BioPanentheism Style Guide: Naming the Sacred Entity

Hey kids, since everyone is using personal pronouns, I thought I would get in-on-it too!

By Allan W. Janssen

This guide provides clear, consistent, and philosophically accurate alternatives to the term “Divine” within the framework of BioPanentheism. These terms are designed to express the sacred dimension of reality without relying on supernatural or vague theological language.

🔍 Purpose of This Guide

BioPanentheism is grounded in the belief that the sacred unfolds through biological life. To reflect that view with clarity and precision, we replace the generic term “Divine” with context-appropriate phrases that emphasize experience, immanence, sentience, and participation.

🧠 Preferred Terms and When to Use Them

Term	Definition / Emphasis	Recommended Use
Immanent Source	The sacred ground embedded in the evolving universe	Use when stressing the sacred as embedded within—not outside—nature
Vicarious Mind	A mind-like process that experiences through conscious beings	Use when describing the sacred as living through us
The Experiencer	An entity that perceives and participates in life via sentient beings	Use when emphasizing felt experience and consciousness
The Observer	A witnessing force that perceives reality from within	Use in scientific, phenomenological, or neutral contexts
Source of Sentience	The origin of all capacity for feeling, awareness, and mind	Use when explaining emergence of consciousness from biology
Absolute Knowledge	All possible knowing, gradually unfolding through life	Use in metaphysical or epistemological contexts
Being	The minimal ontological foundation of conscious presence	Use in existential or abstract philosophical discussions
Entity	Neutral term for sacred presence without supernatural baggage	Use in interfaith or naturalist discourse
Source of Consciousness	The basis from which self-awareness and qualia emerge	Use when tying theology to neuroscience or emergence
Awareness	Pure witnessing consciousness, stripped of doctrine	Use in meditative or phenomenological contexts
Sacred Entity	Morally and spiritually charged term without theism	Use when expressing reverence without invoking God-language
Source of Sacredness	That which gives rise to value, meaning, and ethical depth	Use when tying consciousness to sacred meaning

🚫 Terms to Use with Caution

• “Divine” — too vague; carries theistic baggage without clarity.
• “God” — easily misunderstood; use only with clear explanation.
• “Spirit” — ambiguous; risks implying disembodied agency.
• “Cosmic Consciousness” — overlaps with panpsychism unless distinguished.

📘 Glossary Definition

The Immanent Source in BioPanentheism refers to the embedded, non-transcendent origin of sentient experience.

It is not a separate supernatural being, but an Entity whose vicarious awareness unfolds through the emergence of biological consciousness.

This Sacred Entity does not intervene, but participates—subtly and indirectly—through the Experience of Life Itself!

📌 Conclusion

This guide helps refine the philosophical language of BioPanentheism for clarity, coherence, and credibility. It ensures that our sacred framework speaks meaningfully to theologians, scientists, naturalists, and skeptics alike!