BioPanentheism Style Guide: Naming the Sacred Entity
Hey kids, since everyone these days 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.
