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INTRODUCTION
AIM OF THE STUDY
The purpose of the study is to investigate the contribution of the German years from 1886 to 1933 in our understanding of Paul Tillich‘s Life, Thought, and Legacy. The formation of a historical frame of reference and a historical philosophy will be formed where possible. This will aid the historical investigation in terms of the needed historical perspective. The importance of Tillich‘s years in Germany has been overlooked by ecclesiastical writers. These years are often listed without giving them their proper emphasis and historical interpretation.
Tillich is a very colorful figure with his birth in the nineteenth century in Germany. He lived in Germany until he was forty-seven years of age. He was dismissed from his last university post by Hitler in 1933. His academic training was very impressive with a doctoral dissertation on Frederick Schelling. Tillich wrote a second dissertation on the guilt concept of Schelling for his licentiate in theology. The impact of the theological career of Tillich has been overlooked especially the year 1929 when he sought to fill a teaching post at the University of Frankfurt.
REASON FOR THE STUDY
American ecclesiastical writers in writing the biography of Paul Tillich have failed to realize the importance of the German years from his birth in 1886 to 1933. They emphasise the American years at Union Theological Seminary, Columbia University, Harvard University, and finally the University of Chicago.
Tillich was a German whose theological thought had been formed from the thinking of Frederick Shelling. He had developed a political philosophy as well from the writings of men like Karl Marx. Tillich‘s emphasis on existentialism was formed from his European background. Tillich sought to address religious problems.
American pragmatism and the input of John Dewey have contributed much to the current misunderstanding that prevails in society concerning Tillich‘s life, thought, and German legacy. His years in Germany are listed but without historical research, interpretation, and meaning. Tillich is viewed in an American postmodern world as merely a philosophical theologian. The German years given their proper emphasis will show that Tillich the apostle to the intellectuals was a product of his German background. Tillich will be properly placed within the ecclesiastical spectrum.
HYPOTHESIS
Paul Tillich‘s biographical details are the key to understanding his life, thought, and legacy. Our hypothesis is that Paul Tillich‘s German years 1886 to 1933 are necessary to understand Tillich‘s life, thought, and legacy.
STATEMENT PERSONAL
The writer approaches the life, thought, and legacy of Paul Tillich with great interest. Paul Tillich is one of the theological thinkers upon which modern religious and theological thought is based. The writer admits absolute objectivity does not exist. Secondly, the writer admits his own subjective context in the writing of the thesis. The Harvard system of documentation is to be followed. I have a theological background with an earned Master of Theology degree from an accredited seminary. My Master of Arts in Humanities was with a concentration in Religion and Philosophy from California State University, Carson, California. I was ordained to the Christian ministry in 1976.
HISTORIOGRAPHICAL APPROACH
The writer will consider the older historiographical method at the outset of Chapter 2. This provides valuable tools which contribute to our historical insights and understanding in the writing of history. Our historiographical approach will turn then to consider modern historical issues in writing contemporary history. The definition of contemporary history, the problem of objectivity, the admission of the historian‘s own subjectiveness, historical progress, the ecumenical perspective, the destination of history, the end of history, the role of ideology, and the relationship of church history to world history will be discussed and summarized. The thesis will be judged by historiography where it is applicable in the argumentation.
CHAPTER PAUL TILLICH’S CHRONOLOGY AND AUTOBIOGRAPHY
1:1 A Historical Frame of Reference
1:1:1 Tillich’s Background Was German
1:2 Tillich Recalls the German Years 1886-1904
1:2:1 Tillich’s Encounter With Nature And Fascination With History
1:2:2 Tillich’s German Society
1:2:3 Tillich’s German Academic Training
1:3 The Period of Tillich’s Preparation 1905-1914 (includes two years of church work)
1:3:1 Tillich Educated In German Universities
1:4 The War Years 1914-1918
1:4:1 Tillich Turns To Art And Karl Marx’s Thinking
1:5 Post World War I Germany
1:6 Tillich’s Commitment to Religious Socialism
1:6:1 Tillich’s Ever Increasing Commitment To Socialism
1:7 Tillich’s Academic Career at German Universities 1919-1933
1:7:1 Tillich The German Theologian
1:8 Summary
CHAPTER 2 HISTORIOGRAPHICAL APPROACH
2:1 The Writing of History
2:2 Historical Inquiry
2:2:1 The Historical Method
2:3 Contemporary History
2:3:1 The Debate Continues
2:4 Objectivity
2:4:1 There Is No Absolute
2:5 Subjectivity
2:5:1 The Subjective Nature Of The Historical Construct
2:6 Progress
2:6:1 Progress Has Been Redefine
2:7 Ecumenical Perspective
2:7:1 Ecumenicalism Defined
2:8 The Goal of History
2:8:1 Christianity: A Historical Materialistic Faith
2:9 The End of History
2:9:1 The Brevity of Ideological Systems
2:10 The Role of Ideology
2:10:1 The Importance Of Ideology
2:11 The Relationship of Church History to World History
2:11:1 World History The Background For Ecclesiastical History
2:12 Tillich’s Contemporary Historical View During The German Years (1886-1933)
2:13 Summary
CHAPTER 3 BIOGRAPHICAL DETAILS
3:1 The Argument from Heredity
3:1:1 Tillich’s German Ancestry
3:2 The Argument from Environment
3:2:1 Formative Years In Germany
3:3 The Argument for Socialism
3:3:1 The Early Influences of Socialism
3:4 The Argument from the Times
3:4:1 The Times Were Wilhelminian
3:5 The Argument from Development
3:5:1 Tillich’s Education Was German
3:6 The Argument from Experience
3:6:1 World War I A Turning Point In Tillich’s Life
3:7 The Argument from his German Academic Career 1919-1933
3:7:1 Tillich’s German Teaching Career
3:8 Summary
CHAPTER 4 THE FRANKFURT YEARS
4:l On The Border Between Philosophy and Theology
4:1:1 Tillich’s Understanding of Theology
4:2 The Union of Philosophy and Theology
4:2:1 Tillich’s Theological Experience At Frankfurt
4:3 Another Dimension Between Philosophy ad Theology- Religion and Culture
4:3:1 The Relationship Of Religion And Culture
4:4 Tillich’s Role At Frankfurt
4:4:1 Tillich A Sacred Theologian In A Secular Context
4:5 The Political And Economic Background
4:5:1 The Rise Of Hitler And The Great Depression
4:6 Tillich’s Closing Days At Frankfurt
4:6:1 Tillich’s Appeal To The German People
4:7 Summary
CHAPTER 5 INFLUENCES
CHAPTER 6 THE GERMAN LEGACY
CHAPTER 7 AMERICAN PERSPECTIVE
CHAPTER 8 CONCLUSION
