The term pantheist was first coined by John Toland (1670-1721), whose birthday is November 30th. Paul Harrison describes him:
Toland was the first modern pantheist to combine a religious reverence for the Universe, with respect for science, and a belief that everything is made of matter. A pantheist, he wrote to the German philosopher Leibniz, was one of those persons “who believe in no other eternal being but the universe.” When asked for a brief statement of his credo, Toland replied, “The sun is my father, the earth my mother, the world is my country and all men are my family.”
What an awesome quote. I think I just got a little pantheister.
Reblogged this on The Darkness in the Light.