ABSTRACT
In the world of philosophical theology, the work of Paul Tillich remains one of the most significant attempts to bridge the polarities of tradition and innovation, past and present, universality and particularity. Tillich made it an explicit theme of his thinking to resist tendencies to reify tradition so that it becomes isolated from the experiences, concerns and reflective thinking of contemporary individuals. In contrast to closed religious orientations, which, in debasing innovation and freedom, actually disconnect worldly activity from guiding religious and ethical principles, Tillich continually sought to bring theology into a fruitful, living relationship with the existential situations of contemporary human beings.
