The Shack

[StevenM]

I work in a used bookstore so I see a lot of people very enthusiastic about the novel The Shack by William P. Young, a lot of people in my family have read it too, and the reception from all of the above is a bit mixed. About 3/4 of the reactions I hear are extremely positive, and buy extra copies to give to their friends, but about 1/4 claim to be dissappointed in it. Among the positive responses I often hear that the novel has helped define, and strengthened people's faith in God. I haven't read it yet, but I'd especially like to hear what the people on this board think about the novel, and the idea of works of fiction having an affect on a person's faith.

[bagofseed]

I have heard praise from my brother in law.

Though a matriarchal character for God may be an issue for some.

I have not read it.

[9Marksfan]

There's a thread on the book already, which you should find helpful.

http://bibleforums.org/forum/showthread.php?t=165733

My advice is the same as Chuck Colson's - "Stay out of The Shack!" It's a dangerous and heretical book that distorts the Triune God and has a lot of other false teaching in it too.

[Xel'Naga]

I work in a used bookstore so I see a lot of people very enthusiastic about the novel The Shack by William P. Young, a lot of people in my family have read it too, and the reception from all of the above is a bit mixed. About 3/4 of the reactions I hear are extremely positive, and buy extra copies to give to their friends, but about 1/4 claim to be dissappointed in it. Among the positive responses I often hear that the novel has helped define, and strengthened people's faith in God. I haven't read it yet, but I'd especially like to hear what the people on this board think about the novel, and the idea of works of fiction having an affect on a person's faith.

Heresy was always the persistent family member... Oh, I suppose that's my thought - though not really my thought per se - the book advances heretical theology.

[StevenM]

I did a search before posting this and read the discussions around the book, that some people feel that the book diverts from Christianity into New Age territory, while others think that the true message of Christianity still remains intact in the book. One of the board members also posted a link to his extensive review of the book with a point by point critique of the content, which I read. I wonder what you all think about Christian Novels in general like Ben-Hur, and Christie as a means of enhancing readers' faith. Do you have any favorites?

[karenoka27]

Hi Steven and welcome to the board.

I read The Shack and was very disappointed. You are not a Christian,correct? If you were to read the book, you would find nothing in it that would direct you to Jesus Christ. This would be fine if it were a worldly book,but it is listed as Christian reading.

Since you seem to like to read, I would highly recommend a book called: A Case For Christ by Lee Strobel. You might find it very interesting.

[apothanein kerdos]

I did a search before posting this and read the discussions around the book, that some people feel that the book diverts from Christianity into New Age territory, while others think that the true message of Christianity still remains intact in the book. One of the board members also posted a link to his extensive review of the book with a point by point critique of the content, which I read. I wonder what you all think about Christian Novels in general like Ben-Hur, and Christie as a means of enhancing readers' faith. Do you have any favorites?


Fiction with a Christian message is great - unfortunately, such a thing hasn't been accomplish since C.S. Lewis.

It's one thing to create a parable or an analogy to the Christian faith, or to write a book that has a Christian worldview. It's entirely another when we try to write about God - no matter what we do, we'll be wrong.

[Gulah Papyrus]

The Shack? Never heard of it.:)

[*Hope*]

I did a search before posting this and read the discussions around the book, that some people feel that the book diverts from Christianity into New Age territory, while others think that the true message of Christianity still remains intact in the book. One of the board members also posted a link to his extensive review of the book with a point by point critique of the content, which I read. I wonder what you all think about Christian Novels in general like Ben-Hur, and Christie as a means of enhancing readers' faith. Do you have any favorites?

I'm not really one who tends to like fiction all that much, but I forced my to read The Shack (didn't like it for all the reasons mentioned already). Anyway, if you're into novels, I'd suggest things like Pilgrim's Progress, The Chronicles of Narnia, The Lord of The Rings, or A Wrinkle In Time. Unfortunately, orthodoxy has become less and less common in Western Christianity and there are fewer creative, solid believers who write fiction. We're in dire need of more C.S. Lewis' in the world...

[StevenM]

I still don't know what it is to be Christian. The puzzling thing is that so many people seem to think that The Shack is perfectly Christian. If "Fiction with a Christian message is great - unfortunately, such a thing hasn't been accomplish since C.S. Lewis." Had it ever been accomplished before C.S. Lewis, or is he the only one to have ever done it right? Surely generations of writers have been inspired by C.S. Lewis's works, and none of them have been able to thoroughly carry the Christian message over to one of their novels?

[9Marksfan]

I still don't know what it is to be Christian. The puzzling thing is that so many people seem to think that The Shack is perfectly Christian. If "Fiction with a Christian message is great - unfortunately, such a thing hasn't been accomplish since C.S. Lewis." Had it ever been accomplished before C.S. Lewis, or is he the only one to have ever done it right? Surely generations of writers have been inspired by C.S. Lewis's works, and none of them have been able to thoroughly carry the Christian message over to one of their novels?

Pilgrim's Progess and other works by John Bunyan (eg The Holy War) are the best works of Christian fiction you will ever get - if you want to know what it is to be a Christian, you really can't get better than Pilgrim's Progress (OK, before anyone says "what about the Bible?", I'm taking it as read that it's the last word - but I'm taking within the realms of Christian writing - fiction and theology) - Bunyan came from an era where there was possibly a clearer and deeper understanding of the Christian faith than at any time since the first century - and he wrote in an amazingly engaging, allegorical style that still resonates with people today.

[apothanein kerdos]

I still don't know what it is to be Christian. The puzzling thing is that so many people seem to think that The Shack is perfectly Christian. If "Fiction with a Christian message is great - unfortunately, such a thing hasn't been accomplish since C.S. Lewis." Had it ever been accomplished before C.S. Lewis, or is he the only one to have ever done it right? Surely generations of writers have been inspired by C.S. Lewis's works, and none of them have been able to thoroughly carry the Christian message over to one of their novels?


Lord of the Rings, Pilgrim's Progress, and other works prior to Lewis were great fiction that had a Christian worldview.

Also, keep in mind that fiction writing has become far more shallow in recent years just in general. Even "secular" fiction is a joke...

[StevenM]

I had been familiar with The Pilgrim's Progress for years on a superficial level, I'd shelved it many times but I didn't know anything about it, but I just read the Wikipedia entry on John Bunyan, so I'm more interested now.

I would never say that modern day writing has become more shallow. Publishing began as a luxury, and now it is widespread, more of our chatter is documented and published, but that doesn't mean that there aren't still jewels among the chatter. I think there are more brilliant things being published today than at any time in history, there's 1,000 times more drivel on top of it too, but that just means more of the population is literate than at any other time in history which I think is fabulous. As more of the population has easy access to information, and they learn to think and read critically, humans will be all the more enlightened and healthy for it in my opinion.

[Diggindeeper]

StevenM, I have not read The Shack yet. I do plan to, just to be able to form my own opinion. I do know that many people, even though reading something that is pure fiction, tend to accept and firmly believe anything and everything the author puts down in writing. But sometimes that is not a good thing to build one's faith on.

I really think many have done that with the "Left Behind" books, and seem to form the opinion that's how everything will most definitely be...exactly as portrayed in those books. I don't agree.

But I also highly recommend Pilgrim's Progress. All the while I was reading it, I was thinking, "Hey! That kind of person has crossed my path in my lifetime, too!" Its an allegory, but one that I believe anyone can relate to.

One more book I would highly recommend is "In His Steps" by Charles m. Sheldon. What a book! Been around a long time. Here is a link to the story of "In His Steps." (It tells a LOT about the author, Charles M. Sheldon, and that man was fasinating. The article was researched and written by an actor.) Here is the link:

The Story of In His Steps
http://www.mastersimage.com/articles/ihs.htm

[Diggindeeper]

I had been familiar with The Pilgrim's Progress for years on a superficial level, I'd shelved it many times but I didn't know anything about it, but I just read the Wikipedia entry on John Bunyan, so I'm more interested now.

I would never say that modern day writing has become more shallow. Publishing began as a luxury, and now it is widespread, more of our chatter is documented and published, but that doesn't mean that there aren't still jewels among the chatter. I think there are more brilliant things being published today than at any time in history, there's 1,000 times more drivel on top of it too, but that just means more of the population is literate than at any other time in history which I think is fabulous. As more of the population has easy access to information, and they learn to think and read critically, humans will be all the more enlightened and healthy for it in my opinion.

Well, modern day writing may have become more shallow...but you are 100% correct in saying, "more of the population is literate than at any other time in history which I think is fabulous. As more of the population has easy access to information, and they learn to think and read critically, humans will be all the more enlightened and healthy for it." But, the only reason some writing is shallow...so many want to read "shallow" writing. A good example is "Twilight!" But then, its grabbed and devoured by the young, YOUNG, readers who are yet to experience less shallow reading, I think.

[lcaj]

I have read the shack and I absolutely believe that it is not biblical.
I would not recommend that a non christian or a new believer read it because I don't think its right for people to base their perception of God and their faith on it.
However, I opened the book knowing that it was indeed a fiction, but at the same time it made me excited to keep working towards a more intimate relationship with God. And it reminded me of how loving and gracious our God is.
I think its a great read if you already know who God is. And if you're willing to see past the fictional side of things and see that the author is trying to show people that God wants an intimate relationship with them. (not necessarily in the ways shown in the book)

[Xel'Naga]

I'd rather the God of the book of Job, than the god of The Shack.

[Prufrock]

In a lifetime of reading, including most of the important atheist philosophers, I believe that The Shack is the most outrageously blasphemous book I have ever read.

[Xel'Naga]

In a lifetime of reading, including most of the important atheist philosophers, I believe that The Shack is the most outrageously blasphemous book I have ever read.

Yeah, I actually think I'd go as far as to call it blasphemous... Which is a word I don't generally use.