Dynamics of Faith???

Question

I have to read Tillich's book called Dynamics of Faith, for my religious studies class. I read so far 30 pages out of around 150. So far I found it completely confusing, and I think I didn't get anything out of it so far. But I have to read it and write an essay about it for tomorrow. Generally it wouldn't be a problem for me but this book is really confusing for me because I have never read a religious book. I would have to write about was the author successfull in attempting to give psychological justification for the reasonableness of religious faith. Does anyone has an idea what should I write about; like would it be ok if i write that the book is completely confusing, or perhaps the problem is my inability to understand such topic?

Answer 1

Sounds as if you have already answered your own question.

Honestly if the book is 150 pages and the essay is due tomorrow and you still have 120 pages to go, how would you know if the author has made his or her point?

Seems to me that you gave yourself a mental block because of the topic matter and are looking for an excuse to call everything confusing and wrong except for the fact that you put off reading material relevant to your class.

Just a thought, seems by the wording of the essay question, that a class in psychology would have been a pre-requisite to this class, in order to answer from a phychological point of view , rather than a theoogical point of view. In my tiny little opinion, there is no phychology involved with the study of religion. There is however a great deal of religion twisted and turned in order to create the study of psychology itself.

Answer 2

Try reading Sam Harris' "The End of Faith" and doing a compare and contrast essay.

I think you'll find Sam Harris' book a lot less confusing. People who push faith have to build up complex arguments to hide the fact that theirs is a flimsy house of cards.