The Town of Odyssey

Have you read The Shack by William P. Young? If so, what are your thoughts? I had heard good and bad things about it, so I decided to read it a couple of weeks ago, and I'd like to know what others thinks of it.

It's heresy. (I'm too tired to explain much now...)

Wow this is so weird. My parents just read that book. They said it was good.

It's probably one of the the most heretical fiction books ever written. Trashy book.

http://www.challies.com/archives/book-r ... -young.php


Based on this in depth review, I probably will not be picking it up.

This large and oh-so-stereotypical matronly African-American woman is God (or at least an anthropomorphism of God she chose to take on in order to communicate with Mack). Throughout the story she is known as Papa. Near the end, because Mack requires a father figure, she turns into a pony-tailed, grey-haired man, but otherwise God is this woman. Jesus is a young to middle-aged man of Middle-Eastern (i.e. Jewish) descent with a big nose and rather plain looks while the Holy Spirit is played by Sarayu, a small, delicate and eclectic woman of Asian descent.

lol.

I'm started reading through it last night... I've only gotten through the first three chapters, but so far so good.

Dr. Watson wrote:http://www.challies.com/archives/book-r ... -young.php


Based on this in depth review, I probably will not be picking it up.

This large and oh-so-stereotypical matronly African-American woman is God (or at least an anthropomorphism of God she chose to take on in order to communicate with Mack). Throughout the story she is known as Papa. Near the end, because Mack requires a father figure, she turns into a pony-tailed, grey-haired man, but otherwise God is this woman. Jesus is a young to middle-aged man of Middle-Eastern (i.e. Jewish) descent with a big nose and rather plain looks while the Holy Spirit is played by Sarayu, a small, delicate and eclectic woman of Asian descent.

lol.

it's actually not that bad once you start reading it. they get into discussing some really engaging stuff.

I started reading it a couple of months ago, and then it started to get really weird in my opinion and I figured; I've got better things to do!

I haven't read it--partly because my reading time is currently restricted to textbooks and case studies and other school research

I only just heard about it the other day, and I haven't heard anything good about it yet, so I probably won't be reading it.

The first half is just weird, but the last few chapters make a slightly veiled teaching against all rules and responsibility. The characters are more accident prone than the three stooges. And the murderer is cliched to the point of absurdity.

Yes, this is a negative review.

EDIT: And there's too much kissing.

I'm not allowed to read it.

I read it just recently and I did not like it. It was totally wrong in my thoughts.

Well, I originally heard about the book when I read the review on Boundless. I was shocked that anyone would even write a book like that, and I thought I would never read it. A couple of weeks later, my uncle and aunt and cousins all sent out their own reviews, saying that it was the best book they'd ever read, and that everyone should read it. Since I had such vastly contrasting opinions on the matter, I decided to get the book and read it and form my own opinion. I went at it cautiously and discerningly, trying not to be swayed by the information I had already read.

I was surprised. It was, in my opinion, not heretical, nor was it the best book I had ever read. It didn't change my life. But it definitely challenged me to think outside the box. I would definitely recommend this book, although I would issue a caution along with the recommendation. I would not agree with all of Young's theology. However, I do think that a lot of the things he said that are somewhat different from the way we normally view things are very purposeful, and have helped me gain a clearer understanding of God. I definitely think it's important to be careful and not blindly accept everything he says. But I also think that it is a challenging book that should not be simply stamped as heretical and tossed away without a second thought. Especially if your opinions are based on a review of the book, and not on your having read the book yourself.

Those are merely my thoughts on the book. You're welcome to disagree with me.

*burns William P. Young in effigy*

I've heard about it, and I want to read it just for the mystery sake. I've heard it doesn't exactly follow with our Christian faith concerning the Trinity and such.

I read the book on recommendation from some ladies I go to church with. I will admit that it was one of the strangest, and I certainly didn't agree with everything, but I'd actually recommend it to an older, more mature Christian to read. It'll really get you thinking. God is not what my mind wants to make Him. He is above and beyond anything I could ever imagine. I think this book aptly demonstrates that fact.

It's heresy. See this review from Chuck Swindoll's site: http://www.insight.org/site/PageServer?pagename=shack

Jeremy

Arwen wrote:God is not what my mind wants to make Him. He is above and beyond anything I could ever imagine. I think this book aptly demonstrates that fact.

While it's true that he's bigger than anything we could imagine, we still know at least something as revealed in scripture. Stacking the Shack up to what has been revealed to us isn't out of line and leaves the book severely lacking.

Of course, this is just based on reviews I've read, both by those who liked the book and those that haven't. I plan on reading it--next on my book list, actually--but just going on what I've heard, I haven't been very impressed.

edit--Turns out I've posted here before saying I wasn't going to read it, well, there's a reason that's changed. I've had enough people tell me it's good so that I decided I should read it just so I know what's in it and can defend my position. It's the same rationale I had for watching the Da Vinci Code. Now I can say I know where of I speak.

Understood, and agreed. I definitely read the book from more of a skeptic's stance, since I'm even more wary of the messages and doctrines contained in modern "Christian" literature. What I found was that, while I didn't necessarily agree with the way everything was portrayed, I didn't feel that the author was trying to push some weird view of God or the Bible. The point was that God's attributes, plan, and ways He chooses to carry that plan out are all different from what we often expect. I'll maintain that I did not find it to be a book that was rich in doctrine or sound teaching, but the point of it was to make me think, and it did that.

But I'll leave you to draw your own conclusions when you read it yourself.