REL paper 2 - Essay exam on given topic PDF

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Farzana Uddin Religion 11100-04 Professor Herrera 3/07/17 Writing Assignment 2 In Paul Tillich’s Dynamics of Faith, i n which religion has both been defined and criticised, an argument that Tillich brings up challenges the traditional views of religion. He argues that “faith precedes all attempts to derive from something else because these attempts are themselves based on faith”. In this argument faith is referred to “ultimate concern” which exists as a centered act in one’s personal life. In order to achieve ultimate concern, one must surrender themselves in hopes of fulfillment. Tillich develops his point of view on faith by relating it to the argument that it is meaningless to ask if God exists. Furthermore, Tillich develops his approach to faith by explaining symbols and types of faith. His approach can be associated with Lame Deer’s, “Alone in the Hilltop”. The infamous argument of God’s existence has been a popular debate amongst theologians and scientists, both these arguments are crucial to the idea of the “ultimate concern” as a centered act. Tillich explains his approach of faith through the characteristics of symbols. Symbols express the ultimate concern and respond to the individual. Symbols, which is often confused with signs give meaning to one’s life. It reminds one of the infinite, but itself is finite. Tillich states, “symbols have one characteristic in common with signs; they point beyond themselves to something else” (Tillich, 41). Symbols help open up possibilities in one’s reality, hence giving a deeper insight. Regarding symbols, Tillich mentions, “it participates in that to

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which is points” ( Tillich 42). Tillich gives an example, saying that a nation’s flag is a symbol, an attack on the flag would mean an attack on the whole nation. This proves that symbols have bigger meaning to them. Tillich explains, “ It opens up realities that are otherwise closed” (Tillich, 42). In other words, symbols give people a new perspective. It points to something infinite, and opens up new “dimensions”. He gives an example of a play, which reveals a new way of thought and perspective, similarly, symbols give new perspective. Tillich goes on to explain that symbols are unintentional, hence it cannot be cautiously produced. He states that symbols are used when the need is there for it, “symbols grow with living beings” (Tillich, 43). When the beings die, the symbols die with them. With symbols, comes limitations. Tillich refers to “existential disappointment”, in which beings are too assured of the outcome, this means that having a certain expectation would only create disappointment if not met. Tillich states that doubt is necessary. These characteristics mentioned, according to Tillich represent all symbols. Tillich responds to the argument that God does not exist by stating that “God” itself is a symbols of man’s ultimate concern. In Tillich’s view, the term “God” is a symbol for something infinite, and has the characteristics that symbols portray. His statement “faith precedes all attempts to derive from something else” explains “God” as a symbol of ultimate concern. Tillich explains that overinvesting in a symbol is idolatrous because if one depends too much on the symbol, they forget what it represents. “Success as ultimate concern is not the natural desire of actualizing potentialities, but is readiness to sacrifice all other values of life for the sake of position of power.” (Tillich, 44). By this Tillich means that success requires prioritizing something over all others. For example in order to reach wealth, one much sacrifice, hence making success one’s ultimate concern, this creates potential to be idolatrous if it does not

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transcend itself. Tillich states, “God is the symbol of God. In this qualified sense God is the fundamental and universal content of faith” (Tillich, 46). This view of God, makes the argument of God’s existence meaningless, according to Tillich. God is part of faith, it is not faith itself because faith is infinite, the symbol of God can disappear while divinity remains. Tillich states, “If existence refers to something that can be found in the whole of reality, no divine being exists” (Tillich 47). True sense of Atheism is to have no ultimate concern, however Tillich questions if this exists. Scientists claim to deny God, but have made it their ultimate concern to refute God’s existence. Tillich affirms that denying His (God) existence, asserts His existence or at least asserts the religious process. Therefore, ultimate concern cannot deny its ultimacy, and that is why denying God’s existence is meaningless. According to Tillich, faith comes in many forms, both subjectively and objectively. The first type of faith is the “Ontological” type of faith, in which the experience of the “holy” must be in the present, here and now. According to Tillich, “It breaks into ordinary reality, shakes it and drives it beyond itself in an ecstatic way.” (Tillich, 56). This type of faith is seen evident during Lame Deer’s vision quest, in which Lame Deer evolved into a man through a series of experiences in the pit. In that pit, that reality he knew was challenged, he was shaken, and turned anew. During Lame Deer’s experience in the vision pit, he had no food for a few days and was left alone for the first time with a few sacred objects. These objects in a sense helped him get through the experience. Within this ontological element there is a sacramental character, which is evident in Lame Deer’s experience. Tillich, explains a sacramental faith as “being grasped by the holy through a special medium” (Tillich, 58) However Tillich mentions that this sacramental character can not be equated to the holy itself. Lame Deer kept sacramental objects such as his

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grandmother's flesh, a pipe, and a blanket with him during his experience at the pit. Also, in the Ontological type of faith lies “Mysticism” which goes beyond the concreteness of sacramental faith. One might say that the Mystical type of faith is irrational, but Tillich would say that this type of faith could not be explained through a “rational system”. He says it is a “matter of ecstatic experience” (Tillich, 61). One can say that Lame Deer experienced something mystical, because it goes beyond all categories of rationality and concreteness. There was both sacramental and mystical aspects during Lame Deer’s experience, hence it could be described as ontological. The second type of faith is the “Moral” type of faith which “expresses the holiness in what ought to be....Holy is the judgement over everything” (Tillich, 56). In this type of faith, the Holy is a symbol for obedience. “Moral types of faith are characterized by the idea of the law” (Tillich 65). Tillich explains how many religions have laws for moral purposes. For the faithful, in order to reach God, one must fulfil these laws, which are commands by God. These laws are objective and must be obliged, while in the ontological faiths, laws are subjective. These types of laws can be given through revelations. Examples of moral religions are Islam, Judaism, and Confucianism, according to Tillich. Furthermore, Both Ontological and Moral types of faith are evident in many traditions, however some religions focus more on one rather the other. To Tillich, faith and symbols differ. Symbols express the immediate experience while faith is the element of concreteness. Symbols are dynamic processes, and indiscreet. They cannot be replaced, nor created. They are means to open doors of dimensions beyond reality, and represent something infinite, but themselves are finite. Religion and faith are interchangeable and in its ultimate form is transcendent. Faith is a form of ultimate concern, and the symbol “God” is remembrance of that ultimate concern for beings. Tillich’s explanation of symbols, and types of

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faith, challenge traditional thoughts on religion. Tillich states that the search for God’s existence is meaningless because it can not be found in reality. Therefore, Tillich's point of view on faith is different than other points and add on to the concept of the ultimate concern.

Works cited Tillich, Paul. Dynamics of Faith . New York: Harper, 1956. Print....