From Time to Time

This is a disturbing book. Hannah Tillich writes in a stream of consciousness with flashbacks and flash-forwards, poetry, whimsy, and impressionistic reminiscences. Her favorite topic is her sexual encounters from lesbian puberty through heterosexual maturity. But there is an air of unreality about her writing, or should I say a lack of emotional connection on her part. She also, with less relish, describes her (famous theologian Paul Tillich) husband's fondness for "girl-friends." Just how far Paul Tillich's fondness went is left to the reader's imagination. Hannah obviously did not know. It's just that he often seemed to prefer the company of other women. As we get to know Hannah, we can see why. Other aspects of her life and times are depicted, often in a clear and memorable fashion. One of the reasons for five stars is her description of the intellectual milieu in the Weimer inter-war period in the 1920s and 1930s. This has historical value and is written quite well. Many topics are briefly covered, but the central subject of the book is sex. It's too bad, because Paul Tillich was one of two prominent Protestant theologians in the 1950s and 1960s. The other was the Swiss theologian, Karl Barth. Tillich and Barth's debates and discussions, carried on through their many published works, are, for their breadth, depth and rigor unique in intellectual history. Hannah has nothing whatsoever to say about Tillich or Barth's work. The real motive for her publishing this strange volume comes to light at the very end of the book on page 240. It is a simple motive, one of the most basic of human nature: envy. Paul Tillich was a genius. Hannah was merely talented. She hated all the attention that was showered on him, and all the adoring theological groupies that fluttered about him. During their years together she gained revenge by throwing her own promiscuity in his face. She describes with relish her many sexual conquests, always adding that she felt no guilt whatever. She tried to talk her husband into sharing her in a menage-a-trois and a menage-a-quatre. Dr. Tillich refused. Hannah went on to experiment with this sordid activity and writes glowingly about how it helped her achieve a higher state of consciousness. To her jealous mind this "free-sex" was a way of achieving mystical states that were superior to the ideas that can be reached only by the hard work of theological intellection. She was trying to trump her husband's accomplishment through her unconventional but squalid behavior. Paul Tillich was not a saint. He was a genius. Hannah Tillich was a mediocre talent filled with envy and vanity. But guilt was not one of her emotions. In short, I don't think she knew the difference between right and wrong. This leaves all of her denigration of Paul Tillich suspect, to say the least. The very act of writing this book demonstrates her meanness of spirit. I recommend this book if you are interested in the work of