A comparison of the concept of God found in Paul Tillich, Alfred North Whitehead and Charles Hartshorne

Abstract

This Thesis aims to compare and contrast the doctrines of God found within the writings of Paul Tillich, Alfred North Whitehead and Charles Hartshorne. Chapter one is concerned with an exposition of Tillich's concept of God while chapter two examines the process view and explains the divergence of Hartshorne from Whitehead. In chapter three I discuss general similarities of system structure and basic ideology between Tillich and Process but conclude that there are insurmountable difficulties in bringing the two systems into closer dialogue. The religious and philosophical similarities and differences are outlined and the judgement made that ultimately the difference is due to Tillich's insistence on symbolic language. I also argue in chapter three that while Tillich and Process cannot be brought together as systems they can benefit from one another at specific points. For example, Tillichs' insight into the phenomenological threat of non-being can be included in process to enrich its ability to address the human situation. In chapter four I analyse both Whiteheads' concept of Prehension and Tillichs' concept of participation and show how the latter can be clarified by reference to the former. I believe that Tillich uses participation to apply to different levels of relatedness from the mere 'having of relation' to the saving participation of the New Being. I conclude that if Prehension is used to interpret the basic levels of relationship then participation is free to be used for higher meanings only.