The Method of Correlation

Emerged in the 19th century as an explicit theological method.

Paul Tillich, a protestant theologian, is the most famous proponent of this method.
He identified three possible types of correlation which are also present in theology:
Statistical the correlation of data (between religious symbols and what they symbolize)
Logical the correlation of concepts (between concepts of the divine and those of the human)
Real the correlation of things and events (between ones ultimate concern and that about which
one is ultimately concerned)
Tillichs method of correlation ranges from question and answer to form and content.
A. Edward Schillebeeckx Critical Correlation
Schillebeeckx mentions of two sources of theology (also two poles of theology):
1. Experiences of Christian Tradition
- he means that the diverse theologies of the New Testament writings find their unity in a
basic experience of salvation from God in Jesus. It is composed of four formative principles:
a. Theological-anthropological Principle the belief that God wills the salvation of all
b. Christological Mediation the belief that Jesus is the definitive disclosure of Gods
starting point
c. Ecclesial Mediation the belief that Gods story in Jesus continues in the message
and lifestyle of the Church
d. Eschatological Dimension the belief that the story of salvation cannot be fulfilled
on earth
2. Present-day (Contemporary) experiences
- Characterized by two contrasting elements (both caused by utilitarian individualism):
a. Its hopeful orientation to the future
b. Its confrontation with an excess of suffering and senseless injustice
It is between these two sources that his critical correlation method should take place.
Goal of Critical Correlation: the confrontation story of Jesus (Experience of Christian Tradition)
must evoke and call for conversion.
To further the understanding of the method, a distinction ephemeral, conjectural, and structural history
is needed.
Ephemeral history constitutes the events of every day that come and go (passing).
Conjunctural history is the long and more expansive cultural alignments of history.
Structural history is constant and serves as the axis around which the first two
revolve.
Critical Correlations aim is to ascertain the structural (constant) identity of Christian experience
expressed in the diverse categories of the conjunctural periods of time.
The purpose of this ascertaining of structural identity within the conjunctural is to enable the identity
of the Christian story to have an impact on the present Christian experience allowing the story of

Christs salvation to become for us an offer of salvation that confronts modern experience and
critically corrects modern attitudes of individualism and possessiveness.