Omnism
Encyclopedia
Omnism or omnitheism is the belief in all religion
s; those who hold this belief are called omnists (or Omnists). The Oxford English Dictionary
(OED) quotes as the term's earliest usage the 1839 long poem "Festus" by English
poet Philip J. Bailey
: "I am an omnist, and believe in all religions". In recent years, the term has been emerging anew, due to the interest of modern day self-described omnists who have rediscovered and begun to redefine the term.
s. The OED elaborates that an omnist believes "in a single transcendent
purpose or cause uniting all things or people". That is not necessarily the conclusion of those whom describe themselves as omnists. Some omnists interpret this to mean that all religions contain varying elements of a common truth, or place omnism in opposition to dogmatism, in that omnists are open to potential truths from all religions. However, as with modern physics, this does not mean that there is a single transcendent purpose or cause that unites. There may indeed be an infinite number of possibilities, or a deeper form of uncertainty in reality. There may be an influence more akin to existentialism
in which consciousness
is a power or force
that helps determine the reality, and yet is not a divine
influence.
In this regard, omnism does not appear to be a form of theology
, as it neither espouses nor opposes particular beliefs about God
. Instead, it affirms the necessity of one arriving at an understanding of reality based on personal experience, engagement, and inquiry, and an acceptance of the validity and legitimacy of the differing understandings of others. In this, there is, however, an implied system of values or ethics
.
The actual number of omnists is unknown as there is currently no formal organization.
) to express this meaning is typified in the usage ascribed by J. Sidlow Baxter
, who wrote in his 1991 work, Our Bible: The Most Critical Issue:
This use of the word is synonymous with omnism or omnitheism, which suppose a kernel
of truth in all religions, rather than all being simultaneously true in their entirety. The Wycliffe Bible encyclopedia describes the religion of Babylon
as "clearly a type of pan-deism formed from a synthesis of Christianity and paganism."
In a variation on this theme, the Vatican
has been accused of having a pandeism conspiracy with respect to other religions:
This seemingly separate use is not necessarily diverse from the broader theological theory, for it is easy to see how Pandeism, read as pantheistic Deism accounts for all religious phenomena attributed to theistic faiths.
Religion
Religion is a collection of cultural systems, belief systems, and worldviews that establishes symbols that relate humanity to spirituality and, sometimes, to moral values. Many religions have narratives, symbols, traditions and sacred histories that are intended to give meaning to life or to...
s; those who hold this belief are called omnists (or Omnists). The Oxford English Dictionary
Oxford English Dictionary
The Oxford English Dictionary , published by the Oxford University Press, is the self-styled premier dictionary of the English language. Two fully bound print editions of the OED have been published under its current name, in 1928 and 1989. The first edition was published in twelve volumes , and...
(OED) quotes as the term's earliest usage the 1839 long poem "Festus" by English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
poet Philip J. Bailey
Philip James Bailey
Philip James Bailey , English poet, author of Festus, was born at Nottingham.- Life :His father, who himself published both prose and verse, owned and edited from 1845 to 1852 the Nottingham Mercury, one of the chief journals in his native town...
: "I am an omnist, and believe in all religions". In recent years, the term has been emerging anew, due to the interest of modern day self-described omnists who have rediscovered and begun to redefine the term.
Contemporary refinements
Contemporary refinements have modified "belief in all religions" to refer more to an acceptance of the legitimacy of all religionReligion
Religion is a collection of cultural systems, belief systems, and worldviews that establishes symbols that relate humanity to spirituality and, sometimes, to moral values. Many religions have narratives, symbols, traditions and sacred histories that are intended to give meaning to life or to...
s. The OED elaborates that an omnist believes "in a single transcendent
Transcendence (philosophy)
In philosophy, the adjective transcendental and the noun transcendence convey the basic ground concept from the word's literal meaning , of climbing or going beyond, albeit with varying connotations in its different historical and cultural stages...
purpose or cause uniting all things or people". That is not necessarily the conclusion of those whom describe themselves as omnists. Some omnists interpret this to mean that all religions contain varying elements of a common truth, or place omnism in opposition to dogmatism, in that omnists are open to potential truths from all religions. However, as with modern physics, this does not mean that there is a single transcendent purpose or cause that unites. There may indeed be an infinite number of possibilities, or a deeper form of uncertainty in reality. There may be an influence more akin to existentialism
Existentialism
Existentialism is a term applied to a school of 19th- and 20th-century philosophers who, despite profound doctrinal differences, shared the belief that philosophical thinking begins with the human subject—not merely the thinking subject, but the acting, feeling, living human individual...
in which consciousness
Consciousness
Consciousness is a term that refers to the relationship between the mind and the world with which it interacts. It has been defined as: subjectivity, awareness, the ability to experience or to feel, wakefulness, having a sense of selfhood, and the executive control system of the mind...
is a power or force
Force
In physics, a force is any influence that causes an object to undergo a change in speed, a change in direction, or a change in shape. In other words, a force is that which can cause an object with mass to change its velocity , i.e., to accelerate, or which can cause a flexible object to deform...
that helps determine the reality, and yet is not a divine
Divinity
Divinity and divine are broadly applied but loosely defined terms, used variously within different faiths and belief systems — and even by different individuals within a given faith — to refer to some transcendent or transcendental power or deity, or its attributes or manifestations in...
influence.
In this regard, omnism does not appear to be a form of theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
, as it neither espouses nor opposes particular beliefs about God
God
God is the English name given to a singular being in theistic and deistic religions who is either the sole deity in monotheism, or a single deity in polytheism....
. Instead, it affirms the necessity of one arriving at an understanding of reality based on personal experience, engagement, and inquiry, and an acceptance of the validity and legitimacy of the differing understandings of others. In this, there is, however, an implied system of values or ethics
Ethics
Ethics, also known as moral philosophy, is a branch of philosophy that addresses questions about morality—that is, concepts such as good and evil, right and wrong, virtue and vice, justice and crime, etc.Major branches of ethics include:...
.
The actual number of omnists is unknown as there is currently no formal organization.
Pan-deism as omnism
Use of the term pan-deism (distinct from pandeismPandeism
Pandeism or Pan-Deism , is a term describing beliefs incorporating or mixing logically reconcilable elements of pantheism and deism Pandeism or Pan-Deism (from and meaning "God" in the sense of deism), is a term describing beliefs incorporating or mixing logically reconcilable elements of...
) to express this meaning is typified in the usage ascribed by J. Sidlow Baxter
J. Sidlow Baxter
J. Sidlow Baxter was a pastor and theologian who authored as many as thirty books analysing the Bible and advocating a Christian theological perspective...
, who wrote in his 1991 work, Our Bible: The Most Critical Issue:
This use of the word is synonymous with omnism or omnitheism, which suppose a kernel
Seed
A seed is a small embryonic plant enclosed in a covering called the seed coat, usually with some stored food. It is the product of the ripened ovule of gymnosperm and angiosperm plants which occurs after fertilization and some growth within the mother plant...
of truth in all religions, rather than all being simultaneously true in their entirety. The Wycliffe Bible encyclopedia describes the religion of Babylon
Babylon
Babylon was an Akkadian city-state of ancient Mesopotamia, the remains of which are found in present-day Al Hillah, Babil Province, Iraq, about 85 kilometers south of Baghdad...
as "clearly a type of pan-deism formed from a synthesis of Christianity and paganism."
In a variation on this theme, the Vatican
Holy See
The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
has been accused of having a pandeism conspiracy with respect to other religions:
This seemingly separate use is not necessarily diverse from the broader theological theory, for it is easy to see how Pandeism, read as pantheistic Deism accounts for all religious phenomena attributed to theistic faiths.
See also
- PandeismPandeismPandeism or Pan-Deism , is a term describing beliefs incorporating or mixing logically reconcilable elements of pantheism and deism Pandeism or Pan-Deism (from and meaning "God" in the sense of deism), is a term describing beliefs incorporating or mixing logically reconcilable elements of...
- Religious pluralismReligious pluralismReligious pluralism is a loosely defined expression concerning acceptance of various religions, and is used in a number of related ways:* As the name of the worldview according to which one's religion is not the sole and exclusive source of truth, and thus that at least some truths and true values...
- SyncretismSyncretismSyncretism is the combining of different beliefs, often while melding practices of various schools of thought. The term means "combining", but see below for the origin of the word...
- UniversalismUniversalismUniversalism in its primary meaning refers to religious, theological, and philosophical concepts with universal application or applicability...
- EclecticismEclecticismEclecticism is a conceptual approach that does not hold rigidly to a single paradigm or set of assumptions, but instead draws upon multiple theories, styles, or ideas to gain complementary insights into a subject, or applies different theories in particular cases.It can sometimes seem inelegant or...
External links
- "Omnist", Oxford English DictionaryOxford English DictionaryThe Oxford English Dictionary , published by the Oxford University Press, is the self-styled premier dictionary of the English language. Two fully bound print editions of the OED have been published under its current name, in 1928 and 1989. The first edition was published in twelve volumes , and...
, draft revision June 2004 (accessed from oed.com October 6, 2005). - Omnism.com, a site dedicated to Omnism
- "Omnism", an essay on the subject by Ann Wilson
- The Omnist, the personal webpage of a self-described omnist