The Shack

[Sarah]

You have to read this book! It is absolutely amazing! I read it in one day. It gives a wonderful perspective of the Love of God, why evil happens, and God's ultimate purpose. It is the story of a man who goes and spends a few days in the shack where his daughter was murdered with God! Some may not agree with the way the Trinity is supported, but none-the-less, it is beautiful!

[WhiteWings]

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=%22the+shack%22

Several books with that title.....?

[DeeDee]

I have been interested in that book for awhile. Its based on pure fiction tho right?
I was just about to come on and post a seperate post about P.M.H Atwater's book Beyond the light. I am especially interested in her revelations section. Have any of you read it? If so I would love a review on it or a link where I can get an online version of the book. I don't want to buy the book I just want to read that specific section. The reason for this is this lady (Atwater) seems to be sort of Universalist in her views. Would love any feedback you can give me on this.

Blessings and love
Dee

[DeeDee]

This will be the one you're looking for WhiteWings. Its the one by William P. Young.

http://www.amazon.com/Shack-William-P-Young/dp/0964729237/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1226323538&sr=1-1

[Sarah]

Yes, that is the book. Yes, it is fiction but doesn't negate the fact of the beauty of it. A very cool perspective.

[DeeDee]

I definately plan to look into it. It sounds amazing.

Blessings and love

DeeDee

[Akira Takahashi]

I just got that book.  I typically dislike Christian fiction because in most of it, and "The Shack" is no different from what I hear, you can just throw out the plot and the characters and still be left with a book.  I'm interested in this book because my grandmother, who typically won't read Christian fiction either, liked it.  Ufortunately some people dislike the way it portrays free will, etc., and it gets slammed by guys like this.  http://www.challies.com/archives/book-reviews/the-shack-by-william-p-young.php

At any rate, I don't have a problem with how the Trinity is portrayed.  If God wants to manifest himself as a black woman, why not?  The thing that kills me, especially in the "review" I posted is this:

Jesus is a young to middle-aged man of Middle-Eastern (i.e. Jewish) descent with a big nose and rather plain looks...

It seems that the reviewer was rather offended by this.  Does he think Jesus looked like a Scandinavian?  The very fact that Judas had to point him out to the soldiers means that he probably didn't stand out much and had very plain looks.  In fact, he probably looked like every other Middle-Eastern guy in the area.

If you really want to throw up in your mouth, check out this guy. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hIBy0Bkk1ks  I don't personally know whether the author of "The Shack" has universalist leanings or not, but at the very least our favorite annoying commentator has no clue what universalism means.

At any rate, I hope to get to the book sometime this week.

[WhiteWings]

If you really want to throw up in your mouth, check out this guy. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hIBy0Bkk1ks  I don't personally know whether the author of "The Shack" has universalist leanings or not, but at the very least our favorite annoying commentator has no clue what universalism means.

He posted his video under "Humor" :winkgrin:

[Jerm]

If you really want to throw up in your mouth, check out this guy. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hIBy0Bkk1ks  I don't personally know whether the author of "The Shack" has universalist leanings or not, but at the very least our favorite annoying commentator has no clue what universalism means.

He posted his video under "Humor" :winkgrin:

Who the heck is this yahoo!? You're right, he has absolutely no idea what universalism is.  And what's this about having to believe in Penal Substitution to be a "real" Christian?  Too bad comments are disabled on that video...Anyways, as for The Shack, I have things I like about it and things I don't like about it.  I'll just go ahead and get the not likes out of the way: I don't agree with a lot of the theology in the book.  I disagree greatly with many of the conversations about the nature of God found within the book. However, I ultimately did enjoy it.  Instead of paying attention only to the theological aspects that I disagreed with, I was able to see the ultimate picture that the story was trying to give: we serve a God who is willing to meet us at the Shack.  He is not far off and impersonal.  When we are faced with the greatest pains, the greatest tragedies of this life, He is going to be right there by our side.  THIS is a beautiful picture of the God we serve and for that reason, I give The Shack a two thumbs up (as opposed to our little friend in the above mentioned video)

[SteveW]

The book wasn't by any stretch a milestone for me but I have a friend that it was very significant to and I know it has really openned up many to the Love of God.  It is a well told story and is good at getting people to expand their view of God and not put him in a box so much.  It is fiction and in my opinion needs to be read without being hypervigilant about all the theological implications.

I haven't personally met him but the author lives less than a half mile from me. My sister, who works right where he grew up as an MK in Indonesia, has met with him and says he has an amazing and genuine testimony, which is what the book was apparently born out of.  She has nothing but respect and appreciation for him and his work.

SteveW