Pantheism and Catholicism: The Fateful Encounter

One of the few things Alexis de Tocqueville most underrated was the affinity in contemporary times between Catholicism and pantheism. I know this may be a revolting and outrageous idea, or allegation, to a fair number of friends and/or readers. But I have thought it over and have decided to move forward with it. For now I can only point you to The Immanent Frame, specifically to William Connolly's brief for pantheism (though he doesn't call it this), one of the plainest, frankest, and 'best' (yes, because it's Nietzschean) that I've seen in a while.

My main concern is that Taylor, and Catholics like him, are inclined to cede vast amounts of territory to the main thrusts and attitudes of the pantheist creed -- most importantly, the holiness of all love, in all its physicality, as an immanent and transcendent experience of peaceful yet powerful becoming in time -- as long as the Church and the Nicene Creed are kept intact. For at least a handful of Protestants, this amounts to something resembling worst nightmare territory. For what it's worth.

Comments

[Kevin]

I just don't see the link between Catholicism and pantheism. Could you elaborate beyond a review of Taylor? Intriguing concept, but one that is far from established.

[egg shells]

I don't say it to offend, but I've always seen the Nicene Creed quite pantheistic.

[Tao]

I'm never sure where the line goes between Pantheism and Pandeism, or is there a line at all? Does Pantheism mean there is a God and it is the Universe, or that there is no God and the Universe is the closest thing? Does Pandeism mean that God used to be and is now not God but the Universe, or the Universe used to be God and no longer is?