IMO, it's sort of like viewing god as "the powers that be". Seems more reasonable than viewing god as a "magical sky daddy who sees to it that everyone gets what they deserve".

I feel that the position is a cop out on being an atheist, but still believing in God. Same as deism really.

It's literally the idea that the universe is God, but it's basically the idea that nothing is God because everything is God.

My thoughts are this: If everything is God, then nothing is, so why label anything as God, especially if God won't be doing anything special, asides from just existing, as is the case with pantheism.

The reason I called it a cop out is because a pantheist, that knows God doesn't do anything specific (anything more than exist) is basically admitting God isn't all that special, but he/she is still holding on to the belief that there must be a God for some reason.

Note: I call it a cop out and view it pretty negatively, but I also view Christianity, pastafarianism, Jedism or whatever etc and etc negatively, so you're not special Patheists so don't feel offended, or do idc, it's your beliefs, to each his/her own.

The universe is matter and energy; Why can't it also have a conscious as well?

At it's best, pantheism is a way to say "the world is sooo cool".

At worst it's a personal relationship with something that is not anything like a person. It's having the universe as your imaginary friend.