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Theological Reviews of The Shack by William P. Young

Here are a number of excerpts from reviews of the The Shack by William P. Young by reputable Christian leaders. 

Regent College theology professor John Stackhouse’s

The Shack 1: In Defense of Ideological Fiction

I’m happy to say that I did not find it propagandistic, but compellingly plausible.

The Shack 2: Some Theological Concerns (Part 1)

As I say, these are important theological matters in themselves, but not crucial to The Shack. I would like to see them either corrected or dropped from later editions of the book. But even if they aren’t, I don’t see them as fatal to the book’s main purpose and helpfulness.

The Shack 3: Theological Concerns (Part 2)

These are my main theological concerns with The Shack. I maintain that they could all be fixed to my full satisfaction and nothing crucial to the architecture, argument, or artistry of The Shack would be lost.

The Shack 4: Some Celebrations

No, let’s take the experience of reading The Shack the way the book’s protagonist took the experience of visiting it: as a necessarily limited accommodation to his capacities and needs, the thing he needed to receive right then.

If a book can be that, it’s a good book indeed . . .

. . . as I think The Shack truly is.

I would particularly recommend the comments by Dr. Stackhouse who is an
outstanding evangelical theologian, with a Ph.D. in historical theology
from the University of Chicago, and interacted charitably with Paul
Young, the author of
The Shack in person.


Ben Witherington – Professor of New Testament at Asbury Theological Seminary, Shacking Up With God—William P. Young’s ‘The Shack’– Jul 23, 2008

I want to say from the outset that I thoroughly enjoyed reading this novel, as it involves a lot of interesting theologizing about God and the divine-human encounter, and it clearly has struck a nerve with many people who are longing to have a close encounter with God of the first sort. I am happy this novel can provoke thought and stir up people to reconsider the God of the Bible and what having a relationship with God might mean and be like. And because it is a work of fiction, no one should evaluate this work as if it were an exercise in systematic theology as if it were Barth’s Dogmatics for the Emerging Church, as its aims are much more modest . . .  What I would suggest is that it needs considerable further theological refinement.

Eugene Peterson, Professor Emeritus of Spiritual Theology, Regent College, Vancouver, B.C.- from the book jacket:

When the imagination of a writer and the passion of a theologian cross-fertilize the result is a novel on the order of “The Shack.” This book has the potential to do for our generation what John Bunyan’s “Pilgrim’s Progress” did for his. It’s that good!

Derek R. Keefe – Christianity Today Magazine – Jul 11, 2008 Reading in Good Faith: The Shack is a tale of tragedy redeemed, not a theological treatise.

Reading between the lines, I see a formerly troubled soul who’s made peace with God about his past, but is still not at peace with the church. I’d love to see the book become an occasion for open conversation with “spiritual but not religious” folks burned by church experience. Here’s an opportunity to show good faith—to Christ, his church, and her teachings; to authors and their work; and to readers who rejoice in learning they are not alone.

Derek Keefe – “The Shack” Built on Shifting Sands? William Young’s surprise bestseller sparks heated response and prompts important questions at Christianity Today’s LiveBlog

Several conservative Protestant heavyweights–Al Mohler, Chuck Colson, Mark Driscoll, and influential blogger Tim Challies–have sounded off on the dangers of The Shack‘s vision of God, salvation, and the Church, creating a quartet of caution for the casual Christian reader. These strong cautions are all the more notable in light of the over-the-top endorsement from one of evangelicalism’s most respected spiritual sages, Eugene Peterson, which is featured on the book’s back cover.

Tim Challies, conservative Reformed theology blogger quoted at Justin Taylor’s post The Shack Reviewed, which  links to a 17 page review by Challies.

Despite the book’s popularity among Christians, believers are divided on whether this book is biblically sound. Where Eugene Peterson, Professor Emeritus of Spiritual Theology at Regent College in Vancouver, says it “has the potential to do for our generation what John Bunyan’s The Pilgrim Progress did for his,” Dr. Albert Mohler, President of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, says, “This book includes undiluted heresy.” While singer and songwriter Michael W. Smith says “The Shack will leave you craving for the presence of God,” Mark Driscoll, Pastor of Mars Hill Church in Seattle, says, “Regarding the Trinity, it’s actually heretical.”

Brandon O’Brien, assistant editor of Leadership Journal at the Out of Ur blog, June 16, 2008 Taking The Shack to the Shed Is the hottest new Christian novel an exercise in heresy?

Young does two things I wouldn’t advise fiction writers to do: 1) depict the Trinity in bodily form and 2) put words in the Trinity’s mouth. My fear would be that such attempts would result in hokey prose—and, to be honest, that happens from time to time in The Shack. But several notable Christian thinkers have more serious charges for Young.

Andrew Jones – Tall Skinny Kiwi – (UK emerging church / missional blogger) – from his blog post The Shack:

It’s a good book. . . The Shack reads a little like a Frank Perretti classic but its not as complex or gripping and neither does it produce paranoia in the weak minded . . . Unfortunately, The Shack is also cheapened by well-used Christian cliches and drags horribly in the middle where the story gets stuck in a theological conversation about the Trinity – which i did not struggle with theologically, despite the accusations of modalism from the fundie [fundamentalist] bloggers.

Greg Boyd, Minnesota pastor and author, Sunday, June 22, 2008 The Shack: A Review

Warning: Do not read this novel on a plane or any other public place where you’re trapped around people — unless you’re totally okay with becoming emotionally undone in front of perfect strangers. There are points where this book rips your heart out. At least it did me. The body building dude sitting next to me on the plane must have thought I was a first rate wimp, weeping over a novel. Anyway, to my surprise, I loved this book!

Collin Hansen, Christianity Today online The Trinity: So What? The Shack allegorizes a tricky but foundational doctrine.

Given the doctrine’s complexity, it’s no surprise that we turn to analogies for help. But every analogy breaks down. “Most analogies drawn from the physical realm tend to be either tritheistic or modalistic in their implications,” Millard Erickson writes in Christian Theology. Following Augustine’s lead, Erickson therefore opts for analogies drawn from human relationships, though he admits that they, too, fail to convey the deep beauty of this central Christian confession.

Greg Surratt – Multi-site church pioneer – Jul 22, 2008 The shack

Theologically, I didn’t see anything dramatically problematic…the author doesn’t have a very high view of church…I think Jesus likes the church a little more than he would have you to believe.

I liked it…but who really cares?  If the book began the process of opening up a spiritual seeker, who would probably never hear a sermon from that pastor that she unknowingly shared a plane ride with, to the idea that God loves her and wants to have a relationship with her forever, what difference does it make whether I liked it or not?

Cindy Crosby -book reviewer at Christianity Today Magazine – Jul 11, 2008 – Fiction for the Faith-Starved: The Shack tells a compelling, if imperfect, story.

Reviewers have criticized the book for hinting at universalism, as well as for feminism and a lack of hierarchy in the Trinity. Rather than slicing and dicing the novel, looking for proof of theological missteps, a better approach might be to look at significant passages as springboards for deeper discussion.

Mark Batterson – Pastor of National Community Church in Washington DC – from his blog post What I’m Reading

Love it for lots of reasons. First of all, I love books that touch the emotions and inspire the imagination. This book does that. But it also has an amazing storyline that is really gripping.

Perry Noble, NewSpring Church South Carolina megachurch pastor, What I’ve Been Reading

In my opinion this book is an excellent piece of fiction writing that is loaded with some tricky theological issues. I’ve seen both positive and negative reviews on it…but I can say that, for the most part, I enjoyed it. It made me think…and I love books that make me do that. It will definitely cause you to look and God in an entirely different way.

D.J. Chuang at Leadership Network, The Shack touted as Pilgrim’s Progress

While William Young does intend to challenge our preconceptions of God, the story risks confusing some readers with theological misunderstandings. Is this a risk worth taking? I personally think so, but I know not all would agree.

Brad Lomenick – Director of Catalyst Conference from his blog post – Have you read The Shack?

Alright, I have to admit- I am usually a major critic of Christian fiction books. They just usually don’t deliver on expectations. But I recently came across a gem- The Shack by William Paul Young. You have to check it out. Buy it immediately. And then buy it for your family, friends, and co-workers. It will change your perspective and spiritual paradigm, especially as it relates to the Trinity and God’s desire for relationship with us humans.

Cathy Lynn Grossman, ‘Shack’ opens doors, but critics call book ‘scripturally incorrect’  The USA Today

The Shack‘s success has changed Young’s life — a little.

He no longer works three jobs running a manufacturer’s sales office and working on websites. Kim still works at Gresham High School as a baker, but she’s driving a new Honda. They’ve moved from the tiny rental house, where he wrote The Shack in the windowless basement near the washing machine, to a bigger rental nearby.

Holding hands and beaming at one of their grandchildren, the Youngs say they’d be fine if the money vanished tomorrow.

“Mack is me, a guy who has made a mess of everything,” Young says. “The book takes him outside everything familiar, back to the worst experience of his life and lets him recognize God is so much greater.”

. . . Mohler, Driscoll and other evangelicals pick The Shack apart plank by plank.

No, God can’t be a presented as a woman. No, the three parts of the Trinity did not all become fully human. Yes, there is a hierarchy in the Holy Trinity with God the Father in command. Yes, God will punish sin.

Bob Smietana, journalist, The Tennessean – Novel about God hits a chord in Nashville area: Self-publishing turns rejected manuscript into a big seller.  April 3, 2008.

[Young] self-published The Shack after no publisher would touch it, and it held Amazon.com’s No. 1 spot in fiction for weeks. The book he wrote for his children has now sold close to 400,000 copies . . .

“I’m being asked to speak to thousands of people, and I am as dumb as I was last year,” said the 53-year old Young, who until recent weeks had a job as an office manager that also included cleaning toilets at a small sales company in Oregon . . .

Just before Young started on The Shack, they lost their home to foreclosure, and spent several years living with four of their six children in a 900-square-foot rental. “It’s nice to know that we can pay the bills,” Kim Young said.

19 replies on “Theological Reviews of The Shack by William P. Young”

Hi Andy,

I’d second the notion that this book is worth a read! I just read it a few weeks back, found it compelling. Thanks for the analysis. I’ll be curious to hear your take once you read it.

I can see what Young was trying to accomplish with “The Shack”, but it fell short for me. I agree with him that God is probably a whole heck of a lot more intimate, passionate, affectionate, even mundane, than we usually perceive him to be. However, my experiences of him have always been strikingly void of wordiness — if there are any words at all — unlike Young’s God characters. I tired of the verbage. It felt more like sermons than relational conversations. No one likes being preached at. So why would God do it?

Though I really don’t disagree with Young’s theology — didn’t see any gaping holes — I began flinching every time I read, “I’m especially fond of (whatever character’s being talked about).” If we heard someone saying of everyone they encountered, “I’m especially fond of you.”, we’d quickly stop believing them. I wouldn’t want to be told this, only to hear it proclaimed to the next person, and the next. Somehow, God is able to convey his personal affection for us without sounding trite. Wish Young had been able to pull this off.

I did like the way he handled the inner healing of Mackenzie — with one exception. Mackenzie was allowed to fully vent (nice to see some common swear words in a Christian book – really), which is psychologically sound. However, God did not ask him to forgive. Instead, when Mac said he didn’t think he could, God said, “I want you to.”, which is psychologically unhealthy. Much much better to say something like, “Would you do it for me?” (God actually asked this of me one time and the remarkable thing about it was there was zero expectation in the question. God simply asked and in the way he did, I knew that it was completely my decision.).

So, I read the whole thing, but about half way through I could see that it wasn’t going to deliver. Now, though I gleaned a little from the book, I’m having to weed the silly characters out of my concept of God.

As an Asian and a missionary serving in Asia. I connected with this book quite a lot. Many of my non believing friends will immediately identify with the “materially earthly humanly” aspect of God. And whether you like it or not, a perfect bridge for them to know Jesus. But this is not the Bible. This is a novel. I would not bang too much of theology out of it.

I seldom read a book. My granddaughter gave me this for my 86th birthday in large print. I really enjoyed it and finished it
rather quickly. I don’t see how anyone could read it and not feel a special closeness to God. I am a Christian and no idea how anyone could come up with this novel.

I found the book very enjoying and it drew me to a deeper relationship with G-d. The revelation knowledge that I experienced was spirit quickening, as well as, enlightening. If you are grounded and rooted in the word, then you should have no problem with this book, because it is just fiction. If you know the truth, then the truth shall keep you free of all deception. The author never said that this was a replacement to the Bible. It is a Fiction novel, not non-fiction. The author never stated that this book was the core of Christianity or any other religion. I found compassion, brokeness,forgiveness, love, grace, and mercy to abound in this novel. I believe that we all need something or someone to challenge us, during our spiritual walk, and draw us closer to Him. The Shack will prompt you to experience an encounter with the “true” living G-d and cry out to Papa. Shalom! <><

Thanks for these comments on your site. I found the book engaging and refreshing in a religious culture that pretends to know exactly how to describe God and to know exactly what God requires for everyone else. As a theologian and pastor, I am amused that the word “heresy” is now being thrown around. Considering the sources, I guess if you are not a white, evangelical male, anything smacks of heresy that doesn’t fit in the neat little theological box. Christians should remember that we’ve been working out the mystery of the Trinity for almost 2000 years now, and we still don’t have it figured out. This book is not an attempt to re-write the history of Christian theology, but to help us stand back, shut up and experience the beauty of that great mystery. Our church is planning on using this book as Lenten study, and there are already some good resources out there for studies.

I agree with Cindy Crosby, reviewer at “Christianity Today”, who said, “Rather than slicing and dicing the novel, looking for proof of theological missteps, a better approach might be to look at significant passages as springboards for deeper discussion. The Shack is a novel, after all, not a systematic theology. Keep that in mind when reading The Shack. Despite its weaknesses, this is a story with the potential to wake readers up, to rekindle or reinvigorate their faith. In an era when so much Christian fiction is about pat answers, conventional themes, and the regurgitation of what we already know and believe, such stories are good news for thoughtful readers.”

Just finished your book, The Shack. Wow! I love it. Your insight is masterful.
B.Yashita, palm Sp., Ca.

Reading this book has helped me at a time in my life fighting with my spirituality and my religion, It has helped make my life feel a little more simple and not so complicated especially with the expectations I felt growing up with feeling I have to be “Perfect” in order to go to heaven, If people can just read the book and feel and not take every little thing out of context to pick it apart they might be able to get as much out of this book as I have and it is a book to reread over again
I recommend this book to everyone no matter what religion they are in. I feel very blessed to have been able to read it.

The most important part of this story to me is the fact that God lives within us. I think in today’s atmosphere of abandoning God’s name in public schools, etc., our children (and adults too) need to be assured that God lives within us. We are created in God’s image and likeness, therefore we are God’s children (all of us). If we can hold onto that thought and theory and believe in the trust and love of God then inner peace would be accomplished. The Shack brings this out repeatedly—-to me the whole gist of the story.
5-30-09 Pam Boor

The book “The Shack” really gave me the opportunity to compare the encounter with God to my own experience. I feel we have all experienced our own “SHACK” where we are compelled to come face to face with God in our hours of deep despair.

I just finished reading this book at a time that I am dealing with my own faith issues. I know it is a work of fiction, but it sure gave me a lot to think about. Just reading that there are other answers to some of my own questions has got me wanting to get back to my faith even more. I recommend this book to everyone.

This book was a breath of fresh air for those who find the church’s traditional emphasis of the anger, judgement and remoteness in the Father’s character has stifled any real affection or love for Him. The Shack opens up some new vistas in regard to God’s grace, love and desire to really engage with us at a meaningful level.
I find this book, along with Forgiving Ararat by Gita Nazareth and The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold, to be especially thought-provoking and make for good materials for intellectual debate.

I just finished reading “The Shack” and all
I can say is that we can spend a lot of time analysing and commenting, but if
Mr Young is able to impact even a few people
but I’m sure it’s more than a few with his book, causing us to grow closer to God – than it’s a job well done. Paul preached 1 sermon and 3000 were saved, some ministers preach 3000 sermons and no one gets saved.
We get so caught up with theology & structures and doing God’s work that we forget About the deeper relationship that God wants us to have with him – and with that relationship he will reveal himself to us through his holy Spirit

The review and blasting of this book “The Shack” by the so called experts is whats wrong with todays church. We have created our own self made image of what is wrong and right, what is of God or not, instead of just trying to get a positive message out to a lost and hurting world. Forget about the theology and take in the message of a relationship our father will allow us to have with him. Listen for his voice, he still speaks to all that will listen. Great book, dont tear it apart and kill the message most in our world need to hear.

In my quest for spiritual understanding I have walked many Paths of many religions. I felt I had a close relationship to Christ, but there was so much judgement in the church that I left the church & swore I would never go back.

My beautiful, intelligent, amazing daughter was brutally murdered in 2000 by a stalker. A friend gave me The Shack to read, just a few weeks ago.

Now, in 2010, I feel like I can once more claim Christianity as my belief. Nothing, no amount of “shoulds” “ought- tos” “fear of hell” or any other things I experienced in Church could bring me back to God. This book did. I think that is a lesson that does no harm in paying attention to.

the writer of this marvelous book was relating an experience his friend had whilst lying unconscious in a hospital after an accident so who can say or not say what he saw and experienced while he was in this state what about all these NDE’s that different people have undergone while near death or in a coma? no one has ever come back to tell us but you cant dispute that stranger things have happened and lets face it we cant really say I don’t think this life is all there is it wouldn’t make sense there would be no purpose in being born just to live and die there has to be a higher purpose that we don’t fully understand what Jesus said about the Fall i.e adam and Eve makes sense as it was Mamkind himself who made the choice to separate from god and go his own way the evil in this world is perpetrated by Man himself people say why don’t God come down and fix it so to speak but then it wpuld start all over again like after Noah the world had been destroyed in the Flood but got bad again it is human nature God has His own plan for the future in his own time as He said to Job where were you when I made the Pleaides? It is not really for us to question the Almighty

dear Alison, I find it amazing that your journey back to the church was greatly aided by this book. It was truly a good friend that gave this book to you to read, I hope you still have this person as a friend. True good friends are hard to come by and should be cherished. I can’t imagine what you have gone through losing your daughter I wish you all the best.
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PING:
TITLE: The Shack touted as Pilgrim’s Progress
URL: http://books.leadnet.org/2008/06/the-shack-is-th.html
IP: 10.0.23.102
BLOG NAME: Books @ Leadership Network
DATE: 06/16/2008 12:20:29 PM
About a month ago, a colleague recommended THE SHACK (William P. Young) as a fictional book that could give me a fresh perspective and reinvigorate my spiritual life. I’ve also seen The Shack raved and recommended by several other Christian

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