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The Shack by William P. Young

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The Shack by William P. Young has it proponents and it opponents here at First Lutheran Church.  Some have strong feelings about the flippant and irreverent presentations of God.  Others have only found encouragement and an approachable God pictured for them. 

The author, William P. Young, has stated in interviews the book’s title is a metaphor for “the house you build out of your own pain”.  Remembering the author also explains this is a work of fiction, not theology, what are your reactions, thoughts, comments about this book?

Submitted by Barbara Siebelts on Fri, 09/11/2009 - 12:20pm.

A novel "The Shack"

Submitted by Denny (Commenter) on Sun, 09/13/2009 - 12:07am.
If read in the same mindset as "Moby Dick" or "Pilgrims Progress" or Alice in Wonderland" it is a wonderfully presented novel that strongly proposes a view of the TRINITY that is unconventional to say the least. I found it a joy to read, being written in a somewhat "mystery" format. I would have to concure that this book presents an aspect that is challenging to conventional biblical interpretation of the "MYSTERY of the GOSPEL." Keep Up the GOOD WORK

I loved that book. It seems

Submitted by charlotte (Commenter) on Thu, 10/01/2009 - 11:51am.
I loved that book. It seems as likely to me that a large black woman could be the image of God as that he made an old man with a long white beard as his image. I liked the whole theme of forgiveness as the author worked it out.

The Shack

Submitted by Mandy (Commenter) on Tue, 02/09/2010 - 11:28pm.
Why would it be sensible to portray God as a large black woman when He says He is our Father? I don't understand what is happening in the church. Do we really want to know who God is? He says we were made in His image -- but these days it seems that people want to remake Him into our image. Maybe that is why the church has lost its power. We've lost our passion to love Him as He is.

The point is not that God is

Submitted by Anonymous (Commenter) on Thu, 05/27/2010 - 9:08am.
The point is not that God is portrayed as a large black woman. The point is that God makes himself accessible to us even though he's the Creator and Father. The Shack is all about God bending over backwards to be in relationship with us. This is just how the author demonstrates that.