Every few years a book comes along that stirs up those questing for a spirituality they can understand. Once it was The Celestine Prophecy. A few years later it was Eckhart Tolle’s The Power of Now. After that came Rhonda Byrne’s book, The Secret.
Most recently, the book stirring the hearts of spiritual seekers is The Shack, the story of a man searching for clues and answers in the brutal murder of his young daughter. Devastated and hurting, his search leads him to the shack where evidence indicates his child died. Years later he’s invited back to that shack by God — but not the God of the Bible or even the one you and I were taught about in Sunday school.
In The Shack, God is an African-American woman who calls herself “Papa”, Jesus is a Jewish Laborer and an Asian woman with a very Zen-like demeanor is the Holy Spirit incarnate. As you can imagine, the book has sparked considerable controversy, no doubt part of the steam that propelled the paperback version to #1 on the NY Times Bestseller List. In other words, the book has outstripped even Oprah’s pick.
The infuriating aspect of the controversy is that it’s headed by Christian groups who refuse to ignore that the book is clearly labeled as “fiction” and, instead, caution that it will lead people astray because it doesn’t portray God the way the Bible does. Personally, I think it does pretty much the exact thing the Bible does: both books create a God in their authors’ image(s).
Remarkable to me, however, is the story behind the story: how author William Young, the child of Christian missionaries, survived sexual abuse in New Guinea then later became self-destructive in his own marriage. How he’d struggled to move beyond his past hurt to establish a new relationship with God — in effect forgiving God for the harm that had befallen him.
It’s that theme, comprehending a God who allows so much harm to exist in this world, that serves as the foundation for The Shack. In this book “Papa” provides one possible answer to that question we’ve all asked ourselves, ultimately reminding us all of the lessons the Old Testament taught, albeit harshly: evil is the result of man’s choices, whether that choice involves tasting the forbidden fruit or worshiping the golden calf. If we want free will, we’ve got to accept its corollary: that some will use their free will to make choices that harm others, as well as themselves.
Ultimately, The Shack is about a conversation with the Divine: both Mack’s conversations with the Trinity (both individually and in their triune form) and our own conversations with God. No, it’s not the Bible and it doesn’t necessarily adhere to Christian dogma. It is, as I’ve mentioned before, fiction. But if it gets people thinking about and reaching out to God more gladly, who are we to judge? As the Good Book says, He works in mysterious ways. Perhaps this book is one of them.
Tuesday, June 24th, 2008, 2:29 pm | 
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June 24, 2008 at 6:09 pm
Based on your review I will read something that I normally would have steered clear of… now that’s power!
pams last blog post..The Drowning Pool
June 24, 2008 at 6:14 pm
‘The infuriating aspect of the controversy is that it’s headed by Christian groups who refuse to ignore that the book is clearly labeled as “fiction” and, instead, caution that it will lead people astray because it doesn’t portray God the way the Bible does.’
Hi VK
I have a sister-in-law that has refused to read or let her teenage children read anything that she has not, same with TV. Fine but even Star Wars trilogy that we all watched as kids she thinks is taboo. Anyway when we were living in the states our daughter(sophmore in HS at the time) was reading Davinci Code. My sister-in-law refused to read it herself and thought our daughter evil for reading it. Basically our daughter told her, it is fiction and if she thought her faith will be hurt by reading a fictional story, then her faith is not strong enough.
hehe… My dad of course was there and backed her up, he was very proud of his first grandchild.
Same sister in law also thinks Harry Potter is evil and her kids have not read it or seen the movies. I loved the books and the movies and so do my kids!
I really think those people need to relax, realize fiction is fiction and stop trying to push their inhibitions on others. Perhaps they feel their minds are weak everyone else’s are too. These are the same people that want to ban books, ban music, and sensor everyone. These are the same people that listen to records backwards and find that it says SATAN in White Christmas. I have had my run ins with some of these same people. They told my 8 year old that because she believed in Santa she worshiped SATAN because they have the same letters. Needless to say we quit going to that worship the only one in GZ China and I had to re -assure my daughter that because she believed in Santa did not mean she was evil. She also knew the real meaning of Christmas which is celebrated in our home. But we also believe children should enjoy some fantasy too, like we did when we were growing up. Sorry I have written a book here.
Take Care and have a great time in Texas!
Tai-Tai
June 24, 2008 at 7:40 pm
This sounds like a book I will want to read. The idea of evil encompasses two things – evil by man’s choice – which involves how we use the wonderful gift of free will, and the other is natural “evil” — tornadoes, floods, hurricanes, earthquakes, and such.
Some consider those evils as necessary adjustments or “cleansing” of the planet. Some see them as opportunities presented to us by God so that we may react in a good way. I have trouble reconciling with either view.
Tai-Tai – I feel so sorry for a kid who is not allowed to read Harry Potter books. They are missing so much fun! I cringe at the overprotectiveness (in whatever form) that so many parents subject their children to.
Donna B.s last blog post..Computer Pranks
June 24, 2008 at 9:30 pm
Sounds like it might be good.
(Now, for the lowbrow comment: I was sure that said “The Man Who Met God In The Sack”)
Mike Wilsons last blog post..Drug can cure shyness!
June 25, 2008 at 7:32 am
I pledge to use my powers for Good.
Venomous Kates last blog post..Who’s Supervising The Parents This Summer?
June 25, 2008 at 7:33 am
We weren’t allowed to watch several movies or read certain books for much the same reason. The good news is that your sister-in-law will probably lighten up as she discovers her kids are going to do what they want, anyway.
Venomous Kates last blog post..Who’s Supervising The Parents This Summer?
June 25, 2008 at 7:35 am
I never have understood the notion that tornadoes, etc., are “evil”. Still, I get what you mean about the seemingly unnecessary suffering. I’m not Malthusian enough to consider it “cleansing”, but I can’t say I see them as opportunities for us to do good, either. That pretty much sets up a God who is constantly looking for ways to trouble and test us, and I don’t subscribe to that notion.
Venomous Kates last blog post..Who’s Supervising The Parents This Summer?
June 25, 2008 at 7:35 am
Don’t we all meet Him there?
Venomous Kates last blog post..Who’s Supervising The Parents This Summer?
June 25, 2008 at 8:27 am
Not for lack of screaming His name, that’s for certain.
wgs last blog post..‘Nudder baby update, and Overheard
June 25, 2008 at 10:28 am
pssh. if we’re lucky, sure.
Mike Wilsons last blog post..Drug can cure shyness!
June 25, 2008 at 10:46 am
Wait a sec, I thought getting lucky was how we got in the sack in the first place.
Venomous Kates last blog post..Make The Most Of Museum Visits
June 25, 2008 at 11:18 am
I dunno. That’s sorta a low bar for luck.
Mike Wilsons last blog post..Drug can cure shyness!