Elements of Pantheism [Paperback]

Element Books Ltd. (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 6, 1999 | Series: Elements of

Pantheism is the belief that the universe and nature are divine. This book explains the pantheist affirmation of life, body and earth, how it differs from atheism and theism, the approach to mediation and mysticism, also its roots in Greece and China.

Product Details

• Paperback: 131 pages
• Publisher: Element Books Ltd. (May 6, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1862044635
• ISBN-13: 978-1862044630
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.1 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,048,771 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

47 of 47 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Teaches us to see our Earth as sacred our Universe as divine, May 29, 1999

By 

Wally Weet "Wallace" (Seneca, SC, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Elements of Pantheism (Paperback)

This book is surely one of the most extraordinary books written in recent years about the subject of religion. It's author is a professional writer educated at the London School of Economics and Cambridge University who brings to the task a comfortably direct style accessible to any reader of English. If you are concerned about the Earth and the way we are treating it in our culture you will want to read his book. Harrison shows us how humanity can make this a better world by applying the principles and values of the ancient, long neglected, but now revived philosophy of Pantheism.

The basic idea of Pantheism is that the Earth is sacred and the Universe is divine, that there is no personal divinity, only the Universe itself. He makes the point that the Universe is all that is and it exists without judging humans but humans are deeply connected to every element in this universe which means we have a special responsibility to the Earth and to each other. In other words he shows Pantheism to be deeply ethical and scientifically valid.

The book takes the reader on a swift over view of Pantheism throughout the centuries and in cultures east and west including elements of the Pantheist philosophy found in the monotheism of the West. He does so evenhandedly and with respect for all religions. I recommend the book to all seekers interested in discovering an ancient and respectable religious tradition re-emerging in our time.

17 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The universe as divine and nature as sacred., October 11, 1999

By 

"inlogix" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Elements of Pantheism (Paperback)

Dr. Paul Harrison intelligently discusses how Pantheism relates to other belief systems. He refers to numerous publications and thinkers through the ages. I would have liked to see more discussion of Pantheists and the belief/struggle relationships with technology and development. There was no mention of nature-based music/lyrics (i.e. John Denver) or outdoor experiences (i.e. camping, exploration). It is has numerous quotations but no pictures (of celestial events or nature photography) which in turn make it affordable. Highly recommended. I enjoyed it.

25 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An Atheistic version of Pantheism claimed to be Spiritual, April 4, 2000

By 

Paul Vogel (New York City, NY USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Elements of Pantheism (Paperback)

This book is an excellent primer of the History of Pantheism, but, with an unfortunate, and a quite unnecessary, Atheistic bias by its' author, Paul Harrison. I am the only reviewer here, thus far, that is NOT a member of the authors' WPM or World Pantheist Movement, or its' members calling themselves, Scientific Pantheists, therefore, my review here is unbiased. The book is an excellent overview of Pantheism, in general, and I do recommend it highly. However, those that are actually looking for something even remotely " Spiritual " and/or even remotely " Purposeful ", in Life, and/or, in Cosmos, will only come away quite disappointed.