The new creation and doing the truth: Christianity as more than a religion

Abstract

The purpose of this essay is to review Paul Tillich's understanding of Jesus Christ as the One in whom has appeared the New Being, and to examine Tillich’s conception of Christian truth as ‘saving truth,’ from which it will become apparent in what manner it can be said that Christianity is to be regarded as more than a religion. The first part of this essay will examine Tillich’s understanding of Christ as the New Being, the second part will discuss the meaning of doing the truth, and the conclusion will highlight two fundamental pitfalls to be avoided in respect of Christianity’s relation to contemporary culture. In particular, the intention will be to caution against an overly ‘integralist’ portrayal of Christian faith, which is a perennial tendency in Roman Catholicism. In the presentation of Tillich’s thought the essay will draw from his two works The Shaking of the Foundations and The New Being, which belong together as one piece.