What is funny is that this is on the first page of the introduction to his systematic theology text. There is much I could say, but I’ll be silent and let Tillich say it for me. Wait, one thing. Although I agree with most of this statement, there is some of Tillich’s existentialism that I don’t. The important point here is that even if, in my opinion, he gets that wrong (the existentialist ideas) that doesn’t somehow disqualify his other ideas. Many times (most?) when we are confronted with an author’s or speaker’s ideas that we disagree with we immediately tune out the rest of their arguments. Okay, enough of that, I’m drifting way off topic.

“Theology moves back and forth between two poles, the eternal truth of its foundation and the temporal situation in which the eternal truth must be received.”

“Most of them either sacrifice elements of the truth or are not able to speak to the situation. Some of them combine both shortcomings. Afraid of missing the eternal truth, they identify it with some previous theological work, with traditional concepts and solutions, and try to impose these on a new, different situation. They confuse eternal truth with a temporal expression of this truth.”

“When fundamentalism is combined with an antitheological bias, as it is, for instance, in its biblicistic-evangelical form, the theological truth of yesterday is defended as an unchangeable message against the theological truth of today and tomorrow. Fundamentalism fails to make contact with the present situation, not because it speaks from beyond every situation, but because it speaks from a situation of the past. It elevates something finite and transitory to infinite and eternal validity…It destroys the humble honesty of the search for truth, it splits the conscience of its thoughtful adherents, and it makes them fanatical because they are forced to supress elements of truth of which they are dimly aware.”