Analysis Of Tillich Religious Idea Of ​​dialogue

Paul Tillich, is one of the most important thinkers in both philosophy and theology of the 20th century. His theory has both the elements of modern existentialism and the Protestant idea with traditional dispositions. So far, most of the scholars put emphasis on his systematic theology and his philosophy. He was even deemed as an existentialist by many scholars. Only a few scholars have touched upon his idea of inter-religious dialogue. Therefore, in this era of globalization, in which the problem of inter-religious dialogue gains more and more attention from people, the research on Tillich's theory of inter-religious dialogue has deep practical implications as well as important academic value.Tillich's idea of inter-religious dialogue is the necessary fruit of his philosophy of religion, which includes two aspects: (1) the combination between existential philosophy and theology; and (2) the critical principles and attitudes towards religions dogma, rites and religious practices, etc.Tillich's idea of inter-religious dialogue can be characterized as the ultimate concern of "not conversion, but dialogue". For Tillich, "religion is existential state being grasped by 'Ultimate Concern'". In the dialogue one religion cannot be converted by the other and vice versa, because religions have three respective identity, exclusiveness, and historicity. After he analyzed the different forms of dialogues in the history of Christianity, Tillich arrived at the conclusion that the attitude of Christianity towards other religions confirms its characteristics of identity, exclusiveness and historicity. And it will be proved by history that Christianity cannot be converted by other religions, and also cannot convert other religions in spite of identity or exclusivity.Tillich points out that the dialectical process which includes criticism, anti-criticism and self-criticism in the history of Christianity shows that Christianity does not imprison itself, but, in some aspect, it can accept the anti-criticism in the...