Introduction: Should We Let a Theologian in The Shack?

Ok so I was I sitting there flapping my gums, minding my own business when a book sitting on top of the file cabinet caught my eye. Finding God in The Shack by Randal Rauser. So I asked "What's this?” After a little explanation I was offered to take it home and read it. "Let me know what you think, Grace read it but she didn't like it." I was interested so I gladly shoved it in my purse and started reading it the first chance I got. I have a tendency to pick a book up and then get bored and put it down. Because of this I have about 5 open books right now; actually it's honestly probably more like 10. Despite my bad habit of not finishing books I have dedicated myself to finishing this book with full report on what I liked and didn't like and why. I don't think I'll be having a problem finishing this book though; I was only on page 2 when I made my first note.

Although I was aware of the book's basic premise, when I finally read the book I
was struck by the boldness of the narrative as William P. Young confronted evil
in all its ugliness. In a day when many Christian bookstores are full of volumes
on "victorious Christian living" but few, if any, on the dark night of the soul,
The Shack was distinctive for forcing the reader to confront a truly unthinkable
crime. Even more impressive, the narrative did not stop with a safe appeal for
justice for all, but instead pushed the reader on to the possibility that within
God's world forgiveness could extend even to Missy's killer. This profound and
daring treatment of evil was complemented by a depiction of God that was
striking in its innovation and theological sophistication.Pg 2, Finding God in The Shack

This was only page 2! I couldn't believe how well he hit the nail on the head; this was exactly why I liked The Shack. Then he went even further to talk about why people are maybe missing the whole point of the book by getting hung up on the little things, allowing "busyness to crowd out reflection on the meaning of life".

The situation reminds me of the film Jack Frost, which tells the unlikely story
of a man named Jack Frost (played by Michael Keaton) who dies in a car accident
on Christmas Eve. One year later he returns to his grieving wife and son
reincarnated as a snowman, wouldn't you immediately interrogate him on the
nature of life after death, the meaning of life, the nature of God-something
along those lines? But Jack's young son Charlie is more concerned with
enlisting his snowman father to beat the neighborhood bullies in a snowball
fight. So preoccupied is he with trivialities that he never broaches even
one profound question with his father. While we may find it hard to
understand Charlie’s lack of interest in his father's unusual afterlife, the
fact is that there are many "Charlie Frost Christians" who are more preoccupied
with the trivial equivalents of bullies and snowball fights than life's most
important questions. Pg 3, Finding God in The Shack.

A very profound point the Theologian author was making. The author of The Shack has so much to show us, but we could be missing out on all of that getting hung up on "Papa". The author then ends the Introduction by saying:

After All, it is through wrestling with new ideas that one learns to deal with the nuance and complexity that characterizes an intellectually mature faith. The Shack will not answer all our questions, nor does it aspire to. But we can be thankful that it has started a great conversation.

I couldn't agree more.