--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Religion is the state of being grasped by…" description: "\"“Religion is the state of being grasped by an ultimate concern, a concern which qualifies all other concerns as preliminary and which itself contains t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bcb/paul-tillich-3183_life_religion-is-the-state-of-being-grasped-b_2715139.jpg" --- # Religion is the state of being grasped by an ultimate… ![“Religion is the state of being grasped by an ultimate concern, a concern which qualifies all other concerns as preliminary and which itself contains the answer to the question of a meaning of our life." Paul Tillich” quote by Paul Tillich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bcb/paul-tillich-3183_life_religion-is-the-state-of-being-grasped-b_2715139.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bcb/paul-tillich-3183_life_religion-is-the-state-of-being-grasped-b_2715139.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bcb/paul-tillich-3183_life_religion-is-the-state-of-being-grasped-b_2715139.jpg) > ““Religion is the state of being grasped by an ultimate concern, a concern which qualifies all other concerns as preliminary and which itself contains the answer to the question of a meaning of our life." Paul Tillich”” [Paul Tillich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tillich/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Tillich defines religion as an ultimate concern that frames all other concerns and provides life's meaning. **In simple terms:** Religion is an ultimate concern shaping meaning. Key Takeaway Seek deeper purpose beyond basics. Themes faith meaning ultimate concern Mood reflective spiritual Type philosophical theological When to use this quote - spiritual counseling - philosophical discussion - personal reflection Key Concepts existential philosophy theology Questions to Reflect On - What is your ultimate concern? - How does it shape daily life? A Different Perspective Not all find meaning in religion. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Meaning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meaning/) [Meaning life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meaning-life/) [Paul Tillich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/paul-tillich/) [Question Meaning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/question-meaning-284921/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Religion State](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion-state-446942/) [Theology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theology/) [Ultimate Concern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ultimate-concern-1394720/) ## Related quotes > [Religion is the state of being grasped by an ultimate concern, a concern which qualifies all other concerns as preliminary and which itself contains…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tillich/religion-is-the-state-of-being-grasped-by-an-ultimate-concern-a/) [Paul Tillich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tillich/) > [Faith as ultimate concern is an act of the total personality. It happens in the center of the personal life and includes all its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tillich/faith-as-ultimate-concern-is-an-act-of-the-total-personality-it/) [Paul Tillich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tillich/) > [Man's ultimate concern must be expressed symbolically, because symbolic language alone is able to express the ultimate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tillich/man-s-ultimate-concern-must-be-expressed-symbolically-because/) [Paul Tillich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tillich/) > [“Paul Tillich - Loneliness & Solitude: "And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain to pray: and when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tillich/paul-tillich-loneliness-solitude-and-when-he-had-sent-the-multitudes/) [Paul Tillich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tillich/) > [“One note is not music. It is what lies between the notes that makes the music. And what is between them is: their relationship.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-safina/one-note-is-not-music-it-is-what-lies-between-the-notes-that-makes/) [Carl Safina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-safina/) > [Being religious means asking passionately the question of the meaning of our existence and being willing to receive answers, even if the answers hurt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tillich/being-religious-means-asking-passionately-the-question-of-the-meaning/) [Paul Tillich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tillich/) > [“Every person has something that concerns her ultimately and whatever it is, that object of ultimate concern is that person's God”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-h-nash/every-person-has-something-that-concerns-her-ultimately-and-whatever/) [Ronald H. Nash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-h-nash/) > [God's ultimate concern is not to get you or me from point A to point B along the quickest, easiest, smoothest, clearest route possible.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-platt/god-s-ultimate-concern-is-not-to-get-you-or-me-from-point-a-to-point/) [David Platt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-platt/) > [Whatever a person's ultimate concern may be, it will have an enormous influence on everything else the person does or believes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-h-nash/whatever-a-person-s-ultimate-concern-may-be-it-will-have-an-enormous/) [Ronald H. 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I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-shelby-spong/i-do-not-think-of-god-theistically-that-is-as-a-being-supernatural-in/) [John Shelby Spong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-shelby-spong/) > [“The theologian Paul Tillich once observed that among scientists only physicists seem capable of using the word "God" without embarrassment. Whatever one's religion or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-weinberg/the-theologian-paul-tillich-once-observed-that-among-scientists-only/) [Steven Weinberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-weinberg/) > [“The theologian Paul Tillich wrote that "loneliness can be conquered only by those who can bear solitude." Because the borderline finds solitude so difficult…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerold-j-kreisman/the-theologian-paul-tillich-wrote-that-loneliness-can-be-conquered/) [Jerold J. Kreisman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerold-j-kreisman/) > [“As Donald Trump was campaigning for the Republican nomination for president in 2016 he was asked, “Have you ever asked God for forgiveness?” He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-hamilton/as-donald-trump-was-campaigning-for-the-republican-nomination-for/) [Adam Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-hamilton/) ## More by Paul Tillich > [Decision is a risk rooted in the courage of being free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tillich/decision-is-a-risk-rooted-in-the-courage-of-being-free/) [Paul Tillich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tillich/) > [Faith is the state of being ultimately concerned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tillich/faith-is-the-state-of-being-ultimately-concerned/) [Paul Tillich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tillich/) > [ \[American\] conformism might approximate collectivism, not so much in economic respects, and not too much in political respects, but very much in the pattern… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tillich/american-conformism-might-approximate-collectivism-not-so-much-in/) [Paul Tillich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tillich/) > [There is no condition for forgiveness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tillich/there-is-no-condition-for-forgiveness/) [Paul Tillich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tillich/) > [He who risks and fails can be forgiven. 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Doubt is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tillich/in-those-who-rest-on-their-unshakable-faith-pharisaism-and-fanaticism/) [Paul Tillich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tillich/) > [When you love someone and you love them with your heart, it never disappears when you're apart. 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Man is free even from his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tillich/man-is-free-in-so-far-as-he-has-the-power-of-contradicting-himself/) [Paul Tillich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tillich/) > [The citizens of a city are not guilty of the crimes committed in their city; but they are guilty as participants in the destiny…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tillich/the-citizens-of-a-city-are-not-guilty-of-the-crimes-committed-in/) [Paul Tillich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tillich/) [Explore all 136 Paul Tillich quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tillich/) ## More Life quotes > [Of all the people who have affected my life and influenced the choices I've made, none has been more important than my father. 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That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Life works most perfectly when a reciprocal love relationship is in place between man and God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-moore/life-works-most-perfectly-when-a-reciprocal-love-relationship-is-in/) [Beth Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-moore/) > [I value the experiences that come with life too much to sit by and not put my full effort into them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-miller/i-value-the-experiences-that-come-with-life-too-much-to-sit-by-and/) [Jim Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-miller/) > [Entertainment is a sacred pursuit when done well. 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