Paul Tillich - Theology - Faith As Ultimate Concern

Faith As Ultimate Concern

According to the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, Tillich believes the essence of religious attitudes is what he calls "ultimate concern". Separate from all profane and ordinary realities, the object of the concern is understood as sacred, numinous or holy. The perception of its reality is felt as so overwhelming and valuable that all else seems insignificant, and for this reason requires total surrender. In 1957, Tillich defined his conception of faith more explicitly in his work, Dynamics of Faith.

… "Man, like every living being, is concerned about many things, above all about those which condition his very existence...If claims ultimacy it demands the total surrender of him who accepts this claim...it demands that all other concerns...be sacrificed."

— Tillich, Dynamics of Faith, p.1-2

Tillich further refined his conception of faith by stating that

… "Faith as ultimate concern is an act of the total personality. It is the most centered act of the human mind...it participates in the dynamics of personal life."

— Tillich, Dynamics of Faith, p.5

An arguably central component of Tillich's concept of faith is his notion that faith is "ecstatic". That is to say that

… "It transcends both the drives of the nonrational unconsciousness and the structures of the rational conscious...the ecstatic character of faith does not exclude its rational character although it is not identical with it, and it includes nonrational strivings without being identical with them. 'Ecstasy' means 'standing outside of oneself' - without ceasing to be oneself - with all the elements which are united in the personal center."

— Tillich, Dynamics of Faith, p.8-9

In short, for Tillich, faith does not stand opposed to rational or nonrational elements (reason and emotion respectively), as some philosophers would maintain. Rather, it transcends them in an ecstatic passion for the ultimate.

It should also be noted that Tillich does not exclude atheists in his exposition of faith. Everyone has an ultimate concern, and this concern can be in an act of faith, "even if the act of faith includes the denial of God. Where there is ultimate concern, God can be denied only in the name of God"