The reason the theology of the book does matter, is precisely because people will take away “revelations”. In one breath, you say you have had a revelation (that is, have been made aware of a *fact* you were previously unaware of), and in the very next paragraph you are amused at people who are concerned about the theology in something that is, after all, only fiction. Do you see a discrepancy here?

Joi 🙂

love hope and grace
Michelle

Just found a few new links that may or may not interest you:

Living The Shack: An Interview with Author William P. Young can be found at: http://tinyurl.com/c3v4rs

and

Interview with Wayne Jacobsen, publisher of The Shack at:
http://tinyurl.com/decha7

I am one of the people who have an issue with God being portrayed as a black woman! 😀

Now, I *haven’t* read the book, not because I am so horrified at the thought of said portrayal, but because I have a lot of other reading on my plate at present; so reading just to see what the buzz is about is out of the question.

I have a bundle of dear friends all reading this book, and on raising my objection to God being portrayed as a woman (black or otherwise), they countered with similar statements to yours, Susan. However, my objection is that while He has the *attributes* of motherliness, (the gathering of chicks under wings, the nursing mother illustrations) He has always, without fail, always referred to Himself in the masculine, always instructed us to pray to the Father, always upheld the patriarchy of the family and the church.

I would struggle severely to read (fictional or otherwise) an account of God the Father portrayed as a woman and not see it as blasphemous. It particularly grieves me in light of the feminizing of males our society is trying so hard to bring about, and in light of the rise of feminism in the church.

I have to agree with your comments about Eugine Peterson, though, on every count!

Jacqui: I’d love to hear your thoughts Jacqui…when you’ve finished it and processed it and then have time to share. Online I’ve shared a little of your journey and seen your transformation…so I eagerly await your thoughts. 🙂

Theresa: I *love* what your dd said! That is fantastic. There will come a time when your dd will learn about the holiness of God, His judgment, His wrath, etc so as long as we don’t “throw the baby out with the bath water” I think she has picked up a nugget of truth. 🙂

Thanks gals…I enjoy hearing from other, my friends, that have read the book.

My daughter, 12 commented after reading it, “God is much nicer than I thought” and I agreed. I thought that was well put and have not really read any of the hype for or against it.