The Courage to Be

by Paul Tillich

Paperback, 1971

Status

Available

Call number

179.6

Collection

Publication

Yale University Press (1971), Paperback, 196 pages

Description

In this classic of religious studies and philosophy, the great Christian existentialist thinker Paul Tillich describes the dilemma of modern man and points a way to the conquest of the problem of anxiety. This edition includes a new introduction by the esteemed theologian Peter J. Gomes that reflects on the impact of this book in the years since it was written. "Were I to choose the most significant book in religion published in the second half of the twentieth century, my choice would fall easily upon Paul Tillich's The Courage to Be."-Peter J. Gomes "The brilliance, the wealth of illustration, and the aptness of personal application . . . make the reading of these chapters an exciting experience."-W. Norman Pittenger, New York Times Book Review" A lucid and arresting book."-Frances Witherspoon, New York Herald Tribune "Clear, uncluttered thinking and lucid writing mark Mr. Tillich's study as a distinguished and readable one."-American Scholar… (more)

User reviews

LibraryThing member break
Heavy duty philosophy/theology. Rather tiring to follow as each phrase needs to be translated into lower level, human consumable format. But its worth it. This German Theologian, teaching in the US, just like an existentialist argued for the power of choice. That is the only but the truest power we
Show More
humans have. And the “ultimate concern”, whatever we make our ultimate goal, related to the courage to chose life. to chose living to full potential, not hiding form ourselves or from others. The source for this kind of courage for him cannot come from humans or form God, only form “the God above God.” But this is just the conclusion of his reasoning. In the process to get there he dissects wisdom, death, mysticism, fear, meaning, guilt and provides an overview of the history of courage concept itself.
Show Less
LibraryThing member johnkuypers
Penetrating insight from an incredibly sharp mind. Demanding use of high-level language. Superb assessment of man's 3 inherent states of anxiety, two inherent dilemmas and the spiritual solution as best as we can hope for.
LibraryThing member jwhenderson
This is a powerful and deep book about issues facing modern man. The opening section discusses the nature of courage and includes references to philosophers from Plato and the stoics to Nietzsche. Further sections dissect the impact of anxiety on culture. He continues with a discussion of
Show More
individualization and concludes with a move toward transcendence..
"One praises that in which a being fulfills it potentialities or actualizes its perfections." (p 4)
Show Less
LibraryThing member Duncan72
The potted history of thought we have here doesn't work and the readings of Kierkegaard and others are heavy handed. I'm still not sure that anything serious is meant by the phrase, "the courage to be". The thinking seems to tread a narrow patch of ground. This is faith for people all too conscious
Show More
of their education and their Kultur.
Nevertheless, something grabbed me in the closing pages. When he talks about "the God above God", he gives some sense of the disruptive force of the true theophany - the God who comes to us when doubt has done us in.
Show Less
LibraryThing member b.masonjudy
Tillich's seminal work is an erudite argument. The book's chronological movement, from the earliest definitions of courage and the Stoics up to modern Existential literature, there is a beautiful build in Tillich's rhetoric and this is truly artful prose. I take heart in the struggle Tillich names
Show More
against self-objectification and the necessity of doubt and meaninglessness (a specific type of anxiety) within an absolute faith, a specific term in this text.
Show Less

Language

Original language

English

Original publication date

1952

Physical description

207 p.; 7.9 inches

ISBN

0300002416 / 9780300002416
Page: 0.6554 seconds