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"Never before has a book actually made me angry!
The author sucked us in with a traumatic and hearbreaking story.
A parents biggest fear.
Once he had sucked us in he then decided to spout his religious rubbish at us.
This book is absolute rubbish and I feel sorry for anyone who
believes this can help them through tragedy or help them to find god.
The author should feel ashamed" - Cips (theshackbook.com)

This book brought out a lot of different emotions in people, but it has been very interesting watching people that truly hate this book. If you read farther down the posts you can see there is a trend in the people that dislike the book. The people that hate it tend to do so when they cannot be helped themselves by it, or it did not answer questions that had about the religion. The book also brought out other opinions too.

"Again, I don't see how anyone cannot be changed after reading this book. You either haven't gone far in relationship with the Lord or YOU simply aren't ready for a novel of this caliber. IT IS JUST THAT GOOD!" -agreen87 (theshackbook.com)

On this side are the people that absolutely adore the book and think that it was the book of the century. What is weird to look at is that the people that loved the book seem to have been changed by it and at the same time maybe had their questions answered about Christ. Although the opinions vary very drastically about the book the main idea of this was to show the two sides and try to understand more about the people behind the posts.

Symbolism: Within and Throughout

Symbols:
-The Lady Bug. Is there beauty in the insignificance of the bug? The dots themselves on the ladybug’s back represent the victims of the Little Lady Killer. The left side has two dots and the right side is three dots (pg. 51).
In the story the tragedy takes place in the wilderness campsite-cold and harsh to those unfamiliar with its nature; somehow unfitting for a ladybug. Something so cute, so innocent and as loveable as a ladybug could never be anything to be afraid of. It seems ironic, and yet sadly poetic as this symbol, of a peaceful and probably one of the least hostile insects on earth is also the symbol of violent crimes against humanity. The FBI describes the likeliness of the occupation and lifestyle of this killer-a skilled woodsman. It seems almost sickly, as to manipulate the image of the ladybug as a means to haunt the memories of those looking for him, and to tease and taunt their efforts with remains of only trinkets-messages telling his trackers they are losing the fight to find him before he claims yet another victim, to satisfy his lust for the blood of innocent little girls. This use of the ladybug by the killer is even more unsettling considering the pure, innocent, and almost comforting nature of this peaceful insect, and knowing that, makes for these crimes to seem even more unjust in our eyes. Clearly Mack sees this, which I believe might in fact play some part in his guilt over his role in this tragedy, and the unjust nature of these crimes.

-Jesus walking on Water. This event in the novel is a literary reference to when Peter walked on water with Jesus, which is found in Matthew 14:22-33. This applies to Mack specifically to help him push through even the most basic fears he has: his fears of foolishness, fears of ridicule and his fears of failure, especially in the wake of his daughter’s death. Jesus explains to him that his fears are justified, yet he not need be afraid. Mack imagines all these possibilities of the present circumstances and its outcomes, but Jesus points out that despite the fact that we as human beings have the power of imaginations, not unlike even God Himself. That is our design-to be LIKE Christ. Through imagination we imagine possibilities, for what could have been in the past and what COULD be in the future, but very little do we set our imaginations aside, and focus on abandoned self and LIVE the present. This “exercise” with Jesus teaches Mack, and I think anyone who reads both this and the accounts in scripture, to lay down our fleshly crowns, and in ourselves ABANDONED to faith and love, walk with Him overcoming our fears and our weaknesses as human beings.


-The Garden. In chapter nine Sarayu (the Holy Spirit) shows Mack a messy, fractal garden. The garden is full of colors, herbs, flowers, plants. Mack describes it as a “chaos in color”…”confusing, stunning, and incredibly beautiful.” As they walk, Sarayu picks various herbs and plants and flowers, giving them to Mack and creating a bouquet. She then gives Mack some garden tools and leads him to a secluded patch of absolute beauty—breathtaking. She asks for his help in clearing the patch because she wants to plant something else here instead. Stunned at her request to destroy something so beautiful, he joins her in clear-cutting the beautiful patch of garden. Their conversation turns to the topic of Good and Evil where Sarayu makes the comment, “You humans, so little in your own eyes. You are truly blind to your own place in the Creation. Having chosen the ravaged path of independenc, you don’t even comprehend that you are dragging the entire Creation along with you.” She also states that “humans have a great capacity for declaring something good or evil, without truly knowing.” She begins to question Mack about his ability to really know what is good for him or what is evil. He says a lot of it is based on how something or someone effects him…that somethings he thought were good turned out to be bad, and visa-versa. In his own life, He has fallen into darkness because he has slipped out of the light, and to be in the light is to be without darkness, and to have life is to be connected to the source-God the Father. This garden is his OWN SOUL, that he lays witness to.Then Papa arrives. Mack says how, though the garden is a mess, he somehow feels strangely comfortable in it. Papa and Sarayu smile at each other. Sarayu says, “And well you should, Mackenzie, because this garden is your soul—this mess is you! Together, you and I, we have been working with a purpose in your heart. And its wild and beautiful and perfectly in process. To you it seems messy, but to me, I see a perfect pattern emerging and growing and alive—a living fractal.” Mack crumbled. He looked at his garden and it really was a mess, but incredible and wonderful at the same time. Amidst the chaos and confusion, there is beauty in imperfection.

Post Spiritual Journey

The post spiritual journey in the shack is the journey of Mackenzie Allen Phillips after he has an encounter at "The Shack." The main difference in Mackenzie was the change in his relationships and in the way he relates with those around him. He deals with everyone around around him in a new way. His relationship with his wife and his children changes dramatically for the better after his experience. He also changes his relationship with God and the Trinity.

Francesca Longobardo

Author Story

The Shack was a great book in my opinon and to be honest I thought of it to be a little blown out of proportion in regards to all the negative attention it got within the Christian community. If you go back and research the authors actual story and why William wrote the book he will say first hand that the book was written for his children. He actually did not even intend for it to be published he just planned to go to Kinkos put it together and give it to his kids as a gift to portray his expiences and relationship with God. The book was not intended to be a theological written book completely accurate with the Bible; it was just a gift for his children. I believe that the church community needs to start looking at the book as fictional as it posted in any book store under the fiction section.

Bible Verses that Speak to my Heart

I absolutely love the Bible because it speaks words of healing and comfort in my life. Even though I miss Missy terribly some days, I take comfort in the fact that she is in God’s safe and loving arms. I have been blessed to experience God’s presence in such a real way and I wanted to share a few Bible verses that are near and dear to my heart. Some of these verses remind me of my past and make me realize the incredible journey I have been on to make it where I am today. My hope is that these verses will be a light in your life as well, enjoy!

• Psalms 34:18, “The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”
  


• Romans 8:18, “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.”
  


• John 11:25-26, “Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; 26and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
  


• Romans 1:20, “For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.”
  


• Psalms 139:14, “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.”
  


• Jeremiah 29:11-13, “For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”
  


• Galatians 2:20, “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

Pre-shack spiritual journey

I thought I might jot down some of my experiences with God prior to my experience at the shack. Maybe it will help someone else to really understand where I was.

I grew up in a "christian" home. My dad was an elder at the church. He was an abusive alcoholic. He beat my mom, my siblings and me when ever something did not go his way. God letting this type of thing happen didn't really go with my idea of a good God who cared. When I was 13 I felt a need to confess to a church leader. I failed to think of what the church leader would tell my dad. By the time I got home my dad was in a rage, he beat me so bad I could not function for two weeks. I left there, ran away never to see him again.

I ended up going to seminary in Australia. That did not lead to much of anything. I attended church occasionally after that, I believed there was a God out there, I just did not see how he could have anything to with good and evil. Nothing in my life showed that God intervened for the good of his people.

I eventually married an amazing woman named Nanette. Her relationship with God was inspiring. She talked to God like he was right there and cared about every little detail of her life. I wanted to have that kind of faith, but I couldn't. She made it look so simple. She called God "Papa", like he was a loving caring father.

When Missy was kidnapped I blamed God for it. He could have stopped it, couldn't he have? A God who cared would not let aweful men do that to innocent little girls. Then I recieved the note.

My First Experience with The Trinity.

My name is Mack Philips and after the horrible abduction incident with my daughter Missy, I got an invitation from "Papa" to go back to where it all happened. Skeptical of what was going on, I drove to The Shack, ready for whatever sick joke was coming my way. Once I was there nothing happened right away. Then all of a sudden things started changing, I was no longer in the dark, sketchy woods, but I was by a lake with beautiful flowers surrounding me and a warm, cozy house with the fireplace going. The blood stain where my Missy had been was no longer imprinted on the wood floor, it was gone.

As I was getting used to these changes unfolding before my eyes, a big black African women came to greet me. She said her name was Papa and she had sent the letter to invite me back to The Shack. I had always thought of Papa as God- a white, old, wise man with maybe a beard. This was so strange to me, that a black woman was standing in front of me, calling herself Papa. I got used to this after awhile, and since her cooking was amazing, I didn’t mind it so much. Next I was introduced to Jesus; he was how I imagined him- Jewish looking, carpenter, plaid shirt and muscles. He was also the only one I could really relate to and I felt most comfortable with him. Lastly I met Sarayu; she was very hard to look at and was never in one spot, she was of Chinese decent and almost looked like a ghost. I could never really look right at her, only through or past her. It is very hard to explain but she was apparently not human. I later realized that together, they made up The Trinity, not one of them was higher in rank then the other and they were all equal and are all God.

The Gender roles here are being stretched. Mack saw Papa as a white, old, wise man with maybe a beard. He would have never seen Him as a black woman. The reason for this is because the author wanted to break the stereotype of God and help people realize it doesn’t matter what God looks like or what his outward appearance is. Another reason for this is because Mack was not ready to have a male father figure; his own dad was not very good to him, so he couldn’t accept it as well as he did as a woman. Another big part of the Trinity and the book is where it starts to explain how the Father (Papa), the Son (Jesus), and the Holy Ghost (Sarayu) are all equal. Not one of them is above the other, but they are all the same. The book basically revolves around these “three” but one characters. Mack gets time with each one and each one shares there wisdom with him.

(Pink= Marci)