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Being religious means asking passionately the question of the meaning of our existence and being willing to receive answers, even if the answers hurt.
Paul Tillich
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Interpretation

What this quote means

Being religious involves a deep quest for existential meaning and accepting uncomfortable truths.

This quote by Paul Tillich suggests that true religiosity is characterized by a fervent inquiry into the purpose of life and existence. It emphasizes the importance of not only seeking answers to profound questions but also being open to receiving those answers, even when they may challenge our beliefs or cause discomfort. It highlights the serious commitment to understanding life's deeper meanings and the courage required to confront potentially painful truths.

Themes

ReligionMeaningExistenceQuestionsTruth

In practice

Example use cases

During a philosophy class, discussing the nature of existence and faith.

More from Paul Tillich

Faith consists in being vitally concerned with that ultimate reality to which I give the symbolical name of God. Whoever reflects earnestly on the meaning of life is on the verge of an act of faith.
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Cruelty towards others is always also cruelty towards ourselves.
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He who risks and fails can be forgiven. He who never risks and never fails is a failure in his whole being.
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The courage to be is the courage to accept oneself, in spite of being unacceptable.
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The citizens of a city are not guilty of the crimes committed in their city; but they are guilty as participants in the destiny of [humanity] as a whole and in the destiny of their city in particular; for their acts in which freedom was united with destiny have contributed to the destiny in which they participate. They are guilty, not of committing the crimes of which their group is accused, but of contributing to the destiny in which these crimes happened.
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Wine is like the incarnation--it is both divine and human
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