Shack: Anyone read this book?

[Buh4Bee]

I am reading this book and I am having a difficult time. I am looking for feedback from anyone who has a perspective on this book.

[Renrut]

Yes. I actually read it as part of a class and we had some rather in depth discussions about it. I can't say I particularly liked it. I felt like the author's general theses ,God cares about relationships, is a good one. But I also felt like he went to far in someways. And I'm not sure I agree with all of his theology. I don't know how far you've gotten in the book and don't want to discourage you from reading it, or prejudice you against it, Because there are some good things to be gotten form it. Do you have any specific questions about it? I'm better at answering questions than writing reviews...

[Buh4Bee]

Thanks for your help! What class did you take this for?

I agree with you that the main message of the book is about relationships. In my Bible study, we also talked about the idea that God is present when bad things happen (Mack's childhood and Missy's murder). Young seems to be explaining how God is present even when tragic things happen.

I am having a difficult time with this particular idea of theology:
"Being my follower is not trying to be like Jesus, it means your independence (free will) is killed. I came to give you life, real life, my life. We (trinity) will come and live our life inside you, so that you begin to see with our eyes, and hear with our ears, and touch with our hands, and think like we do. But we will never force that union on you. If you want to do your thing, have at it. Time is on your side."

Did you discuss this quote? What is your feeling about the loss of free will? I am not excited to just surrender myself to Christ. Is it where I am in my religious development or do I just not get the philosophical concept embedded in this idea? Hope to not offend anyone!

[AdrianLeverkuhn]

My biggest problem was that the writing is atrocious. The dialogue, especially between the different parts of the Trinity and the main character, was embarrassingly bad in my humble opinion.

[Buh4Bee]

Gosh, I couldn't agree with you more. I really am still struggling to finish the last 40 pages. It's awful. The theology is interesting, but maybe hokey at times. I think many people like the idea of God being portrayed as a large African American woman. I'm not sure what to think, but at least God doesn't appear as a Moses-like figure. I guess that is progress.

[TurquoiseSunset]

I am having a difficult time with this particular idea of theology:
"Being my follower is not trying to be like Jesus, it means your independence (free will) is killed. I came to give you life, real life, my life. We (trinity) will come and live our life inside you, so that you begin to see with our eyes, and hear with our ears, and touch with our hands, and think like we do. But we will never force that union on you. If you want to do your thing, have at it. Time is on your side."

Did you discuss this quote? What is your feeling about the loss of free will? I am not excited to just surrender myself to Christ. Is it where I am in my religious development or do I just not get the philosophical concept embedded in this idea? Hope to not offend anyone!

The word independence doesn't imply free will. God created us with free will so that we would be free to chose him or not. The word indepence implies freedom from support and reliance on Him. And if you're independent from Him you can't have a relationship with Him. And above all else He wants a relationship with us. If he takes away our free will it will make the relationship void. Like giving someone a love potion. You want someone to love you because they chose to, not because you make them; that's not love.

So that passage is about depending on God at all times. So when you have an issue, you say, "God please help me. Give me patience and strength and show me what I'm supposed to do because you know what's best", instead of saying, "I can do this myself. I know what's best for me in this situation." But it's still a choice you make. And the better your relationship becomes with God the more you "think like [they] do".

That's my opinion though, and you're free to disagree :)

[Buh4Bee]

The word independence doesn't imply free will. God created us with free will so that we would be free to chose him or not. The word indepence implies freedom from support and reliance on Him. And if you're independent from Him you can't have a relationship with Him. And above all else He wants a relationship with us. If he takes away our free will it will make the relationship void. Like giving someone a love potion. You want someone to love you because they chose to, not because you make them; that's not love.

So that passage is about depending on God at all times. So when you have an issue, you say, "God please help me. Give me patience and strength and show me what I'm supposed to do because you know what's best", instead of saying, "I can do this myself. I know what's best for me in this situation." But it's still a choice you make. And the better your relationship becomes with God the more you "think like [they] do".

That's my opinion though, and you're free to disagree :)

Thanks for the distinction between free will and independence. I can see that by electing to exercise your free will you can then choose to depend or not depend on Christ. I know God wants us to have a relationship with us. But at the end of the day, isn't it on his terms?

It's funny, because I intellectually understand the explanation that you have provided. In fact, I have heard it a number of times, but I am not in a place in my religious development to accept this miracle. I guess I have come to the conclusion that I am not yet ready to take this kind of leap of faith. Not yet.

[Buh4Bee]

I just finished the Shack. I think it is a great story, but the writing can be cheesy. I know Young is not a professional author, so I find myself excusing this flaw. The messages and themes were powerful, but some scenes were tedious to read, which I attribute the the quality of amateur writing. The ending completes the story and leaves the reader feeling satisfied. The book can challenge a reader's religious outlook. I can see why people are reacting so enthusiastically toward the book (8.99 at Costco). However, I personally did not react that strongly. I don't want to rate the book, but I can say it is worth picking it up and reading a few chapters.

[TurquoiseSunset]

Thanks for the distinction between free will and independence. I can see that by electing to exercise your free will you can then choose to depend or not depend on Christ. I know God wants us to have a relationship with us. But at the end of the day, isn't it on his terms?

It's funny, because I intellectually understand the explanation that you have provided. In fact, I have heard it a number of times, but I am not in a place in my religious development to accept this miracle. I guess I have come to the conclusion that I am not yet ready to take this kind of leap of faith. Not yet.

You know, I've been thinking about this for a while now, and I wasn't sure how to answer you. Yes, the relationship will be on His terms, but really that doesn't make a difference. His terms are all good. It's not like we're losing out by having a relationship with Him. It's not like we only give and He only gets. I think we get more than we mostly deserve actually.

All I can say is what I've experienced in my own life. It's taken years and years and years for me to get where I am, but finally I get that living His way is so much easier than I thought...it's the only way really. Now, my life is so much better. Don't get me wrong though. I'm not trying to say I have arrived. Life, and a life with Christ is a never ending road, but it's the journey that counts. Even though we sometimes fail He just wants to know that we have been trying our best.

Ugh, does any if this make sense?

[Buh4Bee]

I look at this situation and I think as long as I keep try, something good should happen. It's not like I have lost faith, I just don't want to follow the rules. I know its better His way, but what about mine? Don't feel obligated to answer this, b/c I know what you will tell me. I'm just not there yet.

[TurquoiseSunset]

I look at this situation and I think as long as I keep try, something good should happen. It's not like I have lost faith, I just don't want to follow the rules. I know its better His way, but what about mine? Don't feel obligated to answer this, b/c I know what you will tell me. I'm just not there yet.

I see 'having' faith the same way my job works (I won't go into details). You work for years and years, and most of the time nothing makes sense, and you learn something new every day. Until one day everything just kind of falls in place, and you see the bigger picture. But with faith it still happens in pieces. One part falls into place, and then on to the next :p I guess, you kind of build on it. But I do identify with you saying, "I'm just not there yet". You're always going to say that about the next "piece", I think.

But you're right, the best thing is just to try your best and see where that takes you.

[Lynne Fees]

I'm sorry that a book which seems to have some interesting thoughts is so poorly written. Otherwise, I would like to read it.


I look at this situation and I think as long as I keep try, something good should happen. It's not like I have lost faith, I just don't want to follow the rules. I know its better His way, but what about mine? Don't feel obligated to answer this, b/c I know what you will tell me. I'm just not there yet.

The only thing I can tell you about God's "rules" is that they are not to frustrate you and make you unhappy. They are for your protection. Having the Holy Spirit inside you will allow you to see through man-made rules, which are just legalism and not at all what God has in mind. Meditating on the Bible will help you come closer to "arriving." Even Paul didn't consider himself "there," so take heart!

"Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." Phil. 3:12-14

[TurquoiseSunset]

I'm sorry that a book which seems to have some interesting thoughts is so poorly written. Otherwise, I would like to read it.



The only thing I can tell you about God's "rules" is that they are not to frustrate you and make you unhappy. They are for your protection. Having the Holy Spirit inside you will allow you to see through man-made rules, which are just legalism and not at all what God has in mind. Meditating on the Bible will help you come closer to "arriving." Even Paul didn't consider himself "there," so take heart!

"Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." Phil. 3:12-14

Lynne, thanks for saying what I had trouble to ;)

The "rules" aren't really rules. The more your relationship with Him improves the more you'll see you automatically live by the "rules"...because it feels right. However, there's a difference between God's rules and man's rules...and that's where I agree with Lynne too.

Secondly, Lynne, don't write the book off yet. I didn't mind the way it was written, and no one I know (in person) has complained about that either. Read it for the message...

[Buh4Bee]

Hey, thanks all that good feedback. It really is a struggle for me (finding the way), but so are many things for me. I believe it was just the way I was built.

Lynne, you should read the book or start it. I did finish it and was glad I struggled through it. That's right, you are not reading the book for literature, but for the message. Read on sister!

[Lynne Fees]

Hey, thanks all that good feedback. It really is a struggle for me (finding the way), but so are many things for me. I believe it was just the way I was built.

Lynne, you should read the book or start it. I did finish it and was glad I struggled through it. That's right, you are not reading the book for literature, but for the message. Read on sister!

I have to find it but my time is freeing up a bit these days! Thanks for the tip!

[Buh4Bee]

keep us posted!

[Virgil]

I am reading this book and I am having a difficult time. I am looking for feedback from anyone who has a perspective on this book.

Shack the basketball player?

[Buh4Bee]

Virgil are you being funny?

:lol::lol:

[LMK]

I read it. It was given to me as a gift.

I thought there were some good thoughts, not necessarily new ones, but worth repeating, maybe. It was worth the read, but then again, like I said it was a gift, so that may have helped.

*****WARNING POSSIBLE SPOILER*********

There were also things that I didn't care for things that just didn't work for me;

The fact that it didn't happen was just too Wizard of Oz for me. The letter that the postman did NOT deliver was real enough to show to someone else, though, reconcile that one!

The wife being so close she called God, Papa.

That the older daughter was blaming herself for the younger sister's abduction...duh!

The garden patch.

The point against ritual did not need to be repeated.

Some of it did work for me though, too;

The father being able to bury the daughter,

God being a parent both Mother when needed and Father when needed,

Jesus saying he's not a Christian either,

The spirit being difficult to define or see.

~L

[Buh4Bee]

Nice list, there were so many things that I disliked about the book, I'd have to go back to it to make mine and I'm not interested in that.

I will say that I admire the wife for being so close to God, but she wasn't a well developed character. She needed to be close to God to contrast against Mack's short-comings. This is all we really know about her religious relationship to God. So I can see why it didn't work for you.

Would you recommend this book?

[LMK]

Never say never, right? And I agree about the wife, I think that's why the 'papa' thing didn't work for me. I'm sure if I went back to it the list would be longer, but I'm sure I would also find more positive things about it, too. At least I hope so. I remember there being a few nicely turned phrases, but for the most part, not my taste in author/voice.

I might recommend this book, but most likely not to an avid reader. If my copy weren't a gift I would donate it to a hospital or elder-care home (I might someday anyway). Its an easy read and for someone who is not a reader but who finds themselves shut in, recouping from an illness, a waiting room, or something similar, I might suggest it to them or give him/her my copy.

To recommend it to a general audience, no, I don't think I would.

~L

[El Viejo]

I thought it read like a cross between "The Matrix" and "The Selfish Giant." I liked both of those better than "The Shack." I was surprised that the author hasn't been taken to task for cloning The Matrix's cookie-baking, motherly Oracle and inserting her as his God character.

[Buh4Bee]

I completely agree, EV. I thought maybe the Matrix Oracle character had some kind of influence on the Shack's author. Who knows, but there is definitely a close similarity.

I want to reinforce the idea again, that I think this book has value and people should read it.