The God We Never Knew Panentheism

Throughout his novel The God We Never Knew, author Marcus J. Borg defines his view of God as one of panentheistic origin. Panentheism is a belief system that affirms “both the imminence and transcendence of God” (Borg 32) by combining theism, the idea that God is a supreme being, with pantheism, the theory that God is everything. Utilizing a panentheistic method of thought allows one to understand that God is in everything and everything is in God. An expression of what Borg calls panentheism can be seen in the painting Canticle of the Sun II by John Coburn, inspired by a song composed by Francis of Assisi. Examples of panentheistic thought are found both in the painting, through its use of interconnected shapes, and in the song, through Francis

of Assisi’s references to God as being part of multiple aspects of natural life. Both works provide viewers with the insight as to how panentheism can be utilized in order to understand complex religious ideas.
In his painting Canticle of the Sun II, John Coburn makes several references to panentheism that are demonstrated through the use of color and shape.

The palette of color that Coburn utilizes in the work are earth tones that give the piece a natural, aesthetic quality. The deep greens, vivid oranges, and dark browns are all found in nature, whether it be in foliage, sunlight, or silt. Coburn painted these colors into free-flowing shapes that interact with each other in the work, as the shapes are not confined to the three boxes in the background of the painting. Instead, the shapes are in the forefront, and extend past the rectangular barriers and interact with other shapes in the work. This combination of color and shape distinctly represent panentheism as they portray the interaction of God within the world and of the world being within God. The orange circular figure, clearly representative of the sun, is providing nourishment to the green plant-like shapes beneath it, allowing for the growth of vegetation. This relationship of sun to plant is a metaphor to the relationship of God with human beings. Just as the sun helps the plants develop, God helps humans evolve and mature. The integral connection between the sun and the plant parallels the necessary relationship between God and humans, a relationship that would not be fully developed if God was not in everything and everything was not within God. The combination of color and shape within Canticle of the Sun II illuminates the subtle presence of panentheistic thought throughout the painting, allowing viewers to understand the complexity of the relationship between God and man

beings.
The song written by Francis of Assisi that provided Coburn inspiration for Canticle of the Sun II also contains several references to panentheistic ideology. Francis of Assisi refers to God both as being part of the Earth and to the Earth as being part of God. For example, he states that God should be praised “through our sister Mother Earth, who feeds us and rules us…” (“Canticle”). Praising God through Mother Earth logically implies that God and Mother Earth are somehow connected. God created the Earth which nourishes the people, and therefore everything that is fed by the Earth contains a part of God. An additional instance in which the idea of panentheism is present is when Francis states that God should be praised through all forms of weather, “through which You [God] give all Your creatures sustenance” (“Canticle”). Due to the fact that God creates the weather, and the weather in turn allows crops to grow, God is indirectly present in the food that humans consume. This represents the God is in everything aspect of panentheism because the presence of God is found in things that God does not craft directly, such as our food. God transcends any earthly substance, but at the same time we are always in the presence of Him, demonstrating the fact that everything is in God as well. Evidently, the song written by Francis of Assis that inspired Coburn to paint Canticle of the Sun II contained several references to panentheism that illustrate the importance of understanding the dualistic nature of God in our lives.
Both Canticle of the Sun II by John Coburn and the song written by Francis of Assisi contain references to panentheistic ideology, whether they are explicitly stated or interpretable depending on the observer. These works clearly demonstrate that through panentheism, it is effortless for people to notice the transcendence and immanence of God. The examples in these works irrefutably display the duality of God and how panentheism can be used to make sense of this complex nature of understanding religion.