Questions on Tillich

GNED 102

Dr. Fike

Section One:  Faith is "the act of unconditional, infinite and ultimate concern."

1. What is Tillich's definition of faith?
2. What does faith promise?
3. What does faith require?
4. What threat is implicit?
5. Do we have "ultimate concern" with something other than God?  What does T say about this in Section 1, par. 4?
6. What does T's example promise and threaten?

Section Two:  "Faith is a total and centered act of the personal self."

1. What does it mean to say that faith is a "centered act"?
2. How does faith relate to the superego?  What does T say in Section 2, par. 3 about the superego?
3. What are the good and bad ways in which the superego can become integrated into faith?
4. What does it mean to say that faith is "ecstatic"?
5. What is the relationship between faith and thinking?  Are they mutually exclusive?  Or can faith be a rational act?
6. What does T say about cognition, will, and feeling?  Do they produce faith?
7. What does T say about fear as an origin of faith?

Section Three:  Awareness of the infinite drives human beings to faith.

1. What is the difference between subjective faith and objective faith?
2. What is your definition of idolatry?  What is T's?
3. What is "existential disappointment"?
4. What is YOUR ultimate concern?

Re. Lewis:  Find 2-4 quotations that you find controversial and consider worthy of class discussion.