-
Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.
If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!
To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.
- Status
M
The guy and his kids are camping. His little girl is kidnapped and assumed killed...never found. Dad stews for 3 years (or so) then goes back to the scene's location to meet with God. Only God is a woman named Papa, Jesus is clad in jeans and plays tricks on the dog and Holy Spirit is a fat black woman. It does have a redeeming virtue in that it does correctly portray the Character of God. But...Need I say more?
Maggie
Maggie
R
I have read The Shack 4 times since I bought it and once when it was loaned to me for my first reading. I find it an incredible book. It is not scripture and there are areas where Mr. Young is vague. I would guess he is vague because he doesn't know how to express certian theological concepts. I know in my life I too have had a hard time trying to encapsulate part of theology into something that makes sense from a strickly human viewpoint. Mr. Young however does have a great gift with words. The picture he paints of his pain over the loss of his precious child is astounding. The unwillingness of the main character to give up his own preconceptions of God, the trinity, faith vs religion, headship, greif and so on are incredible powerful.
There are things you will read that you will disagree with. Remember this isn't the bible. It is a story intended to share a man's walk back to Christ. There is so much I could tell you about this wonderful story but to do so would take some of the wonder from the reader so I will digress.
This was written in a earlier post:
The guy and his kids are camping. His little girl is kidnapped and assumed killed...never found. Dad stews for 3 years (or so) then goes back to the scene's location to meet with God. Only God is a woman named Papa, Jesus is clad in jeans and plays tricks on the dog and Holy Spirit is a fat black woman. It does have a redeeming virtue in that it does correctly portray the Character of God. But...Need I say more?
Maggie
There are some things I really see need discussing or correcting. Fist God is called Papa in this story though when the main charact meets Papa the first time she is called ElousiaSarayu. This is to show the intimate relationship we are supposed to have with the Father, Yes God The Father is portrayed as a woman, an overweight, content, black woman to be exact. Jesus is indeed shown in jeans and a flannel workshirt. This makes sense from the carpenter aspect. However Jesus is also seen as a worker, actively involved so work clothes would make sense. Maggie was wrong on the Holy Spirit though. The Holy Spirit is partrayed and an Asian woman named Sarayu.
Some think this is to change God from the traditional held view of a male God. This is not so and it is clearly explained in ths book. I do know that many study groups have been formed nationwide due to this book. Both to discuss the richness of our relationship with the Almighty but also to discuss the theology in the book. While Mr. Young did not capture perfectly the concept of all the theologies he used, he did lay a wonderful foundation for study. Some you will find are incorrect but not many. Some you will find hard to understand. That's to be expected. Some you will agree with no hesitation.
The idea of the book is to get the reader to read his/her bible and to talk with others about it. Also its to get it into the hands of unbelievers. Because its not the bible many unbelievers will agree to read it not realizing what's in store from them. The book grabs and holds the attention of the reader very well. For me I had a very hard time putting it down and read it all the way through the first time in 2 hours. Think of listening to a grandfotherly person telling a story. That's the way I see Mr. Young's writing style.
I will tell you so far the worse critisism has come from 2 main areas. Non=believers that don't like being sucked into a book about God and catholics. From my talks with catholics they see it as a protestant work and calling God Papa is an attack on their pope. I find it a very narrow viewpoint personally but we are all intitled to or opinion. So on that note, I have given you my opinion on the book and hope many will read it and that it will bring about great discussion.
There are things you will read that you will disagree with. Remember this isn't the bible. It is a story intended to share a man's walk back to Christ. There is so much I could tell you about this wonderful story but to do so would take some of the wonder from the reader so I will digress.
This was written in a earlier post:
The guy and his kids are camping. His little girl is kidnapped and assumed killed...never found. Dad stews for 3 years (or so) then goes back to the scene's location to meet with God. Only God is a woman named Papa, Jesus is clad in jeans and plays tricks on the dog and Holy Spirit is a fat black woman. It does have a redeeming virtue in that it does correctly portray the Character of God. But...Need I say more?
Maggie
There are some things I really see need discussing or correcting. Fist God is called Papa in this story though when the main charact meets Papa the first time she is called ElousiaSarayu. This is to show the intimate relationship we are supposed to have with the Father, Yes God The Father is portrayed as a woman, an overweight, content, black woman to be exact. Jesus is indeed shown in jeans and a flannel workshirt. This makes sense from the carpenter aspect. However Jesus is also seen as a worker, actively involved so work clothes would make sense. Maggie was wrong on the Holy Spirit though. The Holy Spirit is partrayed and an Asian woman named Sarayu.
Some think this is to change God from the traditional held view of a male God. This is not so and it is clearly explained in ths book. I do know that many study groups have been formed nationwide due to this book. Both to discuss the richness of our relationship with the Almighty but also to discuss the theology in the book. While Mr. Young did not capture perfectly the concept of all the theologies he used, he did lay a wonderful foundation for study. Some you will find are incorrect but not many. Some you will find hard to understand. That's to be expected. Some you will agree with no hesitation.
The idea of the book is to get the reader to read his/her bible and to talk with others about it. Also its to get it into the hands of unbelievers. Because its not the bible many unbelievers will agree to read it not realizing what's in store from them. The book grabs and holds the attention of the reader very well. For me I had a very hard time putting it down and read it all the way through the first time in 2 hours. Think of listening to a grandfotherly person telling a story. That's the way I see Mr. Young's writing style.
I will tell you so far the worse critisism has come from 2 main areas. Non=believers that don't like being sucked into a book about God and catholics. From my talks with catholics they see it as a protestant work and calling God Papa is an attack on their pope. I find it a very narrow viewpoint personally but we are all intitled to or opinion. So on that note, I have given you my opinion on the book and hope many will read it and that it will bring about great discussion.
I've read the book and honestly, at first introduction of the 'Godhead' I was a bit ''uncomfortable" with the whole portrayal of God, but once I got past that whole idea, I realized the entire book was about forgiveness and allowing God's love the opportunity to change us and experience Him the moment we are willing to lay down all the junk we tend to pick up along the road. I actually enjoyed reading it and glad I didn't put it down the moment I started feeling uncomfortable. It was a lesson well learned. I would and do recommend it.
Last edited:
T
I would humbly suggest not to make any preconcieved opinions until first reading the book. You really need to read it to understand, hopefully, the heart of the author and the message he is conveying. I will add, at the risk of giving away an important part of the story, that close to the end, the Father changes (His outward revelation of Himself) and is actually portrayed as a male Father figure when the main character has gone through some healing and is able to receive the love of a father. This part really touched me, as I am sure it did many because of the prevalent father issues in this day and age. It was incredible!
Anyway, I just really believe that this book was amazingly used by God to reach so many people who wouldn't have been reached through the traditional methods. And it's basic message was in line with Scripture as he was not claiming to be teaching doctrine about the gender or appearance of God, but carrying a profound message about His character and ways. Personally, I believe sometimes we need to think outside the box in order to make ourselves revelant to a lost world. I love how God kicked religion in the teeth with this book! (Please understand I am not talking about heresy here, just the stale, religious status quo that we Christians can get caught in sometimes that has nothing to do with God.)
Anyway, I just really believe that this book was amazingly used by God to reach so many people who wouldn't have been reached through the traditional methods. And it's basic message was in line with Scripture as he was not claiming to be teaching doctrine about the gender or appearance of God, but carrying a profound message about His character and ways. Personally, I believe sometimes we need to think outside the box in order to make ourselves revelant to a lost world. I love how God kicked religion in the teeth with this book! (Please understand I am not talking about heresy here, just the stale, religious status quo that we Christians can get caught in sometimes that has nothing to do with God.)
L
my take on it? wow that might take a minute...
amazingly written to capture an audience. powerfully captivating emotionally. he(they) tells a story STOP. im sensing people are saying this book is new age, philosophically. i am a christian. i am not new age, i hate the "new age" in the sense of replacing christ with "another christ" - "you". this book spoke to me in so many ways, but it also did something to my soul. it took me from a place where i had questions about some things, and it answered them. how can a little girl suffer? so innocent. unjust. undeserving. i think i asked myself this same question when it happened to me. how can i be abused when i new no wrong? but there is a god. and he loves us. he has made us in his image.i think this book beautifully illustrates the complex thoughts that we have within ourselves about our condition and about our God. and if thats a sin, im a sinner hey. and i am hey! haha we as christians need to weigh up every word(prophecy/teaching) as to whether it is of God or not. whether it is profitable. i got a lot out of this one. and my God is still the God of the bible. alot of things are topsy turvy at the moment, but God is bringing a new clarity to our discernment, like only He knows how. to be cont...
amazingly written to capture an audience. powerfully captivating emotionally. he(they) tells a story STOP. im sensing people are saying this book is new age, philosophically. i am a christian. i am not new age, i hate the "new age" in the sense of replacing christ with "another christ" - "you". this book spoke to me in so many ways, but it also did something to my soul. it took me from a place where i had questions about some things, and it answered them. how can a little girl suffer? so innocent. unjust. undeserving. i think i asked myself this same question when it happened to me. how can i be abused when i new no wrong? but there is a god. and he loves us. he has made us in his image.i think this book beautifully illustrates the complex thoughts that we have within ourselves about our condition and about our God. and if thats a sin, im a sinner hey. and i am hey! haha we as christians need to weigh up every word(prophecy/teaching) as to whether it is of God or not. whether it is profitable. i got a lot out of this one. and my God is still the God of the bible. alot of things are topsy turvy at the moment, but God is bringing a new clarity to our discernment, like only He knows how. to be cont...
L
my take on it? wow that might take a minute...
amazingly written to capture an audience. powerfully captivating emotionally. he(they) tells a story STOP. im sensing people are saying this book is new age, philosophically. i am a christian. i am not new age, i hate the "new age" in the sense of replacing christ with "another christ" - "you". this book spoke to me in so many ways, but it also did something to my soul. it took me from a place where i had questions about some things, and it answered them. how can a little girl suffer? so innocent. unjust. undeserving. i think i asked myself this same question when it happened to me. how can i be abused when i new no wrong? but there is a god. and he loves us. he has made us in his image.i think this book beautifully illustrates the complex thoughts that we have within ourselves about our condition and about our God. and if thats a sin, im a sinner hey. and i am hey! haha we as christians need to weigh up every word(prophecy/teaching) as to whether it is of God or not. whether it is profitable. i got a lot out of this one. and my God is still the God of the bible. alot of things are topsy turvy at the moment, but God is bringing a new clarity to our discernment, like only He knows how. to be cont...
amazingly written to capture an audience. powerfully captivating emotionally. he(they) tells a story STOP. im sensing people are saying this book is new age, philosophically. i am a christian. i am not new age, i hate the "new age" in the sense of replacing christ with "another christ" - "you". this book spoke to me in so many ways, but it also did something to my soul. it took me from a place where i had questions about some things, and it answered them. how can a little girl suffer? so innocent. unjust. undeserving. i think i asked myself this same question when it happened to me. how can i be abused when i new no wrong? but there is a god. and he loves us. he has made us in his image.i think this book beautifully illustrates the complex thoughts that we have within ourselves about our condition and about our God. and if thats a sin, im a sinner hey. and i am hey! haha we as christians need to weigh up every word(prophecy/teaching) as to whether it is of God or not. whether it is profitable. i got a lot out of this one. and my God is still the God of the bible. alot of things are topsy turvy at the moment, but God is bringing a new clarity to our discernment, like only He knows how. to be cont...
that was really good
- Status