Panentheism

Panentheism is a metaphysical view that holds that the divine reality interpenetrates every part of the universe while also extending beyond it, so that God is in all things yet greater than any of them. In panentheism, the universe is contained within God, but God is not identical to the world.

A defining feature is the claim of both immanence and transcendence: God is present throughout creation and active within it, yet God also transcends the totality of finite beings. Views within panentheism vary on the nature of God's personhood, perfection, and mutability, with some formulations emphasizing a personal deity and others focusing on a more abstract principle such as the Ground of Being or a dynamic process.

Historically, the term is often said to have been coined in the 19th century by Karl Christian Friedrich Krause and later adopted by 20th-century thinkers such as Charles Hartshorne, Paul Tillich, and Norman Pittenger. In modern philosophy of religion, process theology has developed panentheistic themes, arguing that God and the world mutually influence one another. Some Hindu and Buddhist strands also display panentheistic motifs, though interpretations vary across traditions.

Panentheism stands between pantheism, which equates God with the world, and classical theism, which posits a wholly transcendent God separate from creation. Proponents argue that panentheism preserves divine immanence and providence while maintaining divine transcendence; critics question implications for divine sovereignty, immutability, and omnipotence, and whether the view coherently separates God from the world while including it within.