Paul Tillich

(1886–1965)

Paul Tillich — one of the most influential Protestant theologians of the 20th century, best known for The Courage to Be and his three-volume Systematic Theology. His theology of culture, his concept of "ultimate concern," and his effort to speak to secular modernity made him one of the defining theological voices of the postwar era. Tillich taught at Union Theological Seminary (NYC), then Harvard Divinity School, and finally at the University of Chicago (1962–1965).

Herbert has two independent paths to Tillich — one through politics and Harvard, one through the very field Herbert helped build.

Via Seward Hiltner (2 degrees): Seward Hiltner — whom Herbert knew directly — was deeply influenced by Tillich's correlational theology and worked alongside him at the University of Chicago. Their conversations directly shaped how pastoral theology engaged existential philosophy and depth psychology. Herbert → Hiltner → Tillich.

Via Doug Eaton (3 degrees): In 1959, Doug Eaton's first-year seminar at Harvard was led by Herb Richardson, a graduate student studying under Tillich at the time. Herbert → Eaton → Richardson → Tillich.

The Hiltner path is not just shorter — it runs directly through the intellectual tradition Herbert has spent his career in.

Cross-Connections

• Seward Hiltner – Tillich's colleague at the University of Chicago; Hiltner was "heavily influenced" by Tillich's correlational theology
• Don Browning – also at the University of Chicago Divinity School, in the tradition shaped by Tillich and Hiltner
• Karl Barth – Tillich's great theological contemporary and interlocutor; both now in Herbert's network via different paths