MennoNet.com

This is fantastic. This vine can somehow “see” what leaves are nearby and then change the shape of it’s own leaves to better match them. Plants don’t have eyes.

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8903786/

Plants seem to have other inexplicable senses. I read about dying trees sharing minerals and other resources through the roots to nearby trees of the same species.

How amazing! Thanks for posting.

To me this just reinforces my belief that there is something like panentheism going on when it comes to nature.

HansMacDonald wrote: ↑Wed Sep 16, 2026 4:49 pm To me this just reinforces my belief that there is something like panentheism going on when it comes to nature.

This could be an interesting topic, is animism the result of overactive pattern recognition in the human brain, like seeing faces in the clouds, or the careful observation of intricate details worked into creation by an infinite creator.

Tangentially related question: why are the cardinal beasts in Ezekiel so similar to the ancient cardinal beasts in astrology. Is it possible astrology had a root in observation of creation truth that we have forgotten about? Not that I'm interested in Astrology, but I am interested in how things came to be.

Panentheism and animism are two distinct spiritual frameworks that define how the divine relates to the material world, differing primarily in their view of cosmic unity versus individual localized spirits. Panentheism is the metaphysical belief that the divine pervades and interpenetrates every part of the universe, while simultaneously extending beyond time and space. Animism, by contrast, is a worldview asserting that distinct, localized spiritual essences inhabit all natural entities—such as animals, plants, rocks, and rivers—focusing on a relationship with a multitude of individual non-human persons rather than a single cosmic whole. [1, 2, 3, 4]
While both systems reject the idea of a completely distant, clockmaker God (deism), they differ significantly in structure, focus, and practice: [3, 5]
## Direct Comparison

| Feature | Panentheism | Animism |
|---|---|---|
| Core Concept | "All-in-God." The universe is contained within a greater divine reality, but the divine also transcends it. | "Souls in nature." Natural objects, places, and creatures possess their own unique, individual spirits. |
| Structure of the Divine | Monistic or holistic. Everything belongs to one sacred, continuous field. | Pluralistic. The world is populated by a village of many distinct presences. |
| Transcendence vs. Immanence | Both immanent and transcendent. God is in the universe, but is also greater than the universe. | Immanent. Spirits exist right here within the immediate physical landscape. |
| Primary Focus | Mystical unity, cosmic interconnection, and the ultimate nature of reality. | Relationship, reciprocity, and maintaining balance with local non-human neighbors. |
| Spiritual Practice | Contemplation, meditation, and experiencing awe through a sense of cosmic belonging. | Rituals, offerings, and communication via shamans to respect individual spirits. |

## Summary of Differences

*
* The Metaphysical "Shape": Think of panentheism like an ocean. Every drop of water (the universe) is part of the ocean, but the ocean is also vast and deep beyond any single drop. Animism is like a crowded neighborhood. The tree, the river, and the mountain are your unique neighbors; they each have their own mind, personality, and agency. [1, 6]
* The Nature of Spirit: A panentheist views a tree as a localized expression of a single, massive divine reality. An animist views the tree as an individual "person" with its own specific spirit that needs to be respected and bargained with. [1, 3]
*

Are you exploring this from a philosophical/theological perspective, or are you looking to understand how these frameworks are applied in indigenous traditions and modern spiritual practices?

[1] [https://naturalistico.com](https://naturalistico.com/en/learn/blog ... ient-talks)
[2] [https://www.youtube.com](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jPI5sVidBKQ&t=987)
[3] [https://www.learnreligions.com](https://www.learnreligions.com/pantheism-95680)
[4] [https://www.quora.com](https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-diffe ... -pantheism)
[5] [https://www.youtube.com](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-vu_jFe6aYA&t=179)
[6] [https://www.reddit.com](https://www.reddit.com/r/pantheism/comm ... smanimism/)

Obviously I don't even know enough to know what I am asking.

barnhart wrote: ↑Wed Sep 16, 2026 5:32 pm

HansMacDonald wrote: ↑Wed Sep 16, 2026 4:49 pm To me this just reinforces my belief that there is something like panentheism going on when it comes to nature.

This could be an interesting topic, is animism the result of overactive pattern recognition in the human brain, like seeing faces in the clouds, or the careful observation of intricate details worked into creation by an infinite creator.

Tangentially related question: why are the cardinal beasts in Ezekiel so similar to the ancient cardinal beasts in astrology. Is it possible astrology had a root in observation of creation truth that we have forgotten about? Not that I'm interested in Astrology, but I am interested in how things came to be.

Animism isn't exactly what I meant.

I will have to research your observation about the cardinal beasts, though I'm not into Astrology at all.

barnhart wrote: ↑Wed Sep 16, 2026 5:32 pm Tangentially related question: why are the cardinal beasts in Ezekiel so similar to the ancient cardinal beasts in astrology. Is it possible astrology had a root in observation of creation truth that we have forgotten about? Not that I'm interested in Astrology, but I am interested in how things came to be.

In the pre-NT era, astrology was completely normal; an example of some of the first teaching against it would the screeds in the Book of Enoch which is generally believed to have been written in the intertestamental era. In any case, astrologers used to be the only people you could go to to get calendars or calendar-like information. The Book of Enoch is about half just a calendar, and is written as if disclosing this is some big, huge secret that had long been hidden.