Tillichova teorija religijskih simbola
TILLICH’S THEORY OF RELIGIOUS SYMBOLS

Summary/Abstract: Although Paul Tillich, as he himself confessed, directed his whole theological work towards an interpretation of religious symbols so that all people could understand them, he caused a great deal of polemics with his theory of symbols, or religious language. Therefore, our intention is to show its seminal determinants. The focus of the research is on several of his key essays and the study methodology also includes an analysis of relevant ideas of his most prominent critics. Through critical analysis, the author concluded that Tillich primarily wanted to overcome the devastating consequences of ‘literal’ and ‘supernatural’ interpretation of religious teachings, which is why he advocated a philosophy of religion that would help strengthen the significance of the symbols and shed light on the symbolic nature of the main religious teachings. In doing so, he especially emphasized that the symbols must never be identified with what they symbolize, so they wouldn’t be demonized or turned into the absolutes, and in that way become their own purpose and an object of idolatry. Instead, as an ‘instrument’ of pointing to the Holy, the symbols must also include their own negation, which is in fact the affirmation of the reality that in its essence remains unknowable to us in its entirety. In this sense, the symbol of the Christ crucified on the cross meets the content and meaning of faith to the greatest extent, and as the final criterion of all religious symbols, it represents the main guardian against their demonization.

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