BOOKS: The Shack by William B. Young

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Poor William B. Power, whoever he is…obviously not the author of The Shack. I wish the administrator could change this title to name the actual author: Wm. Paul Young. Imagine being blamed for this and you didn’t even write it!
 
I agree about the aspect of reading this book to be reminded of God’s incredible love for us. That is what I also took away from this book.

I also agree with others that you have to be well grounded in your Catholic faith to take on this book… otherwise it could be dangerous.
SBullock said:
I just finished The Shack, and thought I would look to see how other Catholics enjoyed it. Yes, there are discrepancies in what we teach, but I thought the book was absolutely wonderful. I was very saddened to see the judgmental reviews such as the comment about “The Ten Commandments.” What you may not have read in that commentary is that we use the bible and rules from the bible like the Ten Commandments to judge others. And isn’t that what we are doing with all of our negative comments. I guess I don’t understand why people get so caught up in exact words, and fail to miss the message of God’s incredible love for us. This is what I took away from the book - that God loves us so much and wants us to make God the center of our lives. Maybe I see this as looking at the book as an optimist rather than a pessimist. I tend to have the bad habit of looking at things from a pessimistic angle, but I am seeing this book as filled with a whole lot more positive than negative.
Your sister in Christ,
Susanne
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It’s taken some time to get posted, but my book review is currently featured in part at tiberriver.com/ . It’s my understanding that it will be posted soon in its entirety.
 
My parish wants to do a Book Study on “The Shack” and I’m having trouble finding a “Catholic Study”? Does anyone know of one that’s already is existence? chapter questions? Thematic questions?
 
martabb said:
My parish wants to do a Book Study on “The Shack” and I’m having trouble finding a “Catholic Study”? Does anyone know of one that’s already is existence? chapter questions? Thematic questions?
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My Catholic Study Guide for this book might consist of one question:'Why would anyone take the time to write this nonsense & why would any Catholic waste their time reading it?"😃
 
Amen to Cracker Mom. It sets a poor precedent for a parish to allow such a book to be studied. Some of the churches doing that don’t even have BIBLE STUDIES! The weaker people are in their faith and in the bible, the more they will fall for the garbage in this book. Try to substitute something much more meaningful.

If you don’t succeed, and the study looks like it is going ahead, then think about asking to have a “review” included in your church bulletin, a handout at the door, flyers under windshield wipers at Mass, posted on your church’s website , a letter to the local secular press, etc., drawing attention to the errors in the book. Also, feel free to give away the stupid “surprises” which will help to discourage readers. Just a few ideas.

It’s hard to find a serious “study” because serious reviewers don’t involve themselves in such stuff. It would be like doing a book review in the Harvard Business Press on the ingredients of Dagwood’s sandwiches or why his shirt only has one button. 🙂

Except, of course, that this subject really is so much more important. It’s about saving souls.
 
I have not read The Shack, though I have heard of it, I’ve seen it in the stores, and I’ve been asked about it a few times. Actually, 99% of the books I read are 100% Catholic.

Here’s a link to the book’s home page and you can read a sample of it online too. For what it’s worth.
 
martabb said:
My parish wants to do a Book Study on “The Shack” and I’m having trouble finding a “Catholic Study”? Does anyone know of one that’s already is existence? chapter questions? Thematic questions?
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I seriously doubt that you would ever find a Catholic study guide to this book as it is “anti-organized religion” and what bigger religious institution is there than the Catholic Church? We read it in our book club BEFORE we really knew much about it because a Nun at a local monastery had recommended it after one of their religious reatreats. :eek: Come to find out later these particular nuns seem to be a bit…shall we just say…“liberal” :o. It’s new age garbage. I heard it all before in the 60’s. :rolleyes:
 
I was given this book to read just as our life began to come apart.
I read it very quickly and found some of the ideas very nice. I found comfort in the book. Once I read it I looked back over it and found that taking it just as a work of fiction, it is a nice book. But taking it as any sort of teaching, including to mislead the unchurched or the poorly catechized it is scary indeed.

It reminded me of the story of St. Paul in Acts who comes across a girl who tells the future because of a demon. The girl begins yelling that people should listen to Paul because he serves the Lord and teaches a way of salvation. Paul get fed up with her and finally ejects the demon. For a long time I wondered why he did that, since the demon was telling people to follow Paul. It finally hit me that it was because the demon said that Paul taught A way of salvation implying that there is more than one.

It is the same with The Shack. It is nice and sweet and the errors which make it heresy do not make it any less sweet, but they do make it heresy.

I really enjoyed the “dog poo” analogy someone posted a few posts back. 👍
 
I had sent my nephew a utube video about Divine Mercy. He said that he was well aware of Divine Mercy, but wanted me to check out The Shack. What do you think??

Thanks,
RW in Rochester
 
I just finished the book “The Shack” and almost put it down never to open it again until my curiosity got the best of me and I wanted to know if they ever found the killer. I think the book is not to be taken word for word or as theology. It is how this man William P Young knows God. He knows him to be love in an unlovable world. He knows him to be forgiving in an unforgiving world. I think he came up with the most heinous crime so he could show God’s love and forgiveness is there for EVERYONE that asks for forgiveness. God is love!
This is not to be taken as from God. It is a man writing it and his own life history led him to these conclusions. Take is as that and it is a good book!
 
To me, it isn’t whether or not “something” of merit can be found, or even if there is an explanation of what the author did. Rather, it is about souls being misled or damaged by what he wrote. Some souls are very fragile, and easily damaged. St. Paul talked about precautions lest we cause a brother or sister to “stumble.” Hopefull…
 
Sorry to resurrect this thread. :o
My parents handed me this book last week (I’m just halfway through) because they mentioned they were studying it with some group at church and my mom went on and on about how good it is. :rolleyes:
Let’s just say I’m NOT impressed with this nonsense. It has *some *merit - in dealing with great tragedies in life and turning to God… and I can appreciate the idea of trying to explain the trinity… but my GOSH, the rest is just absurd!! :o Hopefully I’ll finish it up soon and just put it to rest out of my mind. I need to go have a little CHAT with mom after this one. :rolleyes:
 
I just finished reading the book… actually I listened to the audio book.

My favorite part was the part when he was asked by God’s personified wisdom (as a woman) to choose which of his kids would go to heaven and which would go to hell. Mac couldn’t, or more accurately wouldn’t choose because he loved his children so much. Instead he asked if he could take their place instead… Bingo!! Now you know how God sees things and why he chose to die on the cross so that none of his children would have to go to hell…

The other part I enjoyed was when Papa took him to the place where the murderer had laid Missy’s body and asked him to forgive the murder. I thought Papa did so in a very loving, patient, compassionate, and understanding way. Mac’s emotions were pretty much in line with what I would expect for a man in his situation. I really enjoyed how he first couldn’t but was willing to even consider it. I felt that it reflected accurately the internal struggle many of us go through when trying to forgive the unforgivable.

Overall the take away for me was how lovingly Papa, Jesus and the Holy spirit treated Mac and really showed him his love for him. I especially enjoyed the part where they said “I’m especially fond of so and so” and how they were especially fond of everyone.

I was keenly aware of when and where the theology presented did not fall in line with Catholic faith, but then I came to expect that from a non-Catholic book. I just ignored those parts and enjoyed the many parts that did follow Catholic teaching.
 
hopefull said:
To me, it isn’t whether or not “something” of merit can be found, or even if there is an explanation of what the author did. Rather, it is about souls being misled or damaged by what he wrote. Some souls are very fragile, and easily damaged. St. Paul talked about precautions lest we cause a brother or sister to “stumble.” Hopefull…
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I don’t know, I mean half of the stuff out there will lead a soul away from God. I’m really frustrated with this thread because of such negativity about this book. Many of the posts come across as self-righteous religious snobbery, certainly not humble or charitable. I hate to see that in my fellow Catholics.
 
👍 THANK YOU! I also was trying to get that point across. But it does fall on deaf ears at times.
 
Ryckie said:
👍 THANK YOU! I also was trying to get that point across. But it does fall on deaf ears at times.
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Wanna know what else? This book reminds me of the purpose driven life… a whole bunch of stuff there was also anti-Catholic but I still credit that book with leading me to go ahead and read the bible for myself. That book made me hungry for my own Catholic theology. Theology with real substance.

This book has done something similar… though it is much like empty calories (which are yummy) it will now lead me to read authentic Catholic fiction… I’m hungry for that now… 👍
 
Andrea22 said:
I don’t know, I mean half of the stuff out there will lead a soul away from God. I’m really frustrated with this thread because of such negativity about this book. Many of the posts come across as self-righteous religious snobbery, certainly not humble or charitable. I hate to see that in my fellow Catholics.
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I keep hearing that posts are “uncharitable” on different forums on this site. That may well be, but having an opinion, even a strong opinion, does not necessarily make one un-Christian.It indicates preferences,tastes, & sometimes thoughtfulness & orthodoxy.
As a fairly narrow-minded, orthodox Catholic, I thought the book was pretty much rubbish.
There,I’ve been a self righteous, religious snob again, but it felt good.😉
 
Cracker_Mom said:
As a fairly narrow-minded, orthodox Catholic, I thought the book was pretty much rubbish.
There,I’ve been a self righteous, religious snob again, but it felt good.😉
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Hi Cracker Mom…

I’m sorry if you took my post personal. But yes the attitude you are displaying here is uncharitable… beginning by your sarcastic tone and calling yourself narrow-minded which is insulting because orthodoxy is not narrow-mindedness and you very well know that.

I have no problem reading posts that say “this book has serious theological flaws and as such I would not recommend it”… That is fair… but I found the tone in some posts to be condescending of anyone who would read the book and I found some to be condescending to the author.

I’m fairly sensitive though, I would not put down a book by calling it rubbish knowing that this was the work of love of a man for his kids that found its way to fame. But that’s just me.

Edit to add: I myself have been accused by atheist of being self-righteous so I know how it feels… that is why I try to be careful and not do it because sometimes one can get carried away. It seems as you may be a bit jaded with criticisms and are now lashing out.
 
Well, I guess one person’s “self-righteous religious snobbery” is another person’s faithfulness to the teachings of the Catholic Church. I know which one I’d rather be accused of on Judgement Day. Too bad this discussion is descending to name-calling against those who are trying to be faithful witnesses.
 
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