Monday, February 23, 2009
An article in the Topeka Capital-Journal on Feb. 7 addressed the book “The Shack” by William P. Young. The article discussed conflict surrounding the best-selling book, which some say takes too free a hand with traditional Christian theology. The scriptural inaccuracies caused controversy, especially because the book was introduced to Bible-study groups in Topeka. To some, “The Shack” is nothing more than Christian fiction. But by reducing the book to a theologically inaccurate work of Christian fiction, readers miss out on the deeper and more beneficial applications.
“The Shack” is about a father, Mack, whose four-year-old daughter is abducted by a pedophile during a family camping trip. Four years later, he receives a note from Papa, the affectionate term his family has for God, inviting him for a weekend at the very shack where his daughter was presumably murdered.
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See The Topeka Capital-Journal article here
During the weekend, Mack embarks on a spiritual rollercoaster with Papa, portrayed as a large, black woman; Jesus, a laid-back carpenter; and Sarayu, an Asian woman. Mack confronts his loss and grief during his healing process, while at the same time posing the age-old question, “Where is God in a world so filled with pain?”
My dad recommended this book to me. He had received it from one of my aunts following the unexpected death of my 31-year-old brother. After reading it, I immediately understood why he had suggested it. Both my father and I were able to find comfort in a story that so closely resembled our own. And, unfortunately, a lot of people have been able to identify with the story of a parent losing a child. A woman who had lost a son commented on The Topeka Capitol Journal’s Web site, without bringing up the book’s genre or religious aspect, that she had found this to be an “excellent book.”
By looking deeper than the Christian fiction label, readers are able to experience a book based on its message, not genre. In getting past the labels and scriptural inaccuracies, this book has a comforting, identifiable story. “The Shack” has the potential, if readers throw out religion and politics, to be a thought-provoking work, while at the same time calling forth personal — not solely spiritual — musings about relationships with others in times of great tragedy.
— McNaughton is a Topeka senior in journalism and English.
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Comments
McNaughton: Readers should look beyond best-seller’s Christian genre
I'm sorry, but I do not understand a word of this. It seems to me like the author of the book threw in as many minorities as he could manage. Papa for God? God is a purely spiritual creature who has no gender. And, how did Mack get the note from "Papa", e-mail? Life has pain and suffering as well as joy and delight because of the choices that everyone one is making every moment of every day. I have always identified with both Scout in To Kill A Mockingbird, and Huck Finn, both books which raise questions of right and wrong. For some reason books like this raise my hackles, and I don't know why. I would be interested in knowing which church had this book in the study group and why. You know there are Catholic and Protestant Christians which are very different from each other. At. St. Johns we sometimes use movies to open a discussion about faith. Whatever helps you the best, is what I believe. Excellent article.
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