Religion In The Shack

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In a story that has broken many misconceptions about Christianity and religion, The Shack ushers us through a journey of loss of faith, irrevocable transparency, wonder, and profound teaching, one can not help but pose a very important question that eventually leads to the conclusion of the novel. How, exactly does Macks pain, feelings of abandonment, judgement, and unwillingness to forgive himself and God barricade him from letting go to allow him to have a true Relationship with God? The Shack is a novel written by William Paul Young that follows Mackenzie Allen Philips , a young, middle-class, father on his journey to coming to terms with tragedy, and opening his heart to the love God has waiting for him. In the beginning of this heart-wrenching story, we meet Mackenzie Phillips as a young boy. Mackenzie, affectionately known as “Mack,” struggled to deal with his abusive alcoholic father who just so happens to be a highly respected member of the church. After constantly seeing his mother be beaten, while also receiving a couple of beatings himself, Mack attempted to turn to God and the church. Sadly, the result of coming forward to the Pastor caused his father to beat him well into the night, while forcing him to repeat biblical scriptures as he was …show more content…

He has a beautiful and happy family, yet unlike his wife, Macks relationship with Christ-who in the novel is affectionately called “Papa” -is on the rocks. After his youngest daughter Missy is abducted during an annual family vacation, local police find Missy’s bloodied red dress she was last seen in inside an abandoned shack, leading the police to believe she was murdered. When all hope is lost, Mack falls into a deep depression, often times questioning God’s judgement, who he is, and what his true purpose is. Four years later in the midst of what the author calls Macks "Great Sadness," Mack receives a letter from God, inviting him back to the same shack of his daughter's

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