First, this is really beautifully written! This just comes through like a lovely song. Secondly, "Being" is a very important part of my personal philosophy/thought. I wonder if I should give this book a read. You seem so-so on it. Would you recommend it? And what are his qualifications, apart from being a theologian? You mention that he's familiar with Freud. Is he a "disciple" of Freud's or just a student of psychology? Does he root any of his thought in scripture?
Thank you very much for your kind words. I think The Courage to Be is definitely worth reading, but read it with faithful discernment. Tillich is brilliant in naming the existential anxieties of modern life (death, guilt, and meaninglessness) and he articulates them with rare depth. For a Christian reader, though, it’s crucial to recognize that while he asks the right questions, he ultimately offers answers rooted more in philosophy than in Scripture.
Tillich’s understanding of God as the impersonal “Ground of Being” departs significantly from the personal, covenantal God of the Bible. He is familiar with Freud and existential psychology, and while not a “disciple” of Freud, his framework is heavily shaped by psychological and philosophical currents rather than biblical revelation. He rarely roots his thought directly in Scripture, and when he does, it’s often through symbolic or existential reinterpretation.
So yes, I would say carefully read him,but do so alert to where his theology departs from the gospel.
First, this is really beautifully written! This just comes through like a lovely song. Secondly, "Being" is a very important part of my personal philosophy/thought. I wonder if I should give this book a read. You seem so-so on it. Would you recommend it? And what are his qualifications, apart from being a theologian? You mention that he's familiar with Freud. Is he a "disciple" of Freud's or just a student of psychology? Does he root any of his thought in scripture?
Thank you very much for your kind words. I think The Courage to Be is definitely worth reading, but read it with faithful discernment. Tillich is brilliant in naming the existential anxieties of modern life (death, guilt, and meaninglessness) and he articulates them with rare depth. For a Christian reader, though, it’s crucial to recognize that while he asks the right questions, he ultimately offers answers rooted more in philosophy than in Scripture.
Tillich’s understanding of God as the impersonal “Ground of Being” departs significantly from the personal, covenantal God of the Bible. He is familiar with Freud and existential psychology, and while not a “disciple” of Freud, his framework is heavily shaped by psychological and philosophical currents rather than biblical revelation. He rarely roots his thought directly in Scripture, and when he does, it’s often through symbolic or existential reinterpretation.
So yes, I would say carefully read him,but do so alert to where his theology departs from the gospel.