Books & Movies: The Shack

<p>For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ <a href="https://www.douglasjacoby.com/shackmp3/" target="_blank"><strong>website.</strong></a></p><p><strong>What was cool</strong></p><ul><li>Nearly all the theology is orthodox (God, man, the atonement, righteousness judgment, justice, spirituality...)</li><li>Especially good is the exploration of the dynamics among the members of the Trinity.</li><li>Deity is neither male nor female, though he initially appears to the protagonist as female because his own father-wound is so deep.</li><li><i>The Shack </i>helps us wrestle with the problem of pain, and often on a very personal and emotional level.</li></ul><p><strong>What was off</strong></p><ul><li>The notion that God does not punish -- that sin is its own punishment (p.122). While there is some truth to this point, the book misses the punitive aspect of divine judgment.</li><li>"Spending eternity in hell" (p.16) reflects traditional eschatology. For more, see Fudge, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Fire-That-Consumes-Historical-Punishment/dp/0595143423" target="_blank"><i>The Fire that Consumes,</i></a><i> </i>or my paper on <a href="http://www.douglasjacoby.com/heaven-hell-terminal-punishment/" target="_blank">Terminal Punishment</a>.</li><li>It is implied, though not stated, that all roads lead to God (p.184). Sounds right in the modern ear; comes rather close to a "politically correct" take on tolerance, in contrast to Jesus' own teaching in Matthew 7:13-14.</li><li>Some will find overly literal interpretation of some of the poetic parts of the Bible (e.g. 136).</li></ul><p><strong>Interesting...</strong></p><ul><li>Reference to <i>The Matrix</i> (p.126). Compare "Papa" with "the oracle."</li><li>In Maori religion, the earth mother is called "Papa" (a complete coincidence).</li><li>This book will be of special interest to fathers, and in fact to <i>anyone </i>coming from a background of family dysfunction.</li></ul><p><strong>Conclusion</strong></p><ul><li>For those who value spiritually connecting wit