There’s this little book called the Shack that has gotten some people all hot and bothered. If you’re interested in truth rather than rhetoric you might want to amble on over to Steve Brown Etc and listen to the author himself.

Young’s reaction to the critics is also available on his own website.

Here’s a little sample, the whole thing is interesting though.

“Of course you know that people are writing and saying all kinds of things about me…and some of it is simply not true. They make assumptions about my beliefs and motives and character as if they know me, and some of them are my friends.”
“Hah,” she chuckles. “I know exactly how you feel.”
That makes me smile. “I suppose you do.”

“I take it,” she continues, “that you aren’t so much bothered by the good stuff they’re writing and saying. Very complimentary, some of that.”

This time I laugh. “I get your point. Lots of that isn’t true either. I’m not that brilliant for sure. But even though compliments are a little hard to receive, they are definitely easier than the negative stuff.”

“Such as…?” she is leading me, but I am more than ready to follow.

“You know, there a few that are saying that I have a subversive agenda to destroy orthodoxy…”
“Destroy?” she interrupts. “That’s a little overstated don’t you think?”

“Maybe, but have you read some of those articles and blogs…of course you have, and the emails where people think that I should burn in hell.”

“Well, if it’s any comfort, it’s often true that the way people positively or negatively respond to a story tells you something of where they are at, more than about you.”