Faith is true insofar as it adequately expresses a concern with ultimate reality. Paul Tillich from Dynamics of Faith (New York: Harper & Row, 1957) The Meaning Of Symbol. Man’s ultimate concern must be expressed symbolically, because symbolic language alone is able to express the ultimate. Tillich's definition of religion. Ultimate concern. This paper Paul Tillich-1866-1945-protestant theologian -humans ultimate concern must be expressed symbolically because symbolic language alone is able to express the ultimate . Ultimate Concern #140K and Systematic Theology is an article about a Theistic Philosophy, the Systematic Theology, of Lutheran Theologian, Paul Tillich, written by artist Stephen F. Condren, BFA-SAIC, at Condren Galleries, a Fine Arts Gallery, offering prints and JPEG & PDF scans, which are on sale at low discount prices.Because the Ultimate Concern is great, it’s ideas are … 10. Wesley ... the theologian must be understood as one who takes the content of the theological circle to be his or her ultimate concern, even if he or she is sometimes attacks or rejects it. Therefore, the difference between the two terms is that faith is a state of being and not an act of knowledge. Symbol. 54 This is not the same, however, as saying one can infer God's existence from his nature. That is a different matter, and, at least for Aquinas, requires a proof from God's effects. But when Tillich adds to this doctrine the claim that one cannot sensibly even raise the question of God's existence, his position seems suspiciously close to some form of ontological argument. The dynamics of faith are evident in the conflict between participation in, and separation from, ultimate reality. Reader's Guide to Tillich's Systematic Theology On the Paul Tillich Resources Site. This statement demands explanation in several respects. Tillich says that the truth of faith can neither be affirmed nor denied by scientific, historical, or philosophical truth. [11] The theologian is one who has made “an existential decision” to stand on the boundary between commitment … As Tillich writes: “And if that word [God] has no meaning for you, translate it, and speak of the depth of your life, of the source of your being, of your ultimate concern, of what you take seriously…For if you know that God means depth you know much about him…He who knows about depth knows about God.” Paul Tillich’s concept of ultimate concern was formed with a Christian theological background, but its contribution to the rise of Religious Studies as an academic discipline in USA is acknowledged even by scholars of Religious Studies who may not be particularly interested in Christian theology. Representation in visible form of ideas, beliefs, actions, persons, events frequently in religious case of transcendent realities which bring the … Tillich defines faith as the state of being ultimately concerned.