Posted on 12/11/2008 9:11:48 AM PST by Alex Murphy
[snip]
Prof. John Stackhouse, a prominent evangelical scholar at Regent College in Vancouver, recently engaged [William Paul] Young in a B.C. session. Theologically, Stackhouse said he's mostly pleased with The Shack. Like "Brother Young" (as he calls him), Stackhouse tends to believe God's salvation extends "beyond the range of those who have heard the Christian gospel, understood it and accepted it as true."
But Stackhouse also criticized The Shack. Most of his complaints had to do with the novel's denunciations of "institutional" Christianity, as well as seminaries, ritual and hierarchy. While Young deserves respect for expressing how he felt betrayed by guilt-mongering Christian leaders, I agree with Stackhouse that it can be a simplistic habit, especially in the Pacific Northwest, to dismiss religious institutions as all bad.
In addition to arguing The Shack is theologically confusing, Stackhouse also questions Young's suggestion that God does not operate with "coercive" power. But on this issue I lean to Young. Stackhouse may not value as much as Young and I that divine power may be primarily "persuasive," a quality that is the essence of love.
I like metaphysical clarity as much as the next person. Yet I'm drawn to people like [Bruce] Cockburn and Young and, for that matter, the apostle Paul and many Jewish sages, who taught that the tradition is not, in the end, about absolute rules. As Young suggests, it may be more about "experiencing God in relationships."
Whether one ultimately agrees with The Shack's worldview or not, Young is suggesting, to the gratitude of millions, that the spirit does indeed have a certain subversive way of blowing where it will.
(Excerpt) Read more at communities.canada.com ...
evangelicals never were really big on dogma.
It’s a novel, not a theology book...FICTION, versus non-fiction. I read it and enjoyed it, but I don’t base my theology on novels...I’ve read many novels that didn’t “support” my theology, but it doesn’t mean I can’t enjoy the book.
Metaphysical clarity is mostly in the eye of the beholder...
You can't attack it on theological grounds because it is not a theological book. I don't evangelicals should have any problem with The Shack, did I agree with everything in it? No. Do I agree with everything my pastor says? No.
I just read it - I’d call the author a Unitarian but “Quaternarian” would be more accurate - he adds Sophia (God’s Wisdom) as another person in the (former) Trinity.
Another Universalist making a buck off God.
And how do you define "dogma"?
One of the commitments of conservative evangelicals is to expository preaching of the Word of God, and solid theological reasoning. If you mean by "dogma" the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church, which blends Tradition with Scripture, you are correct...and in fact, evangelicals reject Tradition as being authoritative.
The criticisms of the RCC and its traditions can also be legitimately leveled against Christians who hold too tightly to confessions. Confessions might be helpful but are not as authoritative as Scripture. There was a wonderfully insightful comment made by a theologian who was embroiled in a theological controversy (paraphrased): "If you have a hard time fitting the Book of James into your systematic theology, then the problem is your systematic theology and not James."
The book is great.
Grace is sloppy.
It doesn’t fit neatly in a theological box
That’s why even grace is regimented in theology
God is bigger than (any) theology
Personally, I have given up theology in favor of theo-discovery
Studying God seems.....irreverent to me; discovering God, well that’s just amazing.
Another benefit to theo-discovery is this- I never have to tall God he can’t do something he wants to do just because it conflicts with my theology.
for God so judged the world...
for God so hated the world...
for God so taught the world...
for God so restricted the world...
for God so warned the world...
for God so commanded the world...
for God so confined the world...
for God so loved the world...
Boy am I glad theologians didn’t author the new covenant.
This bothered me also. The author introduces the character Sophia and then goes to some length to explain how she is not part of the Trinity. It only serves to confuse things and I think this character would have best been left out of the story entirely.
Doesn't seem too far off from Scripture. God's Word personalizes Wisdom in Proverbs, some of which I've copied below.
Proverbs 8:12-17;22-31:
I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions. The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate. Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom: I am understanding; I have strength. By me kings reign, and princes decree justice. By me princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges of the earth. I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.
The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old. I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was. When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water. Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth: While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world. When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth: When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep: When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth: Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him; Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; and my delights were with the sons of men.
Great find, thanks for posting this! You have given me much to think about.
Is this ‘Wisdom’ peronification of the Holy Spirit?
The whole thing sounds heretical to me.
**It’s a novel, not a theology book**
That’s the trouble — the sheeple can’t tell the difference.
No! “Wisdom” is whole ‘nother Person - that’s why I called the author a Quaternian instead of a Trinitarian. The author uses some Clintonesque arguments to try to say that this person is not really a Person. God the Father is a morbidly obese black woman, Jesus is a klutzy Mexican (keeps dropping stuff), and the Holy Spirit is an Asian gardener. I can’t remember Sophia’s ethnic background. I was so unwilling to pass this make-a-buck-off-God-everyone-goes-to-heaven heresy along that I chucked it in the fireplace rather than take it to the used bookstore.
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