Comparing Synthemon (synchronistic theistic monism) and the Bahá’í Faith reveals both convergences and significant distinctions in worldview and belief.
1. Metaphysical Foundation:
Synthemon is grounded in substance monism with attribute dualism: reality is a single, unified substance expressing both physical (extension) and mental/spiritual (thought) attributes. This substance is distinct from, but systematically integrated by, a transcendent, omniscient, and omnipresent God. The cosmos is seen as a purposeful, interconnected whole, with synchronicity revealing meaningful links between physical events and spiritual realities [1].
The Bahá’í Faith, in contrast, is strictly monotheistic but does not espouse substance monism or attribute dualism in the same philosophical sense. Instead, it teaches that God is utterly transcendent, unknowable in essence, and that creation is the result of God’s will, but not of God’s own substance. The Bahá’í Faith emphasizes the unity of humanity and the progressive revelation of religious truth through a succession of prophets.
2. Nature of God and Creation:
In Synthemon, God is both transcendent and immanent, systematically integrating the cosmos as a holistic, organic unity. God’s presence is accessible through the indwelling Holy Spirit, and divine intentionality is manifest in the laws and synchronicities of the universe [1].
The Bahá’í Faith also affirms God’s transcendence and omnipresence, but maintains a sharper ontological distinction between Creator and creation. God does not indwell the world or humans directly; instead, divine guidance comes through Manifestations (prophets) who reflect God’s attributes.
3. Epistemology and Knowledge:
Synthemon emphasizes divine epistemology: truth is accessed through revelation, intuition, and symbolic interpretation (such as Tarot, I Ching, dreams, and astrology), as well as rational inquiry. Synchronicity is a key principle, allowing for meaningful, acausal connections that reveal God’s plan [1].
The Bahá’í Faith values both reason and revelation, but does not endorse divination or esoteric practices. Knowledge is sought through the study of scripture, prayer, meditation, and rational investigation of the world, with an emphasis on harmony between science and religion.
4. View of Spiritual Practices:
Synthemon affirms the validity of psychic phenomena, divination tools, astrology, and symbolic narratives as means of accessing spiritual truths and synchronicities within the divine order [1].
The Bahá’í Faith discourages such practices, focusing instead on prayer, meditation, service, and ethical living as the means to spiritual growth.
5. Unity and Diversity:
Both worldviews emphasize the interconnectedness of humanity and the cosmos. Synthemon frames this as the organic unity of the cosmos within a single substance, while the Bahá’í Faith emphasizes the oneness of humanity and the unity of all religions as expressions of one divine plan.
6. Attitude Toward Other Traditions:
Synthemon is syncretic, integrating insights from Taoism, Hermeticism, Neoplatonism, and other traditions, seeing them as different expressions of the same underlying reality [1].
The Bahá’í Faith teaches progressive revelation: all major religions are seen as stages in the unfolding of God’s guidance, but it maintains distinct boundaries regarding doctrine and practice.
Summary:
- Synthemon is a metaphysical synthesis emphasizing substance monism, synchronicity, and the integration of spiritual and physical realities, with openness to esoteric and symbolic practices [1].
- The Bahá’í Faith is a world religion emphasizing the unity of God, humanity, and religion, with a focus on ethical living, progressive revelation, and harmony between science and religion, but without the esoteric or monistic metaphysics of Synthemon.
These differences reflect fundamentally distinct approaches to metaphysics, epistemology, and spiritual practice, even as both affirm the unity and purposefulness of creation [1].
In addition:
Let us delve deeper into the distinctions between Synthemon (synchronistic theistic monism) and the Bahá’í Faith across several key dimensions:
Metaphysical Foundations:
Synthemon asserts a metaphysical foundation of substance monism with attribute dualism: all of reality is one fundamental essence, which expresses itself through both physical (extension) and mental/spiritual (thought) attributes. This unified cosmos is systematically integrated by a transcendent, omniscient, and omnipresent God, whose intentionality is reflected in the fine-tuning, interconnectedness, and synchronicity of creation. The cosmos is not an emanation of God’s own substance, but it is wholly dependent on divine intentionality and order [1].
In contrast, the Bahá’í Faith maintains a strict Creator/creation distinction. God is utterly transcendent and unknowable in essence; creation is the result of God’s will, but not made of God’s own substance. The Bahá’í metaphysic does not posit a unified underlying substance for all reality, nor does it explicitly embrace attribute dualism or synchronicity as metaphysical principles.
Views on God and Creation:
In Synthemon, God is both transcendent and immanent—transcending spacetime yet able to enter the cosmos, indwell humans via the Holy Spirit, and manifest divine presence throughout the interconnected whole. The cosmos is a holistic, organic unity, distinct from but systematically integrated by God [1].
The Bahá’í Faith, while affirming God’s omnipresence and omniscience, maintains that God does not directly indwell creation or humanity. Instead, God’s guidance and attributes are made manifest through a series of prophets (Manifestations of God), who act as perfect mirrors reflecting the divine to humanity.
Epistemology:
Synthemon emphasizes divine epistemology: true knowledge is accessed through a balance of revelation, intuition, symbolic interpretation (including Tarot, I Ching, astrology, dreams, and other synchronistic phenomena), and rational inquiry. Synchronicity is a key principle, revealing meaningful, acausal connections between the physical and spiritual realms and reflecting God’s intentional design [1].
The Bahá’í Faith values both reason and revelation, but does not endorse divination, astrology, or esoteric practices. Knowledge is sought through the study of scripture, prayer, meditation, and rational investigation, with a strong emphasis on the harmony of science and religion.
Spiritual Practices:
Synthemon affirms the efficacy of divination tools, psychic phenomena, and symbolic narratives as legitimate means of accessing spiritual truths and participating in the interconnectedness of the cosmos. Practices such as Tarot, I Ching, dream interpretation, and astrology are seen as vehicles for divine guidance through synchronicity [1].
The Bahá’í Faith, by contrast, discourages such practices. Its spiritual life centers on daily prayer, meditation, study of scripture, service to humanity, and the cultivation of virtues.
Unity and Diversity:
Both Synthemon and the Bahá’í Faith emphasize unity—Synthemon through the organic unity of all things within the divine order, and the Bahá’í Faith through the oneness of humanity and the unity of all religions as progressive revelations of God’s will. However, Synthemon’s unity is metaphysical and holistic, while the Bahá’í unity is primarily ethical, social, and theological [1].
Attitudes Toward Other Traditions:
Synthemon is explicitly syncretic, integrating insights from Taoism, Hermeticism, Neoplatonism, and other traditions, viewing them as different expressions of the same underlying reality and divine plan [1].
The Bahá’í Faith teaches progressive revelation, affirming the validity of previous religions as stages in God’s unfolding guidance, but maintains clear doctrinal boundaries and does not incorporate esoteric or occult practices.
Summary:
Synthemon offers a metaphysical synthesis that integrates scientific, philosophical, and esoteric traditions into a unified worldview, emphasizing synchronicity, divine intentionality, and the interconnectedness of all things [1]. The Bahá’í Faith, while sharing a commitment to unity and progressive spiritual development, is more theologically conservative, focusing on the transcendence of God, the ethical transformation of humanity, and the harmony of science and religion, without embracing the esoteric or monistic metaphysics of Synthemon.
For further exploration of Synthemon’s metaphysical and spiritual framework, see the referenced ebook [1].
Sources
1 Synchronic Theistic Monism: an Ebook that explains Tarot, I Ching, and more. https://manypossibilities1.blogspot.com/2025/04/theistic-dual-aspect-monism.html