I'm still trying to figure out "Pantheism" referring to God as "the Universe". . . I always thought it referred to multiple deities vs. Universal Mind and the Akashic record.
Let me try to figure this out. . .
In the beginning god found himself within a void. . . ![Shocked :shock:](./images/smilies/icon_eek.gif)
Well, that's impossible. . . if all is made up of a great void then NOTHING can be there, right?
God sought to understand himself; who he was and what he was . . . or so goes the gist of the average mythos
Depending on which creation myth you are working with God either created a variety of sentient things to help him in this quest of self-realization or sub-divided himself into billions of parts so as to learn through the existence of each part as it made a carnal journey back towards spirit and becoming part of the greater whole. . .
Regardless, the act of creation involved a handful of physical reactions that seem to have happened all at once or in around the same time. . . certain "scholars" saying early October 8,000 b.c.e. or some such. . . nonetheless, the common thread is that a burst of brilliant light happened. . . a BIG BANG
![Surprised :o](./images/smilies/icon_e_surprised.gif)
. . .
and from mere thought God Created the Heavens & the Earth, the Stars of the sky, the sun & moon as well as every living thing upon Terra itself. This is where it gets interesting; seems God now has a board of directors working with him and a host of different sentient beings including a massive army of Angels and Arch-Angels. As the tale goes however. . . "
God said, let US go down and create man in OUR image"OOPS! So much for the monotheistic perspective. . . at least that's the case for those clinging to the Abrahamic traditions (the only one that promotes such . . . and no, I'm not excluding Akhenaten (play /ˌɑːkəˈnɑːtən/), there are theories within both, the Jewish and Islamic schools of thought that suggest Akhenaten's tradition was a key factor to the evolution and creation of their theology.) This passage likewise sustains the "Hindu" creation tale which after all, serves as the exoteric covering to the Abrahamic traditions though Shiva & friends were replaced by Adonai and other earlier Gods & Goddess types (the Hebrew had several deities prior to Moses and the deal he made with Yahweh). This support stems from the idea that a group conscience was taken when it came to the more elevated entities that would govern this new domain. . . a.k.a. humankind. Then again, the first creator had a couple of booboos hit the fan, some believing that Lilith is still pulling the reigns here and there (so much for God being "Perfect" and without flaw. . . ).
This idea of a council and how said forum worked together when it came to making decisions goes a long way to supporting the latter idea -- Universal Conscience and Higher Mind.
While I've over-simplified things, it would seem that ALL OF IT actually works in tandem with one another even though the Monotheistic view tends to be more "selfish" in attitude and certainly more "human" when it comes to emotions and arrogance. A monotheistic deity means imbalance to all of creation, it's that simple; there are no checks & balances in place and thus, it is dictatorial by nature. Existing in a universe headed up by a megalomaniac ain't my idea of a good time; but living in an environment that allows the analytical and mystical to permeate the same over-all dimension. . . I think it works.