"The Shack"

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designed -> "The Shack" (1/22/2008 8:40:58 PM)
Has anyone here read "The Shack" by William P. Young? What are your thoughts? Would you recomend this book to others?

SD456 -> RE: "The Shack" (1/24/2008 2:45:28 AM)
I haven't read it yet, but I have a friend who just finished it and said I absolutely MUST read it. She said it was wonderful and deeply inspiring.

designed -> RE: "The Shack" (1/24/2008 1:48:05 PM)
I just finished reading it and it was a very emotional experience. It has resonated with me for days and I was hoping to get some diologue from others who have read it. I don't think I have ever read a fictional book that moved me like this one has.

Skitch333 -> RE: "The Shack" (1/31/2008 4:47:21 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: designed I just finished reading it and it was a very emotional experience. It has resonated with me for days and I was hoping to get some diologue from others who have read it. I don't think I have ever read a fictional book that moved me like this one has. I'm glad you said this because I just got this book in myself but haven't had a chance to read it.[:D]

tysdaddy -> RE: "The Shack" (4/5/2008 4:47:10 PM)
I just finished it this morning. Very interesting. Not the best written book. Fairly mediocre and a bit of a tear-jerker, but interesting nonetheless. What did you think?

floydette -> RE: "The Shack" (4/5/2008 9:43:59 PM)
designed, I hope to have it finished in this weekend. PErhaps I will be able to discuss it early in the week. I know many people who have said the same thing as you, after they have read it.

wshepherd -> RE: "The Shack" (4/9/2008 10:57:05 PM)
I am in chapter 5. So far, it's nothing special. We'll see what I think of it when I finish it.

SD456 -> RE: "The Shack" (4/11/2008 2:03:21 PM)
I have a friend who tells me I need to read it. I hope to get to it someday.

floydette -> RE: "The Shack" (4/12/2008 7:44:07 AM)
Well, I have not finished it yet.... Actually that works out well. I read alittle and mull it over. The relational aspect of the book is sweet and a joy.

scottmcc1 -> RE: "The Shack" (4/12/2008 9:42:57 AM)
I read it last year. A good book, but not an earth shaker as was advertised. They said it would be similar to "Uncle Tom's Cabin", which had a strong influence in starting the American Civil War. Tries to have us accept God as our friend. The book goes about this in an interesting way.

groovymovieman -> RE: "The Shack" (4/14/2008 11:05:55 AM)
Very good book. I really like a lot of the points it makes. The fact that there isn't a hierarchy in the trinity because their is love for one another. Therefore there is mutual submission one to another. It points out where there is genuine relationship hierarchy isn't needed. I like the points it makes about control and expectations. Also the truth that God is not ticked at everybody but loves us. I love the comment Jesus makes, "I'm not a Christian." And I love the reality it shows that Father, Son and Holy Spirit are so eager to be in relationship with us. It painted a picture of a God who is the very definition of love and grace and crawls right into our own personal tragedies with us. And I love how the author showed God confronting and correcting through grace and love. The main character knew he was 100% loved yet Father never let him "off the hook" on anything. But even confrontation was so drenched in love and grace it looked nothing like the way we humans so often correct and confront. I thought it was a good book. Yeah, it may have been a little preachy, but the author, William P. Young, didn't originally write it for publication. He wrote it for his children to understand his perspective of God. I think it is a fresh (but true) and well needed perspective and thus the reason why the book is so popular.

LJ17 -> RE: "The Shack" (4/14/2008 11:27:06 PM)
I have not read this book yet..but I have been told that I need to. I have it on hold at the library. I can't wait to read it!!

TheosCentric -> RE: "The Shack" (4/16/2008 8:17:17 AM)
Everything I've heard about "The Shack" tells me to stay far away from it. I have not read it, but it seems pretty bad to have God the Father portrayed as a large black woman and the Holy Spirit as an Asian woman. From what I've heard and read about this, it seems pretty superficial and nothing but feel-good junk. Here's what Al Mohler said on his radio show about it. http://almohler.com/radio_show.php?cdate=2008-04-11

.Pammy -> RE: "The Shack" (4/16/2008 9:53:21 AM)
quote: it seems pretty bad to have God the Father portrayed as a large black woman and the Holy Spirit as an Asian woman. which makes it pretty clear to me that you've missed the point entirely. I'm halfway through, and loving it.

TheosCentric -> RE: "The Shack" (4/16/2008 10:28:30 AM)
And what is the point to disregard Scripture for a fairy tale?

floydette -> RE: "The Shack" (4/16/2008 4:44:43 PM)
The point of portraying them in this fashion is, I believe; 1) to wake us up to our own God-images - the way we "see" God, and to realize those pictures are not who he is, but simply representations so that a human mind can grasp a small amount of who he is. 2) That God speaks to us, reveals himself to us, in many, many ways. He is not an "old man with white flowing hair that sits on a big throne." Yet, we often view him in this way. The point I believe is to open up our understanding of who God is, and how we are in relationship with him.

TheosCentric -> RE: "The Shack" (4/16/2008 4:54:24 PM)
Bah, sounds too emergent for my tastes. I'm warning everyone to stay away.

wshepherd -> RE: "The Shack" (4/16/2008 6:09:15 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: TheoCentric Bah, sounds too emergent for my tastes. I'm warning everyone to stay away. How can you have an informed opinion if you don't read it first?

TheosCentric -> RE: "The Shack" (4/17/2008 5:43:50 AM)
While you have a valid point, all sorts of red flags go off when I hear of God the Father being portrayed as a large black woman and the Holy Spirit as an Asian woman. One should not mess with the doctrine of the Trinity. That kind of tells me to stay away. Nothing more than another feel-good book in the guise of Christian fiction. Why is it succeeding? Why have Joel Osteen's books taken off when he is far from even opening the Word of God? Why is "The New Earth" and "The Secret" succeeding among Christians? Why this book's success? Look to something that'll strengthen your faith, not make you feel good and give you heresy. The next thing you know, we'll have people praying in church, "Abba, mother".

wshepherd -> RE: "The Shack" (4/17/2008 12:51:50 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: TheoCentric While you have a valid point, all sorts of red flags go off when I hear of God the Father being portrayed as a large black woman and the Holy Spirit as an Asian woman. One should not mess with the doctrine of the Trinity. Things also have to be taken in context or they can be misconstrued, misunderstood, etc. I don't think anyone is "messing with the Trinity" in this book. I just think, since you haven't read the book, that you are not understanding why the author is using that portrayal. It's not heresy. You have made the choice to not read the book. I respect that. But since you haven't read it, you cannot offer people an informed opinion as to why they shouldn't. Personally, if someone told me to stay away from a certain book and I found out they hadn't read it, that would kind of lack credibility with me.

designed -> RE: "The Shack" (4/17/2008 5:41:51 PM)
I'm glad to see these aspects of the book being discussed. The very things mentioned in previous posts are some of the same things I found myself pondering on. I have to say when I first got to the part where the visual was created for the representation of our triune God, i was a bit taken aback. I can see how this can be considered a little controversial. But as I got further into the story I saw a deeper focus and meaning behind the way God was represented, much as described by floydette.... quote: floydette- to wake us up to our own God-images - the way we "see" God, and to realize those pictures are not who he is, but simply representations so that a human mind can grasp a small amount of who he is. 2) That God speaks to us, reveals himself to us, in many, many ways. He is not an "old man with white flowing hair that sits on a big throne." Yet, we often view him in this way. The point I believe is to open up our understanding of who God is, and how we are in relationship with him. I also agree and enjoyed reading your "book report" groovymovieman.

designed -> RE: "The Shack" (4/17/2008 6:06:28 PM)
Directed toward TheoCentric,... Two of the questions I asked in the OP was: Have you read the book? Would you recommend it to others? You have answered "no" and "no", which I find an interesting way to commentate on a book report style thread, but none the less I can appreciate your response as well as others. I just wanted to give you my 2 cents on these statemants of yours. For whatever it's worth.. quote: Why is it succeeding? Why have Joel Osteen's books taken off when he is far from even opening the Word of God? Why is "The New Earth" and "The Secret" succeeding among Christians? Why this book's success? My Personal Opinion...I am the last person to buy into a watered down gospel, Joel Osteen feel good, heretical New Earth type theology. You asked why this book is a success? Maybe you could give it a read and decide for yourself?And also, this book is not a doctrinal book on teaching people about spiritual theology. It's fiction. Look to something that'll strengthen your faith, not make you feel good and give you heresy. Actually this book didn't just make me feel good. It created a repentant heart in me, challenged me to grow closer to God, think about the bigger picture/meaning behind God's love, and made me laugh too[:D]. The next thing you know, we'll have people praying in church, "Abba, mother". Huh? I'm not trying to throw you a sales pitch. I'm just saying that it may be a bit difficult to really give an opinion on something when you only have asumptions to go of off.

floydette -> RE: "The Shack" (4/18/2008 8:58:00 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: TheoCentric While you have a valid point, all sorts of red flags go off when I hear of God the Father being portrayed as a large black woman and the Holy Spirit as an Asian woman. One should not mess with the doctrine of the Trinity. That kind of tells me to stay away. Nothing more than another feel-good book in the guise of Christian fiction. Why is it succeeding? Why have Joel Osteen's books taken off when he is far from even opening the Word of God? Why is "The New Earth" and "The Secret" succeeding among Christians? Why this book's success? Look to something that'll strengthen your faith, not make you feel good and give you heresy. The next thing you know, we'll have people praying in church, "Abba, mother". Bah... sounds kind of curmungeonly.... [;)] I suggest that perhaps the idea of God the Father being portrayed as a large woman sends up red flags, is that it is not how you image God. God isn't an old man, with flowing robes - that is just how we image him to be. Usually based on how we were taught when we were kids. He is above and beyond all of our metaphoric attempts to understand him. As far as "success" being the possibly a key to it being "wrong" in some sense - the largest selling book in history is the Bible - hehehe, I'd hate to be the one saying that one is heresy because so many people have bought one! [:D]

TheosCentric -> RE: "The Shack" (4/18/2008 9:00:24 AM)
I don't picture God as an old man with flowing robes either, but I surely would not picture Him as a large black woman and I don't believe the Bible portrays Him as such either.

floydette -> RE: "The Shack" (4/18/2008 9:06:33 AM)
I hear you. How DOES scripture portray him? We could list mountains of metaphors. He isn't any of those things. Really. He is above and beyond all of them. He isn't female or male, he isn't asian or brazilian. He isn't of northern european heritage. He isn't any of these things. However he often "acts" as a father, or as a nurturing loving mother. He behaves like a lion, and sometimes like a lamb. He carries with him the characteristics of some of the things that we can actually understand. He is not necessarily portrayed with a good sense of humor, in scripture, and yet he has a brilliant sense of humor and is very, very funny. Tozer said something along the lines of what we believe about God is the biggest thing about us. I have come to understand that that phrase is very true.

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