Understanding the Pan-Divine-Image theory: clarifying Unification thought in contrast to pantheism

Here, the difference between pantheism and the Pan-Divine-Image Theory is explained in order to clarify that Unification Thought is not pantheism, but rather it is the Pan-Divine-Image Theory.

Pantheism is the religious or philosophical view that regards all things in nature as being identical to or the representations of God; hence, it does not distinguish God from nature. Spinoza’s philosophy, Brahminist philosophy in ancient India, Buddhist philosophy, and some Egyptian or Greek philosophies are examples of pantheism.

Pantheism gave rise to optimism, which recognizes divine nature in all things and regards all phenomena as good. On the other hand, pantheism gave rise to pessimism, since pantheism regards all things indiscriminately as the manifestations of God, and therefore any distinction between good and evil, or between true and false became meaningless, and thus the foundation for moral effort was lost. Needless to say, both optimism and pessimism are powerless in solving actual problems.

It is because of the ignorance of God’s personality and His creation that pantheism is powerless in solving actual problems. Pantheists never considered such an idea as that of “Heart motivation” in God’s creation.

As explained already, Unification Thought proposes “Heart motivation” and “creation in likeness”; therefore, it is possible for Unification Thought to fundamentally solve any difficult actual problem.

Then, what is the Unification Thought view about pantheism? As mentioned above, Unification Thought is not pantheistic, but rather a Pan-Divine-Image theory. In Unification Thought, all things were created according to the law of likeness, centered on the purpose of creation. Hence, all things are not the direct manifestations of God, but rather they are created in the image of God, in other words, in the Divine Image of God.

Hence, Unification Thought regards the relationship between God and all things as the relationship between the Creator and the created, the infinite and the finite, and the original being and the imitation; furthermore, Unification Thought regards the relationship between God and human beings as the relationship between parents and children.