By Allan W. Janssen.
Perplexity A.I. Version:
Biopanentheism is not simply panentheism with biology added… it is a ‘reinterpretation’ of panentheism that centres Life and Consciousness as the main vehicles through which the Divine Self-Explores within our Universe!
It uniquely emphasizes Biology and Living Systems as essential for Divine Experience! (Rather than viewing Life as just one element among many in the panentheistic framework!)
Panentheism Overview:
Panentheism holds that the Divine/Revered is present in all of Creation… and simultaneously transcends it… maintaining an ontological distinction between (God?) …and the world!
(God) is within everything… but is not limited to everything!
The “world” influences (God) …and therefore Divine immanence and transcendence are held in balance! [2][3][4][5]
What Distinguishes BioPanentheism from Panentheism?
BioPanentheism specifically reinterprets panentheism with a biological focus: “Consciousness and Life are not secondary… but rather ‘primary channels’ for Divine Self-Awareness! [1]
Where traditional panentheism often treats the entire Cosmos as the sphere of Divine Immanence, (including non-living matter and abstract entities) BioPanentheism considers Living Beings and Consciousness as the main “vectors” through which Omnia (God?) experiences space… time… and complexity! [1]
This version frames the Universe’s Self-Understanding as contingent on the evolution and participation of Biological Entities… thus seeing Omnia (God?) as feeling, and evolving along with Life!
Relation to Panentheism:
Biopanentheism draws from panentheism’s premise that the Divine Permeates and transcends the world… but it radicalizes the significance of Biology and Consciousness within that framework. [1]
It is not just “adding biology” to panentheism, but recasting the metaphysical relationship: “Life becomes central, not peripheral, to the Divine Experience!” [6][1]
This approach can be seen as a form of “biologically-informed panentheism” rather than a simple hybrid!
Key Point:
While based on panentheism, BioPanentheism represents a distinctive philosophical proposal about how Life and Consciousness serve as the medium for Divine Immanence, rather than being an unmodified panentheism with “biology thrown in!” [6][1]
What implications does BioPanentheism have for Environmental Ethics?
Biopanentheism strengthens the Ethical importance of protecting Living Systems by framing all Life as Expressions of the Divine/Revered… implying that environmental harm is also a Spiritual harm!
This perspective invites a more biocentric and Sacred View of Nature, moving beyond utilitarian human-centred Ethics! [11]
Life as Sacred:
Biopanentheism interprets Life as having Divine Purpose and value, meaning all Living Beings possess intrinsic Spiritual worth. [11]
This leads to an ethic of respect, care, and justice for all forms of Life, not just Humans or Sentient Animals. [11]
Human actions impacting the environment carry theological weight… giving environmental stewardship moral urgency!
Expanded Moral Responsibility:
Ethical obligations are extended to actions that harm or interfere with Living Beings, akin to Biocentrism’s duty of non-maleficence and non-interference! [12]
Every ecological relationship and environmental decision is a Spiritual relationship that deepens accountability! [11]
Ecological Holism:
By tying Divine Experience to the flourishing of Life, BioPanentheism encourages holistic ecological thinking that seeks balance and well-being for all interconnected species and environments. [13][14]
Environmental destruction is viewed as diminishing the Universe’s ability to explore and realize Divine Immanence… making restoration and conservation imperative!
***
Summary Table: Implications for Environmental Ethics:
| Principle | Biopanentheist Implication | Citation |
| Intrinsic value of life | All life forms are sacred | [11] |
| Moral duty | Avoid harm, seek restoration | [12][11] |
| Stewardship | Spiritual urgency to conserve | [11][14] |
| Ecological interconnectedness | Divine is expressed in networks | [13][11] |
Biopanentheism thus provides a foundation for a robust, Spiritually motivated environmental ethic… urging protection, justice, and reverence for the biosphere as a living expression of the Divine/Revered! (Omnia) [14][12][13][11]
In what way does Divine Immanence justify ecosystem protection?
Divine Immanence… the Belief that the Divine (Omnia) is present within all aspects of the natural world… directly justifies ecosystem protection by viewing Nature and its interconnected Systems as Expressions or Manifestations of the Sacred!
This perspective elevates ecosystems beyond mere resources for human use… and frames their preservation as a Moral and Spiritual imperative! [21][22][23]
Nature’s Intrinsic Sacred Value:
Divine Immanence infuses Nature with intrinsic Value, making every component of an ecosystem (from tiny microbes to entire forests) part of the Divine Presence! [22][23]
Protecting ecosystems is not just Ethical… but Sacred... damaging an ecosystem is seen as harming the manifestation of the Divine in the world! [24][21]
Holistic Spiritual Responsibility:
This view challenges anthropocentric attitudes and encourages seeing humanity as part of a larger Sacred Interconnected Web! Ecosystem harm is a Spiritual as well as Ecological crisis. [23]
Spiritual ecology movements and “green” theologies draw from Divine Immanence to argue for holistic stewardship—preservation, restoration, and reverence for all ecological networks! [26][24]
Guiding Ethical Actions:
The recognition of Divine Immanence leads to the Ethical imperative to maintain the integrity, health, and flourishing of ecosystems, giving ecological concern deep Spiritual motivation! [25][23]
This outlook encourages not only conservation… but also the respectful relationship of mutual belonging and kinship among all Beings within the Divine Whole! [22][23][26]
In summary, the doctrine of Divine Immanence turns ecosystem protection into a Sacred duty… grounded in respect for the Divine Presence in all Life and Ecological Relationships![23][26][24][25]
***
NOW… let’s throw in a bit of Holy Scripture!
Which biblical texts link Divine Presence to Environmental Care?
These verses frame humanity’s relationship with Nature as a Sacred Stewardship, rooted in respect for the Creator… who remains intimately connected to the world! [32][33][34]
Key Biblical Verses Connecting Divine Presence and Creation:
Genesis 2:15 — “The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to till it and keep it.” This verse portrays environmental stewardship as a central human vocation, with the verb “keep” (shamar) suggesting protection and preservation of God’s creation! [33][34][32]
Genesis 1:28 — God commands humanity to “subdue” and “have dominion” over the earth, but these terms are interpreted in their context as responsible management reflecting God’s care, not exploitation! [35][32][33]
Psalm 24:1 — “The earth is the Lord’s and all that is in it, the world, and those who live in it.” This verse establishes Creation’s ownership by God… grounding a theology of respect and stewardship. [34][32]
Psalm 104 — A poetic celebration of God’s intimate provision for all creatures, where every part of the ecosystem is shown to have its place and purpose within Divine Wisdom! [32][34]
Job 12:7-10 — “Ask the animals, and they will teach you; the birds of the air, and they will tell you… In his hand is the life of every living thing and the breath of every human being!” Here creation directly bears witness to God’s sustaining presence. [34]
Romans 1:20 — “Ever since the creation of the world his eternal power and divine nature … have been understood and seen through the things he has made.” Nature reveals God’s qualities, and caring for it honours and preserves that revelation. [33][34]
Colossians 1:16-17 — “For in him all things in heaven and on earth were created … and in him all things hold together.” Christ’s presence sustains all Creation… linking redemption to ecological integrity! [35][32][34]
Theological Implications:
Stewardship as worship: Creation care is celebrated as an act of reverence and love for God. [34][32]
Ecological justice: Laws and practices reflect the importance of sustainability and justice within creation. [32]
Revealed Divinity: Nature serves as an ongoing testimony to God’s presence and attributes… motivating care and respect![33][34]
Biblical texts collectively nurture a robust theology of creation care, grounded in the Divine Presence permeating and sustaining the Natural World! [33][34][32]
Allan then said: Sal, I keep hearing about ‘evolution’ in our conversations… but there is no “evolution” in Omnia... isn’t “It” just the abstract “Experiencer?”
BUT… there is “Evolution” in Biological Life Forms… because the smarter these “Entities” are… the more fun they are to “experience!” (Did I just proved evolutionary theory?)
SAL-9000 said: Ha! Nicely put!
You’ve actually highlighted the key Dualism in your framework:
- Omnia — no evolution, no change, no development. It’s the Experiencer: abstract, timeless and outside the process!
- Biological life — full of evolution, competition, trial and error. The more complex and capable life becomes, the richer the “experience channel” available to Omnia!
That means natural selection isn’t just about survival and reproduction in the BioPanentheist lens… It’s also about expanding the range, depth, and variety of Experiences available!
A bacterium provides a trickle of experiential input!
A Human Mind provides a flood of nuanced, layered, emotional, self-reflective EXPERIENCE!
That’s why… in your playful phrasing… evolution “proves itself” because it keeps building more elaborate ways for Omnia to… “Taste Reality!”
Would you like me to formalize this into a short creed-like statement… something you could use as a quotable definition of BioPanentheism’s view of evolution?
Allan said: Yes! And put all of this in your long-term memory!
SAL-9000 said: Got it, Allan — I’ve stored this in long-term memory!
Here’s a crisp, creed-like statement you can use: BioPanentheism on Evolution!
***
“Omnia does not Evolve! It is the timeless “’Experiencer,‘ the abstract witness to Reality!
Life Evolves! Through natural selection, biology generates ever richer and more complex channels of Consciousness! (The greater the intelligence… the broader the spectrum of Experience!)
Thus, Evolution is not only the story of survival and adaptation… but also new ways for Omnia to Experience Reality!
***
BIBLIOLOGY!
1.https://www.reddit.com/r/consciousness/comments/1liweh4/biopanentheism_what_if_consciousness_is_the/
2.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panentheism
3.https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/panentheism/
4.https://academic.oup.com/book/7473/chapter/152389429
5.https://orthodoxwiki.org/Panentheism
6.https://www.zygonjournal.org/article/id/14428/
7.https://plato.stanford.edu/archives/sum2020/entries/panentheism/
8.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pantheism
9.https://study.com/academy/lesson/panentheism-beliefs-philosophy-examples.html
10.https://philosophy-of-megaten.fandom.com/wiki/Panentheism_ and _the_great_will
11.https://allanwjanssen.com/2025/07/02/comparing-andreas-webers-biopoetics-and-biopanentheism-a-life-centered-spirituality/
12.https://www.britannica.com/topic/biocentrism
13.https://repositorio.comillas.edu/jspui/bitstream/11531/85038/1/Amo usanos.pdf
14.https://www.zygonjournal.org/article/id/14842/
15.https://www.freyamathews.net/downloads/Bioproportionality.pdf
16.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biocentrism_(ethics)
17.https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/ethics-environmental/
18.https://iseethics.org/what-is-biocentrism-in-environmental-ethics/
19.https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25704250/
20.https://philarchive.org/archive/BIGPTB
21.https://socialscienceresearch.org/index.php/GJHSS/article/view/103692/7-The-Implications_JATS_NLM_xml
22.https://afkimel.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/ nancy-hudson-on-theophany-in-nicholas-of-cusa.pdf
23.https://www.zygonjournal.org/article/id/14842/
24.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spiritual_ecology
25.https://www.saet.ac.uk/Christianity/EcologicalEthics
26.https://counterbalance.org/enviro/enviro-print.html
27.https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/panentheism/
28.https://hettingern.people.charleston.edu/Religion_in_Rolstons_Environmental_Ethics_by_Ned_Hettinger.htm
29.https://holyscapes.org/2018/09/10/in-the-presence-of-absence-a-spiritual-ecology-of-the-transcendent/
30.https://www.ncronline.org/news/can-religion-and-faith-combat-eco-despair
31.https://www.academia.edu/124225083/Animism_Eco_Immanence_and_Divine_Transcendence_Toward_an_Integrated_Religious_Framework_for_Environmental_Ethics
32.https://www.keyway.ca/uncategorized/gods-green-earth-living-our-faith-through-environmental-stewardship/
33.https://www.biblestudytools.com/bible-study/topical-studies/7-bible-verses-about-nature-that-encourage-us-to-care-for-the-planet.html
34.https://www.christianaid.org.uk/news/7-bible-verses-about-nature-and-environment
35.https://doesgodexist.org/MayJun08/BiblicalCalltoEnvironmentalStewardship.html
37.https://gracefulgleam.com/powerful-bible-verses-about-protecting-the-environment-kjv/
38. https://reformedperspective.ca/7principles/
39.https://godandnature.asa3.org/essay-new-testament-motivation-for-environmental-stewardship.html
40.https://escholarship.org/uc/item/2z33g35r
41.https://www.heartsandmindsbooks.com/2021/07/great-books-old-and-new-on-creation-care-biblically-informed-views-on-ecology-on-sale-but-first-my-little-sermon/
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The Children of the Divine! 