I don’t know where I’ve been, but I’ve missed it. Apparently there is a self published book out there called The Shack that has become one of the most widely read works in country. It is in the process of becomming a major motion picture. And it is a book about theology! Well, it is a fictional story aimed at communicating theology, akin to Bunyan’s classic Pilgrim’s Progress.
The story behind the book’s publishing is… well, quite a story itself. Written by a man to give as a Christmas present to his children, it was never intended to be published beyond a couple copies at Kinko’s. It has risen to reach the Top 10 List at Amazon, USA Today, and Barnes & Noble.
But the book is also apparently polarizing. Some say the theology is questionable. People I appreciate have expressed varying opinions.
As I already stated, I had never even heard of the book, or at the least I never took notice. I do regularly check out the Best Seller Lists to see if there is anything that might catch my interest, but the Shack apparently slipped by. But now, in just the past two or three days I’ve heard Steve Brown do an interview with the author and read a review of the book by Tim Challies. (Click for .pdf the-shack-review)
I’m not sure what I’m likely to think about it once I read it, but I guess I’ve found at least one book for my Summer Reading List.
GRACE & PEACE 
Dman,
Like you I had not heard of the book until last week. A member of the church came and told me how life changing it is and that I “had” to read it. I haven’t read all of Challie’s review, but enough that I too need to read it.
David,
Challies review is critical of the book,even calling it dangerous. Steve Brown, however, is favorable. His interview with William Paul Young, the author, alleviates a lot of concerns. Young has no subversive like Dan Brown in The DaVinci Code.
Brown (Steve, not Dan)points out that if we read the book as a theology text it will cause frustration, because it is fiction. But if we read it as fiction we will see the picture.
This made me stop and ask myself if the critics of this book are using the same guage to evaluate the Prince Caspian film, which has just come out; or any of the Chronicles of Narnia. Lewis’ fiction is filled with questionable theology, but we seem to be willing accept his fiction on its own merits, without being too bothered by his imagery. I am inclined to think we need to extend the same charity to Young.
When I get around to reading the book I may well share the concerns and criticisms that are being expressed. But at this point I am just looking forward to reading the book.
Once you read it I’ll link to your review.
can anything good come out of Oregon?
nathan
Evergreen Church Presbyterian Church in Beaverton, Oregon
I guess I’m going to have to dust off my copy. I got about halfway through. Didn’t necessarily put it down b/c of the criticism (have read Challies posts), but b/c I felt like I needed to start over and take some more copious notes and process it a little better…and simply got caught up w/ other projects.
I can see some of the theological concerns, but as a work of fiction I felt like Young was able to delve into some of the spiritual issues/struggles that our theological (dare I say cerebral?) tradition tends to ignore…
What was your take after reading it?
Scott,
I have to confess, I’ve stillnever gotten around to reading it. It is not so much the controversy as it never cracked the top of my reading list.
By the way, I met your father the other day when I took Andrew to visit UTC. I think that was the first I’d met him.
I’ve lost my fiance in a car accident this year, 2008, and this book, which I just finished to day, was able t oanswer so many troubling quesitons for me.
I think the book has the capacity to heal many like myself, lifting a load of guilt, confusion, and loss which traumatic experiences such as sudden violent death of loved ones can bring.
We will truely ifgnore the significance and importance of this book, if we choose to ignore it’s healing power for the sake of fitting it into our little “boxes”.