By Allan W. Janssen:
BioPanentheism conceives of Omnia—the Sacred Observer—not only as immanent, (present within the universe) and transcendent (existing beyond it) but as “Experiencing Reality Vicariously through Biological Life!” (This distinctively Biological focus reshapes how Omnipresence is understood in modern thought!)
Omnipresence as Experiential and Biological:
In BioPanentheism, Omnipresence is not a static condition of “Being Everywhere” in equal measure. Instead, Omnia’s presence is relational and experiential, realized most fully through the Senses, Emotions, and Cognition of Living Organisms!
While Omnia (God/Deity) is present in all that exists, the depth and richness of Divine Experience emerges through Biological Life... especially Conscious Beings capable of Perceiving, Feeling, and Reflecting on Life!!
Balancing Immanence and Transcendence:
Where classical theism sees God’s omnipresence as distant and mediated by transcendence, BioPanentheism asserts that Omnia is directly accessible in the biological world.
This access is not just symbolic… it is the mechanism through which the Sacred Experiences Reality!
Thus, Omnia is Embedded in every Living Interaction yet remains more than biology… a transcendent witness whose nature extends beyond the physical universe!
Omnia’s Presence in Life and Nature:
BioPanentheism affirms that Omnia’s Omnipresence is most vividly evident in Living Systems!:
- The interconnectedness of ecosystems
- The complexity of neural networks
- The shared emotional languages of animals
- The human capacity for moral reflection
Mystical experiences, empathy, art, and science all become expressions of Omnia’s ongoing engagement with the world through living participants!
Implications for Modern Theology:
BioPanentheistic omnipresence suggests that Omnia is not a ‘detached force’ but a participant in the unfolding of life!
As life evolves, so too does the scope and variety of Omnia’s Experience!. (This reframes prayer, ethics, and ecological responsibility!)
- Prayer becomes a conscious sharing of experience with Omnia.
- Ethics gains a grounding in the fact that harming life diminishes the range of Omnia’s Experiential Engagement!
- Ecology becomes preservation of Omnia’s sensory and cognitive network across species.
Comparison Table
| Perspective | Omnipresence Interpretation | Implications |
|---|---|---|
| Classical Theism | God is everywhere, wholly distinct from creation | Omnipresence is static, transcendent |
| Panentheism | God pervades and transcends all creation; world exists “in” God | Omnipresence is relational, immanent, and transcendent |
| BioPanentheism | Omnia transcends the universe but experiences it Vicariously through Biological Life | Omnipresence is experiential, biologically mediated, evolving! |
In sum: BioPanentheism enriches the concept of omnipresence by grounding it in Living Systems as the primary interface between the Sacred (Omnia) and the world!
This model transforms omnipresence from a purely spatial or metaphysical claim into a biological reality… one that expands as Life becomes more complex, conscious, and interconnected!
Labels: biological life, biopanentheism, deity, divine, ethics, Omnia, omnipresence, prayer, transcendent
The Children of the Divine! 