The Political Theology Of Paul Tillich

This volume explores the political theology of Paul Tillich, one of the foremost thinkers of the 20th century. Tillich's discerning analysis of fascism, grounded in his socialist commitments, and continuing efforts to write theology in correlation with culture, make his voice a crucial one for contemporary political theology.

This collection of essays considers various aspects of Paul Tillich's theology of nature, culture, and politics in relation to major theological movements, thinkers, and events of the twentieth century. These essays are not purely an exercise in historical theology but an apology for Tillich's theological, philosophical, and ethical project. The underlying assumption is that Tillich's theology, both in form and content, is worth reading and learning from in the modern and postmodern era, even though we inhabit today an intellectual environment not very amenable to Tillich's form of mediation.

This volume explores the political theology of Paul Tillich, one of the foremost thinkers of the 20th century. Tillich's discerning analysis of fascism, grounded in his socialist commitments, and continuing efforts to write theology in correlation with culture, make his voice a crucial one for contemporary political theology.

Covering the Tillich-Hirsch debate, this volume should be of interest to scholars working in the history of Germany in the 1930s and the political theology of the Confessing Church.

About the Contributor(s): Paul Tillich (1886-1965), an early critic of Hitler, was barred from teaching in Germany in 1933. He emigrated to the United States, holding teaching positions at Union Theological Seminary, New York (1933-1955); Harvard Divinity School (1955-1962); and the University of Chicago Divinity School (1962-1965). Among his many books are Theology of Culture, Dynamics of Faith, and the three volumes of Systematic Theology.

Pomeroy gives the reader a clear view of the Systematic Theology of Paul Tillich, perhaps the greatest theologian of the 20th century. Tillich's theology addresses a wide range of theological issues beginning with the nature of God and ending with the nature of Eternal Life. Using the latest in social science analysis, Tillich identifies specific conditions confronted by individuals and nations, addressing each from a Bible-based theological standpoint. At the end of each chapter Pomeroy illustrates the issues at hand with real life stories or reflections from leading scientists, theologians and social scientists. This is then followed by discussion questions. The book is a welcome relief for theologians and lay people alike as it has depth without all those written words. For a mainline church study group it is a primer.

About the Contributor(s): Paul Tillich (1886-1965), an early critic of Hitler, was barred from teaching in Germany in 1933. He emigrated to the United States, holding teaching positions at Union Theological Seminary, New York (1933-1955); Harvard Divinity School (1955-1962); and the University of Chicago Divinity School (1962-1965). Among his many books are Theology of Culture, Dynamics of Faith, and the three volumes of Systematic Theology.