The Courage to Be (The Terry Lectures Series)

One of the greatest books written about the problem of meaninglessness and emptiness in modern life - and the solution...absolute faith (courage) to believe in a "god beyond God." Step off a cliff into nothingness, in full faith that a radiant loving God will build a bridge under your feet as you take each new step...and accompany you -within your own body- inside your heart, in loving compassion. If you are feeling emptiness and meaninglessness and purposeless, then rejoice! What you are feeling is a sacred emptiness, that can now be filled...you only have to ask, and the radiant Divine love of God will fill you overflowing with radiant joy, love, acceptance, peace and serenity. Like sunlight on ice, Divine Grace will melt away all your pain, hurt & loneliness, and replace it with Divine energy. These are the "gifts of the Holy Spirit" that St. Paul writes about in the New Testament Bible. Paul Tillich answers the problem of the existentialist crisis within one's own mind by a call to faith in something you cannot see, but can only understand through a practice of radical faith in the radiant compassion and loving-kindness, total acceptance of a Divine and loving God. The Action of absolute faith - in spite of no empirical evidence to support it - creates the Presence of God...the EXPERIENCE of God and the energy and feeling of radiant joy, and total acceptance and gentle loving-kindness. This book convinced me to toss aside scientific, logical, brain-based inquiry to find peace, and surrender and invite an "imaginary" force and feeling into my body - specifically my heart. The force that creates and sustains all life, the eternal and infinite source that also when coupled with loving-kindness compassion, is like water and sunlight on a plant. You will heal, grow and thrive when you tap into this source through your heart, once you quiet your mind and go into your body...The Kingdom is Within....your very own heart - through the emotion of loving-kindness.

Anyone interested in theology will find this book a great addition to their readings. Even though it was written in the 1950's, it's not only relevant, but clearly important for today.

One of the best and most important books of all time.

This is a classic work by one of the great philosopher theologians of the 20th century. I am co-author of the standard biography of Paul Tillich. He was a great teacher and thinker. This is one of his seminal works which was a best seller upon publication and remains so today. Some philosophical/theological background is helpful in reading this extraordinary volume. Marion Pauck

Tillich was a popular philosophical theologian, a hard act to follow

A must read for those persons that wish to delve deeper into the concept of courage as it relates to the fears we all experience. Having had a basic knowledge of philosophy would be helpful. This book is one of the key books in my library.

Life changing metaphysical book. Greatest work in modern existentialism. Guidance on why to live a life of values in good faith in the face of nihilism.

The author, a major twentieth century theologian, presents a Christian existentialist view. He argues that there are three primary forms of anxiety -- anxiety related to death (which dominated the ancient world), anxiety related to guilt (which dominated the medieval world), and anxiety related to meaningless (which dominates the modern world). To overcome these anxieties -- in particular, the anxiety of meaningless -- people try to assert themselves in a collective or as individuals. However, neither is ultimately fulfilling, and it is instead via Protestantism -- where the individual is able to assert themself due to their personal relationship with God, unmediated by a collective institution such as the Catholic Church -- where a person can fully affirm oneself. Further, Protestantism allows one to "accept that they are accepted" -- i.e., through simple faith and grace, and not through one's actions, a person can be forgiven of their sins and accepted even though they are "unacceptable". As with much continental philosophy and Christian theology, the book ultimately feels like it takes a lot of words to say very little. None of the propositions really seem defended by logically persuasive arguments or facts, and the last few pages that push for the Protestant worldview seem tacked on.

A wonderful book, my 2nd copy. Professor Tillich's message helps an individual regain his 'courage to be' - so desperately needed within each of us, as we struggle to meet Life's endless challenges.Agnostics or atheists will still find this an inspiring read.

Pelo que percebi, parece que este livro não é mais vendido novo em português, em lugar algum. Ainda bem que o encontrei na Amazon, novo e com ótimo preço, só que em inglês. O escritor dispensa comentários e o livro aborda um tema muito atual ainda hoje: "a coragem de ser", algo que ainda nos desafia em pleno século 21.

To be

Its simple: Missing Words,misaligned Text size and Shapes. I was listening to the same book via Audible and following it on Kindle. Cannot recommend.

Extremely interesting book. Full of insight. I am pleased with it but haven't finished it yet, thus the 4 stars.