Very interesting article. I as well have never heard of Baruch, but I have definitely heard of this theory before in my life. For myself the last two points of your article:
"Now if you believe that God is an old guy with a white beard in the Sky who created everything and waits to judge you at the end your life then this view of Spinoza’s may be a very difficult concept to grasp. But if you believe that “God” is a great Infinite Mystery that is Omnipresent ... everywhere, and within everything ... a mystical spirit that we are all a part of then this concept is not so strange."
ring true to me perfectly co-existing..... Not sure why a majority of people see these as separate because in my brain both are 100% true.... Religion is such a tricky subject to discuss sometimes, good job on the article, so far this one has been my fav to read on here.
RE: The Ethics of Spinoza and his Proof of God