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.
Paul TillichRead
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.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Citizens share responsibility for the circumstances in their city, even if they aren't directly guilty of its crimes.
Paul Tillich's quote expresses the idea that individuals living within a society or city contribute to the collective destiny and moral fabric of that community. While they may not be directly responsible for the crimes committed, their passive participation and inaction in shaping their environment implicate them in the broader consequences of their society's actions. Thus, this highlights an ethical responsibility to engage with and improve the collective conditions in which we live.
Themes
ResponsibilitySocietyDestinyFreedomParticipation
In practice
Example use cases
A speaker at a community meeting discussing the importance of civic engagement.
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