What term describes the belief that God and nature (the Universe) are the same?

The belief that God and nature (the Universe) are the same is known as pantheism. This philosophical view holds that God is not a personal deity separate from the universe, but rather that everything collectively is part of an all-encompassing, immanent God. In pantheism, God is equated with the universe and its laws, implying that divine presence exists within all aspects of nature. This contrasts with other beliefs where God is seen as a transcendent being who exists outside of or independently from the universe, as posited in deism and theism. Deism, for instance, suggests that a creator set the universe in motion but does not intervene in its workings, while theism involves a more personal relationship with a deity who interacts with creation. Agnosticism, on the other hand, is a position of uncertainty regarding the existence of God or the divine and does not affirm any specific belief about the nature of God or the universe. Therefore, pantheism is distinct because it inherently identifies God with nature, emphasizing a unity between the divine and the natural world.