Tillich
Protestant theologian Paul Tillich developed sophisticated accounts of religious language, symbols, and faith. Tillich treated religious symbols as participating in transcendent reality; God is 'the ground of being' rather than a being among beings. His theology integrated existentialism and Protestant tradition.
Real World
When Martin Luther King Jr. preached using the language of God's justice and love, he was drawing on Tillichian ultimate concern — the cross and Scripture functioned as symbols participating in transcendent meaning, not merely historical references.
Exam Focus
Distinguish Tillich's symbols from signs in every answer; examiners reward precise use of 'participates in' rather than vague claims about meaning.
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