tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1448466740773241098.post203265468432184581..comments2011-09-17T15:00:12.641-07:00The Cantankerous Christianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16530967456489764068noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1448466740773241098.post-1573973235361024012011-09-17T15:00:12.641-07:002011-09-17T15:00:12.641-07:00When I hear anyone refer to God the Father ans papa or daddy, it just makes me feel sick. I did not know the words how to describe how I felt until I read you review on The Shack. Thank you for penning exactly how I fell. I totaly agree there is a lack of reverence and many christians are falling into new age, and universalism without a clue. They are being blindly lead astray from the word of God. Thank youEdwinaherehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17819128034843723910noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1448466740773241098.post-83479555408549104472009-04-16T13:50:00.000-07:002009-04-16T13:50:00.000-07:00I read The Shack and loved it. The book is for everyone, not just for Christians. I know my "God" or "Papa" or whatever anyone wants to refer to the bigger part of what we all are, doesnt't mind particular terms used nor demands respect and reverence. Honestly, my understanding is that God just wants us to love each other as God loves us, plain and simple. We all get so caught up in the mumbl-jumble of, the bible says this and the bible says that, that we all forget Jusus's messages to love, forgive and take care of one another regardless of whether they are a criminal, an upstanding citizen or whatever else one can possibly bein life! Jesus loved, forgave and cared for EVERYONE! This is what The Shack is all about, the author actually writes about Jusus's main message and the only thing we really need to do! So yes, I loved The Shack and I think it should be required reading for everyone, regardless of religion.<br />Anne Bauer<br />www.adopteesvoice.comAnnehttp://www.adopteesvoice.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1448466740773241098.post-76765855952405779882008-09-30T10:43:00.000-07:002008-09-30T10:43:00.000-07:00That's the problem with so much contemporary "Christian" fiction - it is poorly written. Most of it qualifies as "juvenile fiction" IMO.Gordonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02242866873056988381noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1448466740773241098.post-68775626051138977532008-09-30T10:12:00.000-07:002008-09-30T10:12:00.000-07:00I read the book, enjoyed the fiction of the book but didn't think it was exceptionally well written, just easy to read. It DOES make you think a bit about relationships, those between God and man and the Trinity but a Christian book? Far from it. From a "many ways to God" theology to the Eastern religion emphasis on the part of the Holy Spirit (as well as giving credence to the Sophia movement) it is Biblically unsound. The good thing is.... like the Left Behind series (which is some of the most poorly written work out there) it may get some people talking about God.pottermomhttp://www.xanga.com/pottermomnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1448466740773241098.post-23421436475373702342008-09-26T14:25:00.000-07:002008-09-26T14:25:00.000-07:00Cuz you were convinced I wouldn't like God portrayed as a woman and I wanted to make clear that that wasn't the case :P (right back at you Twinkle!)The Cantankerous Christianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16530967456489764068noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1448466740773241098.post-40851811870037777622008-09-26T14:21:00.000-07:002008-09-26T14:21:00.000-07:00Well said, I'm just not sure why you "thanked me" so poetically. :pMartyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13688993626595252654noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1448466740773241098.post-32329423985254775082008-09-26T11:49:00.000-07:002008-09-26T11:49:00.000-07:00Thank you so much Tamara :) And I agree there are spiritually uplifting books out there, but we tend to get so sidetracked with the latest fad/feel good story that presents God, faith, the church, or life in a different life. I challenge fellow believers, especially with books that claim to espouse Christian values and ideals, to check it against Scripture. Not only will you be able to "test the spirits", but you'll also garner a fuller, richer understanding of the Word.The Cantankerous Christianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16530967456489764068noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1448466740773241098.post-15758994199532997242008-09-26T11:15:00.000-07:002008-09-26T11:15:00.000-07:00I have to tell you..your comments here are right on the mark..<BR/><BR/>We have been conditioned as a society to accept other books to give us a feel good faith..when the Bible is the one we should turn to ..<BR/><BR/>That's not to say there aren't some great spiritually encouraging books out there..but..our one true source for inspiration should first and always be the revered Word of God Himself...as found in Scriptures...<BR/><BR/>I, too, loathe the term 'daddy' and 'papa' when referring to the Creator of all things...<BR/><BR/>I think we've lost our reverence and awe of Him in many ways..and I applaud the points you made on this....great job...<BR/><BR/>TamaraAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1448466740773241098.post-57921657861075926032008-09-26T04:09:00.000-07:002008-09-26T04:09:00.000-07:00Well Queen it is my opinion of the book and in my opinion it doesn't hold up to scripture. I am sorry that I seem to have offended you.<BR/><BR/>I will though call you out on comment "but your problem with terms for God doesn't seem to stem solely from the book". Is that not the very cop-out the book uses? "You can't call me/ think of me as "Papa" because you have daddy issues?"<BR/><BR/>I do want you and anyone else who reads this to know, I do most certainly view God as a loving Father and if there are two things that Christians should take from that book it is these 1) God loves us more than we could comprehend 2) We absolutely, positively must learn to forgive one another. (if you'd been in class the other night you'd have heard lots more on the importance of this :P)The Cantankerous Christianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16530967456489764068noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1448466740773241098.post-74209592019193713802008-09-25T20:43:00.000-07:002008-09-25T20:43:00.000-07:00Perhaps it is my womanly nature, but I feel certain I am able to call my earthy father "daddy" and still hold him in reverance and awe. My daughters do with their dad.<BR/><BR/>Again, perhaps it is my womanly nature, but in my darkest moments, even before reading The Shack (which you can now give back to me), as I reached out to God, he was not some distant ALL-POWERFUL-OZ figure, but a father to whom I could reach my hand or crawl to on my hands and knees who would take me in his arms and, yes, comfort me. His comfort was what drew me to Him in the first place.<BR/><BR/>So there to your "Papa"-phobia.<BR/><BR/>It's been quite some time since I read the book. I liked it a lot and I thought it had some cool things to say. I thought it was a bit vague about evil and I was disappointed with that because I think it's a cop out.<BR/><BR/>You are quite cantankerous . . .and I thought I had that market cornered. But I believe we worship a big God. One who is many things to many people. I have heard from many people that The Shack is not quite scripturally sound, so I have to defer to greater minds than mine. I just try to glean something and go back to Scripture.<BR/><BR/>I thought Jesus was a bit folksy and the Holy Spirit character a bit new agey. But I loved the Papa character. Sorry, but I believe I can discipline my children as their parent and still be available with open arms. . . and that's how I see God. No, that's not entirely how "Papa" is portrayed in the book but your problem with terms for God doesn't seem to stem solely from the book. . .<BR/><BR/>I don't disagree about the book. It's an engaging story and I was engrossed. But I've heard from people whose scholarship I trust make comments similar to yours. But I do disagree about what we call God. The Bible uses MANY names for God because God is God. What we call Him doesn't make us irreverant...just like what we eat doesn't make us unclean.<BR/><BR/>Chew on that.The Queenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09670667674209026064noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1448466740773241098.post-62039205547507970872008-09-25T20:41:00.000-07:002008-09-25T20:41:00.000-07:00I spend a lot of time studying heresies - and every heresy we have today was invented in the first four centuries - most of them in the first. It's a lot of fun to look at what people are trying to do to the Faith and identify the historic heresy. There really isn't anything new under the sun.<BR/><BR/>Love to get together sometime - we could sit on the patio and complain about madness in the modern church. Or just drink coffee and chat.<BR/><BR/>- GordonAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1448466740773241098.post-18940206398919440942008-09-25T20:05:00.000-07:002008-09-25T20:05:00.000-07:00You know Gordon, your comment on heresy is funny. Marty and I have been having a conversation over just that sentiment. My leanings at the moments are that it's really no different now than it ever has been. I really first thought of it in Precept, with your lovely wife I might add. I was getting a little cantankerous at the idea that the world/church that people like Isaiah and Paul prophesied/wrote about are fulfilled today. To me, that is to imply at some point between now and back then, mankind, Christianity, and the church got it "right" and we've since fallen to what they describe. When haven't we been like that? The epistles describe churches of Paul's day, 100 years later, 500 years, and of course 2000 (give or take). I think what we need to focus on is the fact that we've had the blueprint and a laundry list of our problems since then and we still haven't gotten around to fixing the problems.<BR/><BR/>I think you and I need to get together for a good grump session...(giggles)The Cantankerous Christianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16530967456489764068noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1448466740773241098.post-29669427189330287772008-09-25T19:49:00.000-07:002008-09-25T19:49:00.000-07:00Well, shucks - now I'm going to have to read the stupid thing.<BR/><BR/>This is an age of heresy. But what age wasn't?<BR/><BR/>- GordonAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com