CartInterVarsity Press Revisits The Shack
For Immediate Release (January 2009)
From book clubs to blogs, from churches to coffee houses, for many months now the talk has focused on one book, William P. Young's The Shack. Praised by some as a wonderful representation of God's truth, vilified by others as heretical and subversive, this publishing phenomenon has in all cases inspired its readers to ask or reconsider several weighty theological issues: How does God deal with evil in the world? How can we forgive those who have seriously wronged us? Is Young's representation of the Trinity accurate, and what difference does belief in a "three personed" God make to us? InterVarsity Press offers a detailed explanation of these and other questions the novel raises in an upcoming book, Finding God in the Shack: Seeking Truth in a Story of Evil and Redemption by Roger E. Olson.
Both professionally and personally, Olson is perfectly suited to answer questions and concerns about The Shack. Editorial director Andy LePeau describes how the partnership came about:
"Obviously The Shack has been a publishing phenomenon. We recognized that because of its exceptional character, it deserved and needed a mature reflection from a trusted theologian. Because Roger Olson also has the ability to help the readers of The Shack understand and appreciate its strengths and weakness, we thought of him right away. We were delighted Roger readily agreed."
Currently professor of theology at George W. Truett Theological Seminary of BaylorUniversity in Waco, Texas, he is the author of several books, including The Story of Christian Theology: Twenty Centuries of Tradition & Reform, The Mosaic of Christian Belief: Twenty Centuries of Unity & Diversity (both InterVarsity Press) and The Trinity (with Christopher A. Hall, Eerdmans). And like The Shack's main character Mack, Olson has faced his own Great Sadness. While he does offer dcriticisms of the Young's work, he largely finds the truth about God in The Shack.
Finding God in the Shack will be available in stores April 2009.