Comments on: “The Shack” — A Book Review

By: Ashley

Ashley — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 05:02:19 +0000

Actually I really liked the book. Even if there were some contradictions. People have to remember that this book is a true story of a mans life. And although not all of this book is true you can still find some good in it. I like the way that the book portrays that God really does care about and understands. I mean in a world where people in America don’t want to believe in God. People are always pushing him away when he has single thing we need. And in a world where people are blinded by pain people need to wake up and realize that he’s there. And we as christians to start preaching a message of love not hate which we seem to do so well. Because Jesus is coming back soon and we want as many souls as we can get. :-)
But i do get why the contradictions would be a problem. because some christian would rather believe a book instead of actually reading the bible and knowing the truth.

By: Lucy

Lucy — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 13:41:11 +0000

Brandon,
You are right. So many people have very different and strong feelings about this book. Thanks for ‘going out on a limb’ and writing a review anyway!
I liked the book overall. It’s been a while since I read it, but I remember overall I liked it and came away with some new ways to look at God and our relationship with Him.
I must say one thing that Dougle has really taught me, is that it is okay to like something and learn something from someone I don’t totally agree with on everything. I rarely- ok: never- agree with anyone on everything, even my husband. But we talk and debate and grow in our faith and confidence in God by doing so. I am glad we can read things like the Shack, or Pagan Christianity (I am reading it now), and learn from it, even if we don’t agree 100% with everything. I think you agree, or you wouldn’t have read the Shack in the first place. Anyway, just my 2 cents (or 75 cents!).

By: Glenn

Glenn — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 14:52:24 +0000

I agree that this book makes some good points and it did make me think about my relationship with God. My problem with the book is the 2% you mentioned is a complete contradiction of the gospel. I don’t want to recommend or waste my time reading a book that does not agree with God’s word. Is what he writes not a perversion of the gospel? (Galatians 1:7-8) The story he writes is fiction, but he spends a great deal of time giving his philosophical opinions about Christianity. If 98% of his book is true, it will be easy for most people to just believe the whole book. I recommend that anyone who has suffered loss or hardship read Job, or Romans 8. They are 100% true and are guaranteed to help.

By: Trey Morgan

Trey Morgan — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 23:06:06 +0000

Brandon … excellent review. I feel like you do on about 98%. Basically we have to remember, “it’s just a book… a story that’s fiction.” I enjoyed the book and I’ve recommend to MANY, and will continue to do so.

Thanks for the review.

By: Julie ehrlich

Julie ehrlich — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 18:48:11 +0000

I read about 3/4th of the book, it was not interesting to me in that the conversations seemed all the same. This book did not shake my faith, but it annoyed me. Sorry, I guess I enjoy reading the bible more, and these truths that the book unfolded are all in the bible, without the watering down.
I am going out on a limb here, but I would not recommend that book to anyone either.
You did a great review!

By: john McCoy

john McCoy — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 16:07:34 +0000

Good review, Brandon. I read this for Bill Tracy’s class in the fall of 2008, and I think I’ll need to read it again for the parts with Jesus. I did like the fact that he wasn’t a Swedish supermodel in a bathrobe with a beauty sash, though.

I think my favorite part was when he went and spoke with Wisdom. That taught me a lot.