Centrality of Ontology and Reason in Tillich’s Concept of Religion

This paper is a modest attempt to study the significance of ontology and reason in Paul Tillich’s (1886-1965) interpretation of man’s religiosity. Tillich understood religion in terms of man’s ‘ultimate concern’, a concept which has both objective and subjective meanings. In its objective sense it means God and subjectively understood it refers to the attitude of faith. This dual sense in Tillich’s philosophy of religion can be properly deciphered only when it is examined from the perspective of ontology and rationality. To this end, effort has been made to first of all trace the root of the problem as envisaged in Tillich's own writing. Secondly, Tillich's assertion of transcending the subject-object dichotomy in the experience of God or Being-itself is studied in the context of Christianity and mysticism in general. Thirdly, through the study of Tillich's ontology, a discussion regarding the relation between Being-itself and the being (of man) is presented. Fourthly, based on the structure of being as envisaged by Tillich, a critical evaluation is done on Tillich’s contention that his concept of ultimate concern, that is faith, is the fulfillment of human reason. Finally, an argument is forwarded supporting the conclusion that Tillich's ultimate concern, understood as the object and the attitude of concern, transcends both supernaturalism and naturalism.