IS RELIGION IRRELEVANT?  Paul Tillich's Answering Theology

       Paul Tillich's mission was to make religion relevant by answering existential questions such as, "How do we overcome the power of death?" His response was: "The power of love is stronger than death." His picture on the cover of the March 16, 1959 issue of TIME magazine portrayed him as one of most influential theologians of the 20^th century. His books Dynamics of Faith and The Courage to Be were best sellers and still in print.

       Tillich's Harvard University course, "Theology of Culture," answered my questions about relating religion to science, philosophy, art, psychology, and history. He said: "Culture is the form of religion, religion is the substance of culture." My new wife, Karin, and I were moved by his inspiring sermon on the transforming power of the Spirit, entitled "Spiritual Presence." I wrote down his saying: "Spiritual presence assures our ultimate fulfillment in spite of our fate and the ambiguities of life."  When Karin died of leukemia 26 years later, leaving me with daughters ages 12, 14, 16, 21, and 24, I turned to these words as I struggled to find "the courage to be."

       My powerpoint lecture will include photographs of the Tillich Memorial Park and Picasso's Guernica, which Tillich regarded as a great Protestant painting. It will also include  his sermon books and his seminal Systematic Theology.

Tillich Lecture Vugraphs

 Wed. 18 Mar 2009, 11:00 AM ASPEC, Lewis House,  Eckerd College, St. Petersburg, FL

Tues, 2 Feb 2010, 10:00 AM, Winchester Shores, St. Petersburg, FL