Tillich’s symbolic language

What did Tillich believe?

Most religious language had symbolic meaning rather than literal

What is a quote from C Geertz about symbolic language?

‘A religion is a system of symbols which acts to establish powerful persuasive and long-lasting moods’

where did Tillich discuss about the ultimate concern?

His book ‘Dynamics of Faith’ - symbols open up levels of reality to help people to engage with their ultimate concern

what is the ultimate concern?

Tillich’s defintion of God - that which should concern humans ultimately and be the focus of their lives providing meaning and motivating behaviours and Attitudes

Who was Tillich?

An existentialist - which is a concern for the needs people have to find their own meaning

what is a quote from Tillich?

‘whatever concerns a man ultimately becomes god for him’

what does this quote infer?

To have an ultimate concern - is to be religious and vice versa If there is something about which you deeply and truly care then you are religious you have a religion

What did Tillich see faith as?

The state of being ultimately concerned - beyond our basic needs Tillich saw the need for spiritual concerns - cognitive aesthetic social and political - these concerns led to humanity's ultimate concern - God

what did Tillich believe about the ultimate concern?

Only symbolic language is able to express the ultimate

what did Tillich view God as?

The fundamental symbol of ultimate concern - in this sense the language of symbols was entirely non-cognitive of the believer to the symbol reality and ultimate concern that was God

what did Tillich see a link between?

The symbols of faith as being closely linked to the ideas of myths - myths like symbols participated in human activity

what did Tillich believe about myths?

They gave rise to human cultural and religious traditions and like symbols were present in every act of faith because the language of faith is the symbol

what can only religious language do?

Express matters of the ultimate concern - it needs to use symbols since that which is transcendent is always beyond our direct understanding

what does a symbol point to?

A reality beyond itself and participates in that reality

when symbols become mistaken for the reality in which they participate what do they become?

They become idols - idolatry is the absolutising of the symbol

What are Tillich’s 6 characteristics of symbols?

• Point beyond themselves to something else

• Participate in that to which they point

• Open up levels of reality that are otherwise hidden

• Unlock dimensions of our soul tjat correspond to these levels of reality

• Cannot be manufactured

• Symbols can die

define the characteristic that it points beyond themselves to something else.

The symbols elicit emotional engagement and becomes linked with th thing it points towards

define the characteristic that they participate in that to which they point.

The symbol becomes part of the meaning - it is not the holy thing but it participates in the holy , it cannot be easily replaced , an attack on the symbol is an attack on the thing it symbolises

define the characteristic that it unlocks dimensions of our soul that correspond to these levels of reality.

every symbol is two-edged - a symbol engages with the soul of the believer so that they can access other levels of reality - this provides inspiration and a deeper understanding of faith

define the characteristic that it cannot be manufactured.

A symbol cannot be invented intentionally nor be arbitrarily replaced - symbols emanating from the collective unconscious and are accepted only if they meet the needs of the inner situation of the group

define the characteristic that symbols can die.

If a symbol ceases to function within society , it dies - Tillich claims that symbols such as the polythetistic go’s have done this