As Donald Trump was campaigning for the Republican…
““As Donald Trump was campaigning for the Republican nomination for president in 2016 he was asked, “Have you ever asked God for forgiveness?” He replied, “I’m not sure I have. I just go and try and do a better job from there. . . . If I do something wrong, I think I just try to make it right. I don’t bring God into that picture. I don’t.”1 He created quite a stir among many religious people, so he tempered the comments a few days later. But I think he was being honest, and his comments reflect the way many people feel: in theory they believe in the forgiveness of sins, but the concept doesn’t really apply to them. Standing in stark contrast to this view is one articulated by twentieth-century existentialist theologian Paul Tillich, who once said, “Forgiveness is an answer, the divine answer, to the question implied in our existence.”2””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The quote contrasts a pragmatic view of forgiveness—rarely invoked in personal error—with Tillich's existential claim that forgiveness answers a fundamental human question.
In simple terms: Practical denial of forgiveness vs. existential need for it.
Key Takeaway
Forgiveness can be both avoided and philosophically essential.
Themes
forgiveness
existentialism
religion
morality
Mood
thoughtful
critical
Type
philosophical
When to use this quote
- spiritual counseling
- ethical debates
- personal crisis
Key Concepts
divine answer
human existence
Practical Applications
- Explore personal beliefs about forgiveness
- Engage with philosophical perspectives
Questions to Reflect On
- Does forgiveness resolve existential anxiety?
- How does cultural context shape forgiveness practices?
A Different Perspective
Many people practice forgiveness without framing it as an existential answer.