chapter V of his work 'Mental Alchemy, Is Consciousness Universal. The citations will not be repeated here. In that Chapter, Lewis discusses Mystical Pantheism. In his work, The Conscious Interlude in Chapter III, Inquiry Into Knowledge, he delves into some of the epistemology (theory of knowledge) which leads a student to Mystical Pantheism. And in 'Sanctuary of Self, Chapter IV Love and Desire he discusses the love of God, from a Pantheistic view point.

All of these references are based on the thinking of Baruch Spinoza, and Frater Lewis recognizes this philosopher in each one of his works as the source material.

Frater Lewis seemed to be enamored with this philosopher and his approach to mysticism and in particular his theories on Pantheism. The question then is what was so special about Spinoza, what did Spinoza's philosophy offer to Frater Lewis such that Lewis quotes him not only in Ethics, Cosmology, but also in Epistemology? Spinoza must have ‘been on to something' that deserved so much space in Lewis' writings.

Let us, then, investigate this 17th century thinker and see if we can make this determination. Pantheism is so encompassing a subject, that an investigation into the highlights of Spinoza's works might be beneficial to the understanding of this volatile concept. It is likely to breed a host of opinion along the way when the reader is exposed to some of the consequences. To say the least Spinoza was a 'destroyer' of the popular theistic concepts of his day. And he paid the price for freedom of thought by excommunication from his religious body. But more of this later.

May we take a brief look at his biography. Baruch de Espinoza was born on November 24 1632 of Portuguese parents who escaped to a liberal Holland, where the House of Orange was receptive to families who had suffered the pain of religious discrimination. He, and his family could once again practice their Jewish faith in relative peace. The intellectual life of the Jews in Amsterdam, according to the young Baruch was cramped and ineffectual. He longed for a more eclectic environment than the tenets of his ancient religion could offer. When the Rabbis of his synagogue heard of his disillusionment with their protocols he was excommunicated from his religious group. He had sought the language and wisdom of secular science and philosophy and allied himself with a Dutch teacher, Francis Van den Ende, who taught him science, the philosophy of Rene Descartes, and the literature of antiquity. His new teacher encouraged freedom of thought and expression in his new student. It is with this physician-teacher that Spinoza was also exposed to the philosophy of Giordano Bruno, who some say influenced his own philosophy. The young Spinoza fell in love with Van den End's daughter, but was spurned for a more affluent lover. He left Amsterdam to join a group of Collegiant friends where he seems to have found a philosophic home. He took up the trade of a lens grinder, whereby he supported himself with mundane needs, and in his spare time he wrote his Ethics, Improvement of The Understanding and a host of other papers. His name became well known in intellectual circles to the extent that he was wooed by English philosophers of his day ,The Royal Society. He conducted an extensive correspondence with the intellectuals of his time and was well respected by those who knew him. He was offered teaching positions at universities, which he rejected, since he did not want to be the intellectual slave to any political leader. The shining glory of his work, most philosophers agree, is his Ethics. Frater Lewis seems to be taken by this work since he adopts many of its propositions. He lived a very simple life claiming that all a person needed was housing, clothes and food, the rest was superfluous. He was modest and had a grace of character. His only brush with politics was when the de Witt brothers, famous in their day, were murdered. He lived his writings. He died in 1677 from a lung disease supposedly caused by the glass grindings from his lens making.

Let’s look at Spinoza’s ETHICS . To delve into the intricacies of the Ethics would drive the reader with only a cursory interest in this discipline into distraction. So in the interest of brevity only the highlights will be addressed.

Why do people philosophize? Why so many theories? If there were just ONE answer, would not mankind after thousands of years of speculation have found THE answer to all of our questions, and wouldn't this answer be accepted as true and acknowledged, and understood by all people for all time?

Since the beginning of 'man' on earth, the questions of who, what, when, where, why and how have plagued men's minds unto this day. If man cannot find an answer, then he will invent one and the invented answer regardless of its logic will suffice until something better arrives on the scene. Pantheism is one point of view regarding the essence of the Cosmic. In many modalities it is an antithesis to the 'beliefs' of some organized religions to the question of who and what is God?

In the Judeo-Christian world they might be found in the Old and New Testaments. For those who subscribe to the Islamic faith, the Koran and so on. Every culture seems to provide an answer which may satisfy to a great extent suitable answers for the questions posed above. To those who were not satisfied, break-away groups were formed, by those who shared a common belief etc.

In philosophy many of the same questions are addressed but without the beliefs, ritual, and dogma associated with some religious groups.

Spinoza, who in his youth was a very religious and studious Jew, could not in good conscience subscribe to the strict answers provided to him by others regardless of their qualifications as knowledgeable, righteous, and observant members of his faith. He was driven by 'reason' to search for his own answers as we, as Rosicrucians, seek our answers through our own realizations, and the God of our Hearts.

What some people may mean when the word God is brought into conversation is in many ways an idea of a supernatural being, spoken of as a universal Spirit, who is righteous and a supremely powerful creator, who has a certain control over our destiny, and with whom we may come into friendly relations, if our own character attitude and demeanor, and actions are right. God is usually thought of in male terms and is good, just, loving and a father. Now, this definition may not suit all of our readers, but it does in a general way give some notion of the 'idea' of God which may be in currency. If one accepts this definition, then there are certain implications such as Karma, good, evil, will, freedom which become ancillary.

Spinoza could not 'buy' into this mode of thinking in his Pantheism. This will be addressed in our next episode.

Altie

Pantheism I
Pantheism II
Muse 1