ABSTRACT
In his autobiographical reflections Paul Tillich (1886-1965) frequently cited Kierkegaard as one of the chief inspirations for his own systematic theology. This claim is ostensibly puzzling, since by the time of Tillich’s youth Kierkegaard had acquired a reputation for being the implacable opponent of all philosophical and theological systems, while Tillich’s work was, from its very inception, intentionally and self-avowedly systematic. This seeming paradox has spawned divergent trajectories of Tillich interpretation. Some commentators have taken Tillich at his word, concluding that he accurately reported the deep similarities between Kierkegaard’s authorship and his own work. Others have questioned Tillich’s selfassessment, suggesting that Tillich’s approach to theology was essentially in conflict with Kierkegaard’s practice. This article will sort through the complexities of Tillich’s appropriation of Kierkegaard, hoping to see how Tillich could be construed both as an heir of Kierkegaard and as a saboteur of Kierkegaard’s basic project.
