panentheism?

[RussBLib]

This is the first I've heard of this term. I guess it's more of that there "sophisticated theology" that us poor atheists can't quite wrap our feeble heads around.

Define: panentheism - the belief or doctrine that God is greater than the universe and includes and interpenetrates it.

Ooo, tough one, eh? Try again

Question: "What is panentheism?"

Answer: Related to Process Theology, panentheism is essentially a combination of theism (God is the supreme being) and pantheism (God is everything). While pantheism says that God and the universe are coextensive, panentheism claims the God is greater than the universe and that the universe is contained within God. Panentheism holds that God is the “supreme effect” of the universe. God is everything in the universe, but God also is greater than the universe. Events and changes in the universe affect and change God. As the universe grows and learns, God also increases in knowledge and being.

FAIL! I detect a very strong odor of bullshit.

I got that term from an article in the Vancouver Sun about Gretta Vosper, an atheist clergy in the United Church of Canada. She's been in the clergy for awhile now, and "She leads a small congregation in Toronto, from where she often denounces her leaders for believing in God (including national Moderator Rev. Gary Paterson, of Vancouver)."

snip:

How do you solve a problem like Gretta Vosper, atheist clergywoman?

To most non-United Church of Canada members who have followed the peculiar case of the semi-famous Rev. Gretta Vosper, it’s a no-brainer.

Why on earth, outsiders ask, would a Christian church allow someone who has long been an outspoken atheist to remain in the clergy?

However, for many in the United Church, which is barely holding its status as the nation’s largest Protestant denomination, the case of Vosper is something best not to discuss. After all, Vosper has until recently remained largely unchallenged because most United Church leaders wouldn’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings, or be criticized as intolerant.

Original article is here.