Just as relevant now as it was in the early 1950s:
"The anxiety which . . . is potentially present in every individual becomes general if the accustomed structures of meaning, power, belief, and order disintegrate. These structures, as long as they are in force, keep anxiety bound within a protective system of courage by participation. The individual who participates in the institutions and ways of life of such a system is not liberated from personal anxieties but he has means of overcoming them with well- known methods. In periods of great changes these methods no longer work. Conflicts between the old, which tries to maintain itself, often with new means, and the new, which deprives the old of its intrinsic power, produce anxiety in all directions."
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3 comments:
It is interesting Tillich would say that anxiety could be kept within boundaries. If I understood it correctly, he said individuals could overcome anxiety by some well-know methods (such as??). At the same time, the new methods and the old ones produce conflict where the new anxiety baby will be born.
I would argue that a protective system of courage by participation is probably not going to help confine anxiety. Courage is actually fighting against fear, so did Tillich assume that after courage conquers fear and that will break down the wall of anxiety? Or say anxiety would be surrounded/bound by courage?
Where does courage come from? Courage is from God’s presence. There are many God's promises in the Bible tell us to “be strong and take courage as God would be/go with you”. So if the author argued that courage keeps anxiety bound, then God is the ultimate answer behind the boundaries.
In my personal experience, anxiety is overlapping fear in certain ways. There were times I could not tell whether I was anxious or fearful or both. Normally there are big times of anxiety because of a) my sin; b) knowledge of self is being challenged during the transition of different stages of life; or c) the traumatic situation of the crisis of life happened. Trusting God and depend on Him completely would be the powerful solution as stated in Matthew 6:25 and 1 Peter 5:7.
Martin, thanks so much for your posts that made me go deep and think like a philosopher. Ha!
Thanks for your response Sarah. I have not checked my blog since I left for NY.
My purpose in posting this was to use Tillich's ideas to shed light on the heightened level of anxiety with the economic downturn. The structures of society do tend to keep a malaise over the anxieties of the general public.
Tillich actually agrees with what you wrote. As he states in the quote I provided, "the individual who participates in the institutions and ways of life of such a system is not liberated from personal anxieties but he has means of overcoming them with well-known methods." In this sense, the collapse of societies can be very positive as it forces people more readily to confront their deep, personal anxieties. As you rightly point out, Christ is the only way to deal with this deep-rooted anxiety--the hope is that many will turn to Him. For Tillich "the courage to be" begins with God's affirmation of our transendence in the midst of a world cursed with finitude. The ultimate affirmation of our transendence was the sending of His Son Jesus Christ in human flesh.
I would highly recommend The Courage to Be. It is a 20th century theological classic.
Martin! You must be taking a break from your blog for a while. I was hoping maybe you will post your video journals and/or photos or even what God was showing you in Israel. Since this is the time of your life, it would be cool to jog it down in your blog. It was so exciting to hear all you have experienced there. Praise God!
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