Idealistic Components in Tillich’s Interpretation of the God-Man Relationship

Abstract

The very notion of classical German idealism is strongly at variance with the modem, empirical, pragmatic, positivistic approach to philosophy. This idealism has been written off as inadequate, nonviable, and antiquated. It seems to be at variance, therefore, with Tillich’s entire program of an answering theology, which hopes to correspond relevantiy to the contemporary situation; it seems, likewise, to be at variance with existentialism, which Tillich characterized as the dynamically strongest and most creative movement of our century.¹ Nonetheless, Tillich’s affinity to idealism cannot be denied, nor does he himself deny it.