This article is about Paul Tillich, who was an Existentialist Theologian and Philosopher, written by artist Stephen F. Condren, BFA-SAIC, of Condren Galleries, a Fine Arts Gallery, offering JPEG & PDF scans. His greatest work is his Systematic Theology, which is a large tome written in three parts. It is not my task here to go over the entire work, but rather to bring to light certain points that Dr. Tillich brings out.
Preamble
This is the preamble to a series of articles that I will be writing on Dr. Tillich’s great Systematic Theology. But first a few points on my biases and background. I am an Irish Catholic born and raised on the south side of Chicago, at 6841 S. Bennett Avenue, Chicago, Illinois, 60649, in the Jackson Park Highlands, which is part of Hyde Park Township. I grew up in the shadows of the University of Chicago, and I faithfully go back there often to breath fresh air again. My father, James Corwin Condren, was a lawyer and his father, Dr. Francis Leo Condren was a dentist. My mother, Beulah Mae Dunn, was the daughter of Philip John Dunn, of Dunn Coal & Oil Company, founded by my great grandfather John Dunn. Grandma Dunn, Beulah Clark, was Miss Sweet Chicago in 1917.
Irish Catholic
Thus, I come from an educated, conservative, Irish Catholic family from the south side of Chicago. I was baptized at St. Philip Neri Church and attended school there and where I graduated from Eight Grade in 1966. The edict of Dr. Condren was “You can never get enough education”, and to this day I live by that. The other great edict of my life is from my father, a prudent lawyer who drilled into we three boys “Never volunteer information!”, again, I live by this very wise advice. All of this affects my perspective and how I think. I am first and foremost an Artist and a master of perspective as you can see from my architectural rendering of the Loeb Mansion (Leopold & Loeb murder) at the header of my Website. The quick sketch of Paul Tillich above is my own from a photograph.
Systematic Theology
The first subject that I would like to discuss in Systematic Theology is Dr. Tillich’s concept of the ultimate concern. There is a lot about this concept that I like and that is very sound. I have very little difficulty with it. The difficulty that I find is how people interpret it and even how Dr. Tillich interprets it. I find that many do not grasp this concept and yet think they have a handle on it.
Perspective
My perspective is just the opposite, I take the position of an astronomer studying the stars and grasping the fact that the more that I see the more I know how little that I know, and that is Dr. Tillich’s Systematic Theology. A side note to this great work, and that is this: anyone, even a staunch atheists can pick up this book and learn a great deal about the mind, philosophy, and people. This great work has something to offer almost everyone.
Link
This is the link to my views on Dr. Tillich’s concept of ultimate concern and the end of this article. Please see: Paul Tillich, Systematic Theology, Ultimate Concern And It’s Impact On Social Justice And Aesthetics.
Related Links
Paul Tillich Systematic Theology #6000Z
Stephen F. Condren ~ Artist
312-303-0207
School of the Art Institute of Chicago ~ BFA
