Catholic Book Review: The Shack (Part 4: Theological Problem with God as Father)

This book review will is published in parts on the blog. Click here to see the entire review

The most obvious target for theological nit-pickers is the fact that two of the three Persons of the Trinity are portrayed as women. Young attempts to soften the impact of seeing "Papa" as a woman by bringing in a deep conflict with this father that makes it difficult for Mack to relate to God as a father. However, this attempt falls short in two ways. First, the conflict with Mack’s father has no backstory to make it believable. It is brought into the picture for the specific purpose of justifying the gender portrayal of God. Second, all attempts to soften the message are all but abolished by the obvious agenda of destroying traditional understandings of God.

She picked up the wooden spoon again, dripping with some sort of batter. “Mackenzie, I am neither male nor female, even though both genders are derived from my nature. If I choose to appear to you as a man or a woman, it’s because I love you. For me to appear to you as a woman and suggest that you call me Papa is simply to mix metaphors, to help you keep from falling so easily back into your religious conditioning.”

She leaned forward as if to share a secret. “To reveal myself to you as a very large, white grandfather figure with flowing beard, like Gandalf, would simply reinforce your religous stereotypes, and this weekend is not about reinforcing your religious stereotypes” (93).

There is no acknowledgement or exploration of what those “religious stereotypes” may mean. The old man with the long, flowing beard comes form the art tradition, which attempts to portray theological truths through imagery. The traditional image of God is not an empty religous stereotype. It actually portrays truth found in the Bible and in Tradition. It portrays God’s wisdom, power, and His relationship with His people.

God does acknowledge that the image of Him as Father is Biblical. However, his reasoning behind this image reveals the limited Evangelical exegesis that runs so rampant.

“But then," he paused, still focused on staying rational, "why is there such an emphasis on you being a Father? I mean, it seems to be the way you most reveal yourself."

“Well” responded Papa, turnign away from him and bustling around the kitchen, “there are many reasons for that, and some of them go very deep. let me say for now that we knew once the Creation was broken, true fathering would be much more lacking than mothering. Don’t misunderstand me, both are needed — but an emphasis on fathering is necessary because of the enormity of its absence” (94).

So, the only explanation that God is willing to share with Mack is a sociological one? It’s a questionable sociological explanation as well. First of all, its logic contradicts Papa’s reason for appearing to Mack as a woman in the first place. The absence of fathers makes it more difficult for people to approach a God who portrays Himself as a Father. If Mack is more comfortable with a Divine Mother, wouldn’t everyone else in a fatherless society? Secondly, Young joins many Evangelicals in being clueless about the loss of motherhood due to contraception. Contraception has changed the primary role of women from mother to lover.
Children are the exception, not the rule, and they are treated as exotic, expensive, high maintenance pets. True motherhood is in as much danger as true fatherhood.

Catholic exegesis has uncovered for us a deeper and more complete significance of God’s Fatherhood. By calling Himself Father, God reveals how He relates to us. As the Father, God gives life and goodness for the purpose of creating a family (covenant). The Earth and the Church are understood as mother, because they receive the gifts of goodness and life, participate in the creation of new natural and supernatural life, and nurture that life within them. Human fatherhood and motherhood are sacramental participation in this divine relationship (the Covenant). One would think that if God was going to share only one reason for revealing Himself as Father, it would be the explanation that affirms Mack’s own fatherhood and clearly reveals the love that God has for us.