Unpacking Spinoza’s God

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Spinoza’s concept of God, as laid out in his work Ethics, differs significantly from traditional theistic views. Rather than a personal, anthropomorphic deity who intervenes in the world, Spinoza equates God with nature itself—what he calls Deus sive Natura ("God or Nature"). In his view, God is not a being outside the universe but the infinite, eternal substance of which all things are modes or expressions. This leads to a pantheistic understanding, where everything that exists is a part of God, governed by deterministic natural laws. Spinoza rejected the idea of divine will or miracles, emphasizing reason, necessity, and the unity of all existence. His God does not judge, command, or love in the human sense, but is the totality of reality.

• What did Spinoza mean when he said “God or Nature” (Deus sive Natura)?
• Is Spinoza’s God truly a “God” at all, or is it just another way of describing the physical universe?
• In what ways does Spinoza’s conception of God differ from the theistic God of Abrahamic religions?
• How does Spinoza’s view challenge the idea of a personal God who answers prayers or intervenes in the world?
• Can Spinoza’s God offer a foundation for ethics and meaning, or does it risk moral relativism?

What is Spinoza's God?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gioaH2kFaIM&t

Spinoza’s God: The Mind-Blowing Philosophy That Inspired Einstein
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ElaxZnaBzPc

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In addition to the main topic (above), we also provide breakout rooms at 8pm as follows:
“Applied Practical Philosophy” – philosophy and its applications
“Town Square” – politics and current events
“Conference Room” – open for anything
“The Lounge” – light social chat