Major League Baseball has manufactured a rivalry between our Seattle Mariners and the San Diego Padres (it is so we have someone to play when the LA and Bay Area teams are playing each other during interleague play). Therefore, we’ve gotten to see San Diego’s shortstop, Khalil Greene (although, checking this out, I see he’s been traded to the Cardinals, so I guess we wont’ be seeing him so often), Every time we see him on screen, Dh and I say “hippie parents”
I’ve just read the most recent The Prophet, William Paul Young’s The Shack. The fabulous Victoria posted her priest, Father Lawrence Farley’s excellent theological review, so I won’t get into those thoughts. What struck me about it, other than agreeing with Father Lawrence that it is mostly quite readable (it dragged a bit in the last third), was that it is the textbook for those who are “spiritual but not religious” as Young’s Jesus is quite critical of the church as an institution. The one thing that I do think that came through well was Young’s clear struggle with how the Trinity interacts, and his attempts to explain it. While I have to admit it has never been something that I particularly struggle with, I do know that I get quite tongue tied when the kids push some of those difficult questions, as for me, the Trinity just is. I also heartily agree with Father Lawrence that what Young misses, and where I feel we get into pretty dangerous territory forgetting, is the awesomeness (in the truest sense of the word) of God, and our encounters with him.
I don’t think it is a harmful read nor do I think it is a theological read. But, I also think that it is going to be a flash in the plan, just as the (and I admit fully that I enjoy it, I have hippie parents too) Prophet was.
I’d be interested in others who have read the book to share their thoughts, especially as it relates to Orthodox (big or little “o”) Christianity.
8 Comments:
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this - perhaps I'll save the read for when I'm sick and need something entertaining!
I thought that was an excellent review, except for this line: "The awesome God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob has become the comfortable demi-god of the emergent church." I honestly see this being more of a problem in the very liberal mainstream churches. I believe that the emergent church, whatever its faults, is sincerely trying to figure out how to be Christian, while the liberal churches are trying to figure out how to be "spiritual."
I will admit that I'm biased on the subject, since I have two good friends who would probably describe themselves as emergent church members. I also don't think you can label the emergent church quite that simply since it is wildly diverse.
You know, Maureen, there is quite a bit of discussion in Victoria's combox about that very issue. I must admit, getting my arms around the emergent church movement is something I've not done, and I'm only a bit fuzzy about the ins and outs of Emergent vs Evangelical vs Charistmatic, et al.
That's a very good point and I'd agree with you about mainline's theology.
I enjoyed your post on this Mimi... don't know if I will ever read it, but I guess one of the good things is that people are searching... It is painful however when I hear people misunderstanding pop culture books like the _da Vinci Code_ by thinking that it is historically or theologically accurate. Sometimes I cringe inwardly in such conversations...
It is hard to know what to say, when I find myself standing in a crowd and realizing that those I am with and my perspectives and understanding of what life is about are so different! Lord have mercy on us all...
I'm RC, but I actually disliked the Shack on the level. I felt like, for me, it was an actual waste of money (I bought it - and gasp! - threw it in the bin) and a waste of time. I read it on the advice of others who were going ga-ga over it as a "must read". The book certainly went in the direction you said, a bit directionless if you're RC. I can't see God as female - I can't get that liberal in my theology. I definitely see how it appeals to those who are searching - but ultimately, if people are searching for Jesus to be a Christian, this book isn't going to get them there. It's "spiritual" but not Faithful. I recommend the New Testament. :)
I have to admit, I have not read the book. One of my friends asked our priest to read it and give a review, as he has many protestant friends who rave about the book.
So I sent my priest in first... baaad parishioner!
I suppose I should read it. I was just waiting for it to arrive at the library, as I do not want to pay any money for it.
I read "The DaVinci Code" for the same reason: to get a handle on all the hype, and to be able to say something about it. Now I see that they have made a second moovie: "Angels and Demons". gah. when will the madness end?
I will not start a discussion about it here though, as I think it's been critically debunked by better minds than mine.
I completely agree with you Mimi, that this will be another 'flash in the pan' book, much like "The Prayer of Jabez" (a thoroughly horrifying book), and "The Purpose Driven Life", and so on and so on.
For me, there are just so many other really really good books to read (like Chesterton's "Orthodoxy", which I hope to start this week), to waste too much of my time on this kind of thing, that won't fill me up, but just upset me.
I hate interleague play. It is completely irrational.
Thank you again, Victoria for the link.
I know what you mean, JOT. I actually am fairly good at suspending belief for fiction (but there are lines I will not cross, creating a lover for Eleanor of Aquitaine and having him father half of her children is right out - therefore I will NEVER recommend "The Book of Eleanor") so I 'get' what you are saying.
The more I have contemplated what sits funny about this book, the more I have come to realize that Father Lawrence hit the nail on the head and Christopher Orr did a great job of putting this together for me on his blog http://orrologion.blogspot.com/2008/12/christians-seem-to-have-gone-from.html
And, Matt, I actually don't mind Interleague play, but mostly to watch the American League pitchers bat.
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