PAUL TILLICH

PAUL TILLICH

1. GOD

   • Being in itself
     • - Tillich does not engage in existence of God arguments since they treat God as a thing amongst other objects
     • The GROUND of being
       • - Lies behind everything - Orthodox christian notion but framed in an abstract way - Similar to Aquina's "un-moved mover"
       • God above God
   • meaning of life only found in God
     • Rejection of God, other forms of outlets are found in literature, art & music
     • We all have an ULTIMATE CONCERN
       • - Therefore complete atheism cannot exist

2. THEOLOGY OF CULTURE

   • Home from WW1 saw separation of Religion & culture :(
     • - Culture = new/ exciting - Religion = remained old/ rigid - Paradox: Religion is always relevant but must be reformed
   • Religion equates ALL aspects of human life
     • - Kant = Religion & morality - Schleiermacher = R & experience - Barth = R & the Word of God 
   • theology must be done in dialogue with contemporary context

3. SYSTEMATIC THEOLOGY

   • 3 Subdivisions:
     • - Essential nature - Essential distruption - Actuality 
     • 5 existential Q's & 5 theological A's
       • L ogos T ruth G od as creater H ow to deal with destructive forces J esus as the Christ E strangment  S prit A mbiguity K ingdom of God M eaning of History
       • Method of Correlation
     • LINK:

4. EXISTENCIALISM

   • Philosophical theology -> interpretation of CHRISTIAN SYMBOLS in terms of his own particular philosophy of CHRISTIAN EXISTENTIALISM
     • V's Hegel's perfect essentialism
       • - The world & humanity were marching towards a realization of goodness and unity with the infinite 
       • Liked Aristole --> difference between EXISTENCE & ESSENSE
         • Used the myth of ADAM & EVE
           • ESSENTIAL NATURE/MAN = Adam
             • state of freedom & non-freedom simalteously
               • unaware of essence, just existence = "dreaming innocence of undecided potentialities"
                 • state of finite time = ANXIETY
                   • SIN can flourish
                   • FREEDOM realized --> serpent --> choice
                     • state of "dreaming innocence" = lost
                       • man wants self-actualisation
                         • LINK

5. SYMBOLS

   • Direct themselves & participate in the power
     • can connect the infinite and the finite
       • symbol of the cross
         • CHRIST HAS CONQUERED EXISTENTIAL ESTRANGMENT
           • About healing & uniting that which is estranged
             • help to overcome the break between God & humanity
               • THEREFORE -> experience new being in christ = overcome estrangment

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