These ideas branded him as a dangerous atheist in 17th century Europe.  
At the age of 23 he was excommunicated from his synagogue for his daring challenges to orthodox thought.  One of his most shocking ideas was a precursor to modern Pantheism: he considered God and the universe to be the same thing, and always referred to it as "God-or-nature".  These ideas branded him as a dangerous atheist in 17th century Europe.  For ten points, what Dutch philosopher developed his own views as criticism of those of Descartes?
At the age of 23 he was excommunicated from his synagogue for his daring challenges to orthodox thought.  
Baruch (Benedict) Spinoza