The Shack by Wm. Paul Young

[threecords]

I was wondering what the forum thought of The Shack. I enjoyed the fact that it brought up a lot of issues that at times are rather hard to voice to oneself, or admit to oneself, and also the fact that is it possible that God be masculine or feminine or realistically neither.

I know this is a can of worms, I am not interested in any book bashing, I would just like to know how those who have read it thought about it.

I want to know how you responded or feelings, I want to know how everyone else has reacted. There were things I didn't like of course, but also alot I did.

Reallly, if you are just going to write a nasty reply, please don't waste my time or yours. I do enjoy well written critical analyses though.

 

[CecilW]

Enjoyed it thoroughly.

Agreeing or not with details, (and I did some of both), it made me do a lot of thinking and re-evaluating. That made it a treat.

 

[Tali]

I loved it, even though I didn't agree with everything. It seems to me that the guy must have seen The Matrix a few times. I don't have a problem with a feminine aspect of God's nature being portrayed, as the Jews always felt that the Shekinah of God was feminine (hence the woman lighting the Shabbat candles and inviting the Ruach,) and El Shaddai as the The Mighty God also carries the idea of "The Breasted One." I know there has been a good deal of discussion re: anthropomorphizing diety, and I don't want to belabor that point.

I just enjoyed watching the guy get healed, and applauded his courage in answering the invitation.

 

[DrRay777]

I have not read it yet, but am thinking about it. One of the lady doctors in training that I teach recommended it to me. She has a very limited relationship with God and she said it made her reconsider her relationship. In that regard I believe that it must have done something good for her. I look forward to reading it when I get a chance.

Be blessed,
'
Dr. Ray

 

[lutherangirl]

I read the book and really enjoyed it. I disagreed with a few things. I know two ladies from my church who were having a hard time dealing with the death of a loved one and, after reading the book, they had a lot of peace regarding their loss.

Michelle

 

[Chaplains Rose]

I, too , have read the book. Some parts were hard to read and others were easy to read. I did not agree with everything in the story but for the most part I enjoyed the book. It did make me think about how God uses different ways to get our attention. Sometimes we view God differently at different stages in our lives. We all need to remember that no matter what God is there for us even when we think He isn't

 

[shepherdgirl]

I Loved it!!

 

[sweetlissa]

I just finished the book and I have to say that it effected me. I don't necessarily agree with all of it, but the overall tone of the book was comforting and reassuring to me.

For me, I have never just been secure that God loves me for me, not for anything I do. So the idea of having no responsibility or expectations to earn God's love was very hard to absorb and I found myself in tears quite a few times. The amazing comfort of an amazing friendship with our Creator is a wonderful concept and I am going to try more to understand what it is that he wants from me.

I also found that the "description" of forgiveness was a comfort.

SweetLissa

 

[Tlaloc]

I was talking to one of my more even handed relatives about the controversy around the book. He basically summed it up that if you read it as theology its a disaster, if you read it as a loose allegory or an interesting story then it is a very good book. The author says he didn't intend it to be hard theology, so people that object to the book on the basis of its theology are taking it out of context.