Posted: October 6th, 2023

Process and Secular Theology: Tillich and Bonhoeffer

Process and Secular Theology: Tillich and Bonhoeffer
The theologians Paul Tillich and Dietrich Bonhoeffer grappled with relating theological concepts to modern secular society in impactful ways. Both thinkers sought to develop “secular theology” that could speak meaningfully about ultimate concerns to those existing largely outside traditional religious frameworks (Tillich, 1957; Bonhoeffer, 1955). While their approaches differed somewhat, Tillich and Bonhoeffer shared a desire to express theology in a manner relevant to increasingly secularized populations.
Tillich (1957) developed the concept of “ultimate concern” as the basis for religious or spiritual experience. For Tillich, that which one takes as their “ultimate concern” becomes their “god,” whether this be a traditional deity, artistic creation, scientific discovery, or some other focus of meaning (p. 11). This reframing of religious experience allowed Tillich to discuss theological issues like faith, doubt, and meaning with those for whom traditional religious language held little resonance. Tillich sought to translate theological insights into concepts that could speak to individuals’ deepest questions about life’s purpose, regardless of religious affiliation (p. 13).
Similarly, Bonhoeffer (1955) worked to articulate a “religionless Christianity” that could find expression in a secular world. For Bonhoeffer, the church’s message must be communicated in a way that “can be understood by men [sic] who do not simply accept the Christian concepts and modes of expression” (p. 11). Like Tillich, Bonhoeffer believed theological ideas like discipleship, community, and responsibility for others could still hold meaning outside traditional religious frameworks. Both thinkers aimed to develop a “secular theology” that could speak to spiritual longings and ethical concerns of increasingly secularized populations (Bonhoeffer, 1955; Tillich, 1957).
Paul Tillich and Dietrich Bonhoeffer sought to relate theological concepts to modern secular society through developing forms of “secular theology.” Tillich reframed religious experience in terms of “ultimate concern” while Bonhoeffer advocated expressing Christianity in a “religionless” manner comprehensible outside faith traditions. Both theologians aimed to translate theological insights into concepts resonant with individuals’ deepest questions of meaning and purpose in an increasingly secular age (Bonhoeffer, 1955; Tillich, 1957).
Works Cited
Bonhoeffer, D. (1955). A theology for a world come of age. In Eberhard Bethge, et al. (Eds.), Ethics (pp. 3-15). New York, NY: Macmillan.
Tillich, P. (1957). Dynamics of faith. New York, NY: Harper & Row.

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