What's So Special About Paul Tillich?

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Paul Tillich’s way of framing theology answers some important concerns which drive people from religion in general and Christian theology in particular. We’re going to set up the theological options, explain some common stumbling blocks which have caused people to misunderstand Christianity, and then get into the way Tillich overcomes these by highlighting the positive features of his approach. Check this out.

0:00 Intro
1:20 Theological options
4:40 Stumbling blocks to Christianity
7:12 Positive features of Tillich’s approach
10:16 Wrap-up

**Info/Gear**
Twitter: @ReligionTen, @DrMarkBanas
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[Unknown-zuw]

Dr. Banas, you are a great explainer. I’ve just watched a few of your videos but look forward to watching the rest. Thank you for your good work :)

[bobd]

First time here. Thank you for this worthwhile post. With so much information bombarding us today, it's refreshing to have complex and long things simplified and shortened and easier to grasp. Looking forward to watching your other posts on Tillich before getting some of his books from the library.
I can see how you must be a terrific professor. Bravo!

[ralphstarling]

What do I think? I have no idea!. I am just happy to be here!

[ivtch]

Thx. It seems to me that Paul Tillich's approach takes away the fundamentalist certainty (both biblical and dogmatic) that many of us were nursed on for so long. This approach seems to require a profound, humble openness and an acceptance that we can never know/experience the fullness of the Ground of Being (Ultimate Existence/Reality); only our space, time inflection. This could easily lead one on a mystical path. I need to explore Tillich's thought more.

[Jan]

I have been heavily influenced by Paul Tillich. I have read almost every book he wrote, including volume 3 of his systematic theology (about the tragic nature of life). I admit I did not read the other two volumes, but I've read all his other books, and I have most of them on my bookshelves. I read him while I was in college and graduate school, which was a long time ago. I did not read him for classes. I bought my own copies of his books and read them on the side. An undergraduate professor introduced Tillich to me and since we soon parted ways, he never learned how deeply I studied Tillich.

[lalannej]

Great to see anyone talking real philosophy, but it may be more technical information than the general public can follow. I'd work on breaking it down into smaller and simpler concepts. And that will give you plenty to work on for producing more videos. Over time, the channel will grow.

[miltonmonroe]

I summarize Tillich in this manner. He had the courage to be, the courage to flee, the courage to be a flea. He was; he was not. He was a paradox.

If I could have had a conversation with him, I would say to the great Paul Tillich, "If you are having a crisis, take an epistle like II Peter, or a gospel, or a prophet, or the psalm, even Revelation and read it over and over. And you will discover that the Bible and life make sense."

I'm not sola scriptura. I believe in tradition, but in good tradition, not in "vain janglings."

[maureengallant]

I've got to go with Barth, but that is because I rely on my personal experience and I can't easily walk away from that as a believer, however I do see that my anecdotal evidence doesn't provide security for others who are either unsure, or actively searching. So overall I think Tillich's systematic theology is the best of all choices....but still, , for me? Barth seems to win.

[junpark]

Can you do a video regarding preterism? There are a wide spectrums of preterism, but would hear more about Daniel E. Harden’s thinking.

[Alkemisti]

I am inclined to agree with both neoplatonic and existentialist theologies. It would make sense that religious truths would have many valid situation-relevant interpretations (because they are _logos_ to everyone at all times), but there would still be the ladder of the mystical ascent behind them---interpretations being a vehicle to elevate us from different kinds of swamps.

Doctrine, scripture, myths, and rites are temporal truth-expressions of the eternal Truth that cannot be expressed with exact precision. It is possible to read these texts _(forma)_ in different relative ways but at the same time believe they have an absolute ineffable reality _(substantia)_ behind them. Like God has one essence but many uncreated energies (to use Palamite concepts).

I do not say that _anything_ goes, but more than one might.

[sinisterminister]

Among the five alternatives, mystical ascent, process theology, and Tillich’s ground of all being all have a very distinct, neoplatonic content and flavor. I would even argue that Whitehead’s process philosophy is a modern version of Plotinus’ understanding of reality, and just as Plotinus identifies being itself (or more precisely, that which transcends both being and nothingness) with the One, so does Tillich identify being itself with God.

[andrastorok]

Dr. B., Tillich's theology seems to be a exemplar of what critis of modern protestant theology would call a new docetism or gnosticism, in which the figure of the Saviour is not much more than a mediator of wisdom and salvation is in fact nothing else or more than enlightenment. I can imagine that he was confronted with such criticism in his active years. If so, how did he answer to them?

[CodeWithKuyaJoe]

I think even if he were Christian, his Philosophy can really apply to modern Islam as well

[Megaritz]

Where does atheism fit into the taxonomy of options at the start? Is it a variant of nihilism, or a variant of the "God as ground of being" view? Or is it not in the taxonomy?

[interstateneek]

I bet he will not talk about Jesus and that naked little boy he was caught with. Smh the story is talking about you and your journey to birth until death. Put the energy n worship into yourself and treat EVERYONE as yourself.