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Quote by Paul Tillich

“When destiny leads one to the frontier of his being, it makes him personally conscious that he stands before the decision either to fall back upon that which he already is or else to transcend himself. Every person is at that point led to the frontier of his being. He perceives the Other over beyond himself, and it appears to him as a possibility and awakens in him the anxiety of the potential. He sees in the mirror of the other his own limitedness, and he recoils; for at the same time this limitedness was his security, and now it is threatened. The anxiety of the potential draws him back into his bounded reality and its momentary calm. But the situation into which he will return is no longer the same. His experience of the potential and his failure toward it leaves a thorn behind, which cannot be eliminated, which can only be driven out of the consciousness by suppression. And where that occurs, there arises that spiritual phenomenon which we call fanaticism. The original meaning of the word is "divinely inspired" - that is, born out of a distraught spiritual structure and thereby destructively fulfilled. That can appear in smaller, greater or enormous measure, in persons and in groups.”

Quote by Paul Tillich

Book:The Future of Religions
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The Future of Religions

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Paul Tillich
Paul Tillich

Paul Tillich (August 20, 1886 - October 22, 1965) was a German-American philosopher and theologian known for his profound contributions to religious philosophy, particularly on the concept of religious existence. His ideas have had a significant impact on 20th-century religious philosophy, theology, and theological ethics. more

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