This graduate thesis is a study of “Method of Correlation” which is a theological method by Paul Tillich. Tillich completed systematic theology using the Method of Correlation. To Tillich, Method of Correlation is not simply an intellectual outcom...
This graduate thesis is a study of “Method of Correlation” which is a theological method by Paul Tillich. Tillich completed systematic theology using the Method of Correlation. To Tillich, Method of Correlation is not simply an intellectual outcome but an outcome of his high dimensional experience formed from his life on the boarder.
This Method of Correlation, which is an existing theological method from the past, is a real methodology of theology. A real theological methodology needs to have a strong life force. This is really about the influencing power since, without it, theological methodology will become as dangerous as the one that turned into an imperialism. Tillich has managed to show us a real theological methodology with a strong life force through Method of Correlation in the midst of such dangerous environment.
This graduate thesis, which is a study on Method of Correlation by Tillich, consists of five chapters. The first chapter is an introduction that presents research issues, objective, scope for Method of Correlation by Tillich.
The second chapter deals with the basic study of Method of Correaltion by Tillich. This examines historical and ideological background that have influenced Tillich. Especially in the second chapter, the life on the boarder of Tillich's life has been divided into the boarder of ideology, geography and history. The life on the boarder of Tillich is not only an important foundation for Method of Correlation but also an important premise for understanding Method of Correlation.
The third chapter examines the philosophical premises of Method of Correlation by Tillich centering on 「Systematic Theology Ⅰ, Ⅱ, Ⅲ」. The philosophical premises of Method of Correlation by Tillich are Dialectic (Ⅰ), Ontology (Ⅱ) and Existentialism (Ⅲ).
The fourth chapter examines in depth theological method of Tillich based on the second and third chapters. Method of Correlation is a method of correlating a question possessed by a situation with the answer possessed by message. Tillich completed his systematic theology using such method, and was able to criticize and replace many incorrect theological methodologies. Especially, Method of Correlation is closely related to systematic theology, symbol and principles of Protestantism, and such relation is correlation.
The fifth chapter is a conclusion of the theology of Method of Correlation by Tillich. The conclusion is divided into three parts. The first part summarizes Method of Correlation by Tillich, reaffirms the criticisms by various scholars of neo-orthodoxy that criticizes Method of Correlation, and talks about the fact that theology already has a method of correlation going beyond the criticisms. The second part examines the strong influence of Method of Correlation through looking into the 'Change' concept by Barak Obama and 'Logos' concept of The Gospel of John. The third part asserts that Method of Correlation must continue to be developed, as it has in the past, not as a temporary method that exists only a point in time but as a theological method that spans the entire history of Protestantism.
A theological method of Paul Tillich is Method of Correlation. This is a method of spreading God's Words to the people appealing in today's circumstance. Namely, “Method of Correlation is a method of correlating question and answer, circumstance and message, and existence of man and theophany of God”. This method is Tillich's responsible answer that tells what is a responsible answer to those of us living in today in the midst of the confusion of life on the boarder.