The Shack is a novel written by William P Young. It got to the top of the New York Times bestsellers list by word of mouth and buzz on the internet among evangelical Christians. (Wikipedia article about the book.)There doesn't seem to be much Catholic comment on this book yet (I'd be grateful for any links) but there is a helpful review by Julie D. at Catholic Media Reviews. Here is her brief summary of the plot:
Essentially, The Shack is the story of a family that has suffered the tragedy of having their six-year-old daughter kidnapped and murdered by a serial killer. They are suffering from all the reactions one can imagine, from intense sadness and guilt to extreme anger with God for allowing this to happen. Mack, the father, finds a mysterious card in the mailbox one day. It appears to be from God and invites him to come to the shack where the last evidence was found of his daughter, a blood-stained dress. When Mack gets there he encounters the Trinity in a Narnia-style adventure that strives to inform about God and our relationship to Him.The author is part of something called the "emergent Church" (or "emerging Church") movement about which there is a fairly lengthy Wikipedia article. This is a postmodernist christian movement which, being postmodernist, is impossible to pin down but is characterised by an openness to various kinds of "spirituality" which are recontextualised for the culture of today. As one would expect, it serenely transcends the old-culture "modernist" characterisation of "conservative" and "liberal".
From what I have seen so far, "The Shack" seems to be emotionally engaging and influential: it is the kind of book which people read and say "it changed my life". However, it plays to the easy, culturally acceptable, rejection of formal doctrine, worship and ecclesiastical structures. Many evangelicals have criticised it because of the way that it treats the bible.
My fear is that among ordinary people it is likely to do some significant harm precisely because it reinforces these cultural prejudices in the context of an attractive story. So some of us are going to need to read it with a critical eye and begin to develop some answers that can challenge those who say that it has "changed my life."
After a few years of the Da Vinci Code, I hope people are reasonably competent in countering the "it's only a work of fiction" argument.
26 comments:
I'm about three quarters through this book. I think it has a wonderful way of explaining the trinity and has been very useful for me. It is true that it does 'attack' hierarchy and organised religion at points in the book. It's not a common theme through out however and I think if we can step back at those moments then it won't ruin the rest of the book.
I do recommend the book and once I've finished it I hope to write a little review on my own blog.
William P Young is not Dan Brown's 'nom de plume' perchance?
Emergent, post modernist and transcendent recontextualised spiritualist church????
What kind of animal is that supposed to be???? Certainly ain't Catholic for sure!
Where does all this weird stuff come from? Yikes! We don't need 'thriller/chiller/horror' books about the murder of children to teach us about God and the Holy Trinity!! Whatever happened to the Penny Catechism? Clear and concise!
Something has gone badly wrong in these last few decades, we're missing something.....
What we need is good, solid and Orthodox Catechesis in our Catholic homes backed up by the schools with strong affirmation of the Truths and Doctrines of our Glorious Faith from our wise and Holy Priests from the pulpits!
Add to that the celebration of the Latin Mass and the Most Holy Trinity will be clearly understood for what It is - a MYSTERY, that no human mind can possibly begin to unravel or understand! Which is exactly as it should be - because it is our Faith that takes over when mind and reason fail!
I haven't read The Shack, but as far as I'm concerned I fear that whenever something 'plays to the easy, culturally acceptable, rejection of formal doctrine, worship and ecclesiastical structures', then you begin to smell that 'rat' again. You know the one with horns and pitchfork who's always whispering garbage in your ear!
No doubt when it comes out as a film, Tom Hanks will have the leading role and the media marketing machine will come up with all the old drivel 'God is the cause human suffering', 'Jesus isn't kind at all', 'The Shack finally explains the Trinity - Christians worship three gods', yada yada yada!!!
If you want something to REALLY change your life - GO TO REGULAR CONFESSION and receive Our Blessed Lord worthily. Receive Him, who is Truely present in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar. Get closer to God.
Dear Father Finigan
I confess that I only picked at the book after a librarian brought it to my attention.
It had reminded of one of those chain letters that is designed to relieve you of your money, fascinate you, and then encourage you get others to join the club.
On an inspired Holy Spirit scale of 0 - 10 I would give it 0 preferring that 10 out 10 best book The Holy Bible.
"Jam lucis orto sidere"
Hmmmm. The synopsis of the plot, especially the bit about "Narnia style adventure", doesn't exactly make me want to rush out to Waterstones.
I recently came across this review which highlighted some problems I had not picked up on myself (e.g. the book's outright rejection, if not mockery, of the Eucharist).
For what it's worth, some of my initial thoughts on the book from when I read it a year ago may be found here.
Fr,
just to say I'm enjoying your blog up here in Brummagem.
Dave Armstrong did a piece on this a few months ago - hope it's what you're looking for.
http://socrates58.blogspot.com/2008/12/shack-by-william-young-questionable.html
Btw, I've read it and while I found the subject matter extremely moving (who wouldn't) I still felt it was quite simplistic in a theological sense, and at points it sounds like you're listening to a long and very dry sermon.
Paul.
One of the ecumaniac characters at my chaplaincy was bigging up this book and I knew there had to be problems with it. People started asking my opinion on it and so I researched through a good number of reviews and commentaries on the thing.
In sum, the book is completely unChristian, its understanding and presentation of Almighty God is blasphemous modernist tripe. It is the epitome of feel good, humanist, universalist, syncresist liberal 'Christianity'. I dare not even use the word Christianity to describe the religion it presents. It certainly isn't the creed the martyrs died for, nor even the creed luther or calvin invented which, for all their errors, at least have some passion in their presentation and an understanding that Christianity is the narrow road.
Thanks for the links. I'll wait to collect a few more and post them together.
I reviewed The Shack on my blog back in December:
"The Shack"
I am about half way through the book. It plays off emotions SO heavily and it does contradict itself, saying the old tired phrase, "God can't be put in a box," but then the author basically puts God in a book (box) and says that this is how God is. And, because of the emotional element, many people like how God is portrayed.
While there are some aspects that work out well in the book, both literally and theologically, there is too much attacking of the Catholic Church, albeit indirectly, for me to recommend this book to anyone. I think it would only confuse the faithful when there are plenty of other inspirational books out there to read that are much more orthodox.
Just my thoughts.
I'm sticking to Michael O'Brien
I am glad to see others who were disappointed (perhaps frustrated and/or annoyed would be closer to my emotions when reading the book) with "The Shack." I think it seriously mis-portrays God, scripture, and some very positive things about Catholicism in important ways that have already been mentioned by others in the comments here, so I won't repeat them. The slow start and the "you've got to be kidding," "did I dream it all?" ending make it a questionable work in terms of "literature." (I say this as someone who has taught university literature courses; The Shack is not one of those books that I can see becoming part of the canon, no matter how popular it is today.)
The real "kicker" for me was the plea to the reader at the end. Ah, hah! The thought went through my head that the author combo was going to redeem itself by sending readers to a website that would help parents of kidnapped and murdered children -- certainly, a worthy cause. But no, it was the author combo begging for readers to tell others about the book so that there could be more sales.
Well, perhaps God can turn this otherwise flawed tome into something that due to its emotionality will help some readers seek out God. For that, I can bring myself to pray.
Otherwise, I do not recommend the book to anyone. There are so many better books out there, both in terms of writing and in terms of content.
Beth
From William:
Hi, William-on-the-Hill here. Not a month ago I was on retreat and my spiritual director gave me this book to read. Well, I nearly gave up the will to live. Sorry, but its a pile of old beans. And sorry again but I can't feel comfortable with the image of 'G-D' as Whoopi Goldberg (or is that Whoopi Goldberg as G-D?). Complete with skillet and serving breakfasts of 'grits'.
Yep, as one of your other commentators has said - its a very liberal, humanist, new age view of the Trinity. And yes, I did feel that it was distincly 'anti-Eucharist'. Actually, would go further and say that it is very possibly anti-catholic.
God Bless you Father and may you continue your 'extra-curricular' work!
William
It amazes me how reading a book, that someone is making good money on can change your life, yet sitting in front of the Blessed Sacrament or attending Mass doesn't.
There have been so many Eucharistic Miracles, even recently in Venezuela, yet it needs a novel to change ones life.
We experience miracles daily, we are able to talk and listen to God when we sit down and devote some time to Him.
Reading books by Saints, good Catholic Priests and other Holy people can change your life, but a novel. I'm sorry, if your life can be changed so easily, then it can be UNchanged just as quickly.
I read the book earlier this year, after it was recommended to me. In dealing with painful past issues, I thought this was addressed well, with the main character being called back to face his personal tragedy. Dealing with feelings and the truth of our experiences is important. But had I not recently returned to the Catholic Church and it’s clear teachings, I think big chunks of the story would have led me deeper into the nebulous new age spirituality of anything goes, you decide mentality, which is not true freedom. Not recommended in general and especially to anyone who has fallen away from the Church, as it could confirm misguided reasons for leaving.
I liked the way it portrayed the Trinity and the idea of relationship. It was intriguing. I have no doubt this could be a Hollywood blockbuster film, with Whoopie Goldberg as Papa.
I loathed the way it dissed the idea of Ecclesiolgy and Tradition.(The scene towards the end with the Trinity and the bread and wine meal made me nauseous.)
It invited a "make it up according to how you feel" approach and I would conclude that it is anti-Catholic. Unfortunately it is very popular and likely to become moreso as the Jonny-come-latelys latch onto it in the next couple of years. Yawn.
Why is there such a drought of good Catholic fiction around ? I might finally have to begin that novel.....
I also have around 5 unread copies to give away. People keep sending them to me with notes saying "You will love this. Read it and weep".
Yep. They're not wrong. But once was enough.
It's amazing how people used to justify literature (and other stuff) that orthodox Catholics had issues with by saying, "It's only a little bad," and now they defend horrible garbage with the line, "It's not all bad." What's next - "It is all bad, but that other book is even worse!"
Many thanks for your comment, Bernadette. (If you have a spare copy to put in the post to me, I'd be grateful.)
yep just got this, Fr Tim, will do.. been away. will shove it in post tomorrow morning first thing. enjoy. It's not dull, but impoverished.
Personally, I feel the author lies to his readers by leading them to believe this is based on a true story, as he explains in this foreword. This feels wrong! And it seems like a ploy to sell copies. That coupled with the end of the book, recommending that we buy more copies and give them away... it seems like a scam! I just finished this book. I was touched by the story and I will carry with me certain ideas of God and the Trinity that inspired me. But overall, I feel this is a sneaky way to get people to read the book. It seems contradictory to the true meaning the author wishes to convey: honesy, love, relationship, trust.
Thank you for the above comments. In a round about way The Shack has been recommended through our Sunday Mass bulletin. In a commentary a Bernadette Gasslein uses the book and its associated website as examples of people voicing their displeasure of the Church because, in her view, it does not welcome hurting or imperfect people.
I don't know how she developed this notion and for it then to be given credence by being re-printed and distributed by a Catholic church. The church is one of the busiest in Sydney.
Anyway all my suspicions about the book have been answered. I particularly enjoyed the review by Karl Bjorn Erickson.
My question though is why bad literature is recommended over good? Why don't churches support great Catholic literature on the saints/history/theology? Books which deepen a person's faith rather weaken it?
It's like they want a dumb congregation. And then they wonder why people walk out the door.
Kate - I agree that promoting books like "The Shack" is a baffling form of self-destruction. Why don't they promote, for example, the excellent novels of Michael O'Brien?
I've read reviews of opposite nature (love/hate) for The Shack. Personally, I would suggest people to read with an open mind and to take the book as it is - a work of fiction.
I have recently finished Forgiving Ararat by Gita Nazareth and would definitely recommend it, as well as The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold, as companions to The Shack in raising religious issues for intellectual discussion in reading groups.
Dear Father Tim
I thought I would watch your back with the following post on Missy Allets blog:
Dear Missy Allets
Thank you for your comment about 'The Shack' on the English Catholic blog The hermeneutic of continuity.
I would like to repeat the comment that I made to Father Finigan :
vesper said...
Dear Father Finigan
I confess that I only picked at the book after a librarian brought it to my attention.
It had reminded of one of those chain letters that is designed to relieve you of your money, fascinate you, and then encourage you get others to join the club.
On an inspired Holy Spirit scale of 0 - 10 I would give it 0 preferring that 10 out of 10 best book The Holy Bible.
"Jam lucis orto sidere"
7/16/2009 2:18 PM
PS Your State of the Art blog which includes music by Amy Whinehouse etc.. is in my prayers. Get well soon girls....Rosa Mystica ora pro nobis!
January 4, 2010 9:12 PM
For those who wish to know more about The Shack, I suggest another book - 'Finding God in The Shack' by Randal Rauser, associate professor of historical theology at Taylor Seminary, Edmonton, Canada. Chris.
For those who wish to know more about The Bible, I suggest reading Father Finigan's latest thread here on The hermeneutic of continuity : New New RSV to be published soon
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