You Are Accepted

A Poetic Dialogue with Paul Tillich on Grace, Faith, and Being

You Are Accepted: In Conversation with Paul Tillich - A Poetic Discourse: On Grace After the Fall is a contemplative collection of poetry inspired by Paul Tillich's classic theological work, The Shaking of the Foundations. Written by poet and publisher Ron Starbuck, this volume offers original poems that respond to Tillich's sermons, not through commentary, but through poetic dialogue-echoes of the divine that arise in the quiet after proclamation.

Each poem is paired with one of Tillich's sermons and serves as a spiritual meditation on themes such as grace, estrangement, reconciliation, doubt, and the mystery of divine presence. Rather than explaining theology, the poems inhabit it-bringing language to the inexpressible and light to the questions we carry. With a voice that is both pastoral and poetic, Starbuck invites readers to encounter God not in doctrinal certainty but in the trembling beauty of lived experience.

Drawing from the language of liturgy, scripture, and mystical reflection, these poems reach toward what Tillich called the "God above God"-the ground of being who remains even when all other foundations are shaken. Written for those navigating grief, spiritual transition, or rediscovery of faith, You Are Accepted offers a path of hope rooted in the radical mercy of grace.

This book is especially suited for readers of spiritual poetry, seekers of modern theology, and those moved by the voices of mystics and preachers alike. It is an invitation to slow down, to listen deeply, and to dwell in the space where divine love meets human vulnerability.

Perfect for personal reflection, small group conversation, or interfaith dialogue, You Are Accepted is a lyrical offering for a world longing to hear again: You are not alone. You are not forgotten. You are accepted.