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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction – The truth about The Shack…from a Biblical perspective
Chapter 1 – THE SHACK - Parallels to the 'Shakti' of Hinduism
Chapter 2 - EASTERN MYSTICISM: The (Un-) 'Holy' Trinity
Chapter 3 - EAST MEETS WEST: (In the "Shack")
Chapter 4 - KUNDALINI: ('Serpent' Power, Rev. 12:9)
Chapter 5 - SOPHIA: (True 'Wisdom'?)
Chapter 6 - Kundalini, 'Wisdom' & The Serpent
Chapter 7 - 'PAPA': The First Person of the 'Trinity' of The Shack
Back Cover: The Shack, the popular ‘Christian’ novel written by Wm. Paul Young, has brought comfort to many who have read it. However, from a Biblical point of view, there are many doctrinal problems with the spirituality presented in his book.
While ‘just’ a novel, The Shack is claimed to be based on Christian spirituality, but it more closely resembles that of the Hinduism. The ‘comfort’ offered in this book is better found from the true Comforter, the Holy Spirit of the one true God of the Bible.
John 14:26
But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
John 15:26
But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:
INTRODUCTION: The truth about The Shack…from a Biblical perspective
I didn't initially set out to write an expose such as the one that follows. However, after reading The Shack, by Wm. Paul Young and following with further research, I felt led to put forth some information that I had uncovered on the subject raised of the particular ‘spirituality’ presented in this novel.
As a work of bible-based ‘fiction’ the book is intended to be based mainly on Christian belief and faith. It is very problematic then to find that there are numerous unscriptural elements noted throughout The Shack that pique your discernment, and that run contrary to scripture many times.
In most stories of fiction, even those based on historical fact, some 'artistic license' is allowable. However, when you are writing a novel based on Christian principles, it is very ill-advised to stray from true Biblical teaching lest you come into grave error and lead yourself, and others, astray.
To be sure, there are both positive and negative elements in this book, and both stand out upon first reading it: It makes you laugh; it makes you cry; it makes you fear; and most of all to grieve alongside with the main character – especially if you have ever lost someone very close to your heart.
These elements however tend to cause the reader to temporarily suspend some of their spiritual reason and discernment due to the highly emotionally aspects in the story: from the shocking depths of loss and despair to the awe-inspiring heights of newly found peace and restoration.
Join me on this journey to look beyond the ‘shock and awe’ in the storyline and uncover some of the hidden deeper meanings in its spirituality … and decide for yourself if there is more to this book, The Shack, than initially meets the eye.
CHAPTER 1: THE SHACK - Parallels to Hinduism and the coming One-World Church
The juggernaut of a 'new-age', 'new world order' religion is earnestly bearing down and headed our way. I immediately noticed several 'New-Age' and 'ecumenical' elements in reading The Shack, but upon deeper investigation there appeared to be even more parallels with 'new-age' and pagan belief systems than had first met the eye.
The pagan and 'New Age' elements in the book may or may not be intentional; however, the parallels are striking. If they are indeed intentional, it is just one more sign of the infiltration of New Age belief into the Christian church. Though not an exhaustive work on the subject, one can draw their own conclusions from the evidence presented here.
The following excerpt from an article by Roger Oakland of Understand the Times is a fitting introduction to the dangers of some of the beliefs contrary to biblical Christianity that are entering the modern Christian church through many new practices and teachings - one of these being the subject in question, the New York Times bestseller, The Shack.
Mr. Oakland states: (emphasis mine)
"Christianity based on faith in the Word of God continues to be under attack from all angles. The emerging church continues to promote Roman Catholic experiences and contemplative eastern meditative practices ('Christian' mysticism). The gospel of Jesus Christ is clearly being redefined in order to prepare for a wide path that is open to people of all faith. This wide path is leading towards an ecumenical union with the Roman Church."
"Not only are the 'separated brethren' being drawn back into the fold, it is apparent that the religions of the world are being drawn into a global plan that is uniting all religions for the cause of peace with headquarters in Rome. It is also important to note the role that 'Mary - the mother of the Eucharist' and her son, the 'Eucharistic Jesus' play in this global ecumenical agenda." [1]
Many of the elements mentioned in the article by Mr. Oakland - particularly that of Eastern Mysticism and Ecumenical Union - are found deeply woven within the storyline and characters of The Shack. As mentioned above, Mary - the mother of the Eucharist" and her son, the "Eucharistic Jesus" will play a role in the coming global ecumenical agenda.
Likewise, two of the main characters in The Shack seem to typify this 'Mother of Jesus' and 'Jesus the son' relationship. The character of God, who goes by the name of 'Papa' in the book, is portrayed as a large black woman who points out that the 'Jesus' in this story is "her son". [2]
This is, of course, in direct contrast to the Holy Bible which states very clearly that God is the Father, and Jesus is his one and only begotten son. (John 1:14; John 3:16)
Yes, the Bible does tell us that Mary was indeed the mother of Jesus - it certainly does not tell us, however, that God was his mother. While The Shack is purportedly ‘just a novel’, it should still stick to the basic truth of the story of God, Jesus and Mary without blurring the important distinctions made between these biblical characters.
The Shack does seem to seek to 'deify' Mary in making her, the mother of Jesus, 'God'? Or does it seek to possibly now give God the role of being Jesus' mother in place of Mary? Or, further, perhaps to let God share in that role...Yes, perhaps, but I think that there's more.
I think, rather, that the blending of these separate roles - a bringing together of these identities - may be intended to make them more or less ‘one and the same’, the reasons for which will become increasingly clearer as we continue further with our study here.
CHAPTER 2: EASTERN MYSTICISM - The (Un-) 'Holy' Trinity of The Shack
In considering a connection with 'Eastern Mysticism' in The Shack, first, let's take a look at the very name of the book itself. On the surface of the story, the ‘Shack' refers to just that, a remote shack in the Oregon wilderness, while also being a metaphor of the main character, Mack's, 'darkest nightmare'.
It is in this shack that his youngest daughter, Missy, may have been brutally murdered. As the story unfolds, The Shack becomes a moving allegory of God's grace in the midst of great tragedy and sadness. I am not without empathy for the character of 'Mack', Mackenzie Allen Philips. I can certainly imagine the deep emotion that the loss of a child would bring, especially under the horrific circumstances of abduction and murder.
All the truly heart-rending emotion aside, though, if this story is viewed somewhat more objectively, elements of a different sort begin to appear that transcend a mere story about a father's loss and suffering, and subsequent reconciliation with God. While this story is indeed a work of fiction, it is however meant to be based on Christian belief and faith.
However, many elements in this book point to a very different kind of 'faith' than that put forth in the true Word of God. While I am willing to give the author, William Paul Young, the benefit of the doubt, there is much more in the story of The Shack akin to a 'New Age' belief system than there is to the Bible itself.
In the story’s narrative, there are far too many 'coincidental' parallels that can be drawn with many of the New Age influences currently entering the Church - particularly those such as Eastern Mysticism, Universalism, and Ecumenism - for it to be a mere 'coincidence'.
Though certainly not the most obvious, or telling, of these many 'coincidences’, I will start with the name on the cover of the book, The Shack, as this is the very first thing most readers will encounter. This name has been said to have a possible connection to the religion of Hinduism in the form of the Sanskrit word 'Shakti' or 'Shaci'…
An article entitled 'Hidden Heresies of The Shack' asks, "Is it pure luck that "The Shack" and Shaci sound alike, and that Kali in the form of Elousia (the Black Madonna), her daughter Sara-La-Kali (Saryu or Sarayu), and Indra (a false 'Christ' who makes his appearance in India), all meet together in the form Shaci like they meet in The Shack?" [3]
This may seem at first to be rather far-fetched as a ‘one-off’ until you observe the many parallels between the 'Shack' of this story, and the ‘Shakti’ (or Shaci) of Hinduism. For instance, two of the three characters in the (un-) holy 'trinity' of the shakti, and of The Shack, even have nearly, and even exactly, the same name.
A name used in The Shack for the character of ‘Papa’ (God) is Elousia. This is also the name of the Hindu goddess Kali of the Shakt trinityi in the form of Elousia, the Black Madonna. Additionally, Sarayu is the name for Holy Spirit (of God) in the story of The Shack. This name is also used in Hinduism as being the name of the daughter of Kali: Saryu, or Saranyu,
These names for the daughter of Kali are used to denote ‘Kali-in-the-Spirit’ (Kali's Spirit), or Sara-La-Kali. So, Sarayu (Sanskrit for ‘wind’) is the name of the ‘holy’ spirit of Kali, just as it is used as the name in The Shack to represent the ‘holy spirit’ of God. But, again, not the God, or Holy Spirit, of the Bible.
The Hindu concept of Shakti is of a male-female / god-goddess deity, and a ‘trinity’ that meet together in a ‘Shakti’ or ‘sacred force’. This is exactly what we see in The Shack with the personification of God and the Holy Spirit as female characters, with the addition of Jesus – and these three all meeting in the ‘shack’.
Following is a definition from Wikipedia of this Hindu concept of the Shakti which will help to further show its connection to 'The Shack' -
"Shakti, from Sanskrit shak - "to be able," meaning sacred force or empowerment, is the primordial cosmic energy and represents the dynamic forces that move through the entire universe. Shakti is the concept, or personification, of divine feminine creative power, sometimes referred to as 'The Great Divine Mother' in Hinduism. On the earthly plane, Shakti most actively manifests through female embodiment ('Papa' / Sarayu) and fertility - while also existing in males ('Jesus'), in its potential, unmanifest form." [4]
As portrayed in The Shack, the female embodiment of the sacred force in ‘Shakti’ is manifested in the female form of 'Papa' (as well as 'Sarayu,' a female personification of the Holy Spirit). As stated above, “Shakti most actively manifests through female embodiment, while also existing in males." [5]
This male embodiment in The Shack is seen in the character of 'Jesus’ and 'Papa' (God) often refers to herself as ‘The Mother’, and to Jesus as her son. As we also saw above, "Shakti is the concept sometimes referred to as 'The Great Divine Mother'." [6] This female Papa-God, Elouisa, is just exactly that.
The article on Shaktism in the Wikipedia online dictionary continues:
"In Shaktism, Shakti is worshiped as the Supreme Being... Shakti embodies the active feminine energy. Not only is the Shakti responsible for creation, it also the agent of all change. Shakti is cosmic existence as well as liberation... Shakti exists in a state of dependence on no-one, being interdependent with the entire universe.” [7]
The Shakti – The Shack – is a ‘force’, a predominantly female energy. It is an un-holy trinity forged from the ‘union’ of Kali (Papa/God/Elouisa), Sarayu ((Saryu/Saranyu), and Indra (‘Jesus’/a false 'Christ'), who meet together in the form of Shakti, or Shaci, just like they meet in The Shack.
CHAPTER 3 - EAST MEETS WEST: (In the "Shack")
As described in Chapter 2 in regard to the Hindu belief of 'Shaktism', Shakti is worshiped as the Supreme Being... Shakti embodies the active feminine energy. Not only is the Shakti responsible for creation, it also the agent of all change. Shakti is cosmic existence as well as liberation...
"Shakti exists in a state of svātantrya, dependence on no-one, being interdependent with the entire universe." [7]
These same aspects - those of being creation's caretaker, an agent of change, having cosmic existence, liberation, and interdependence with the entire universe - are all clearly seen in the descriptions that 'Papa' (God) gives of herself The Shack; but they are not at all consistent with the description of God Almighty in the Bible.
It is, however, consistent with the description of the Shakti concept in Hinduism – the ‘god’ who merges with itself and with all of creation - and even the universe itself. This vague universalism is at complete odds with the distinct personage of the God of the Holy Bible.
In The Shack, we have a ‘trinity’ consisting of a female personification of God in the form of a black woman named Papa, a young Jewish carpenter who is a handyman named 'Jesus', and an Asian woman in embroidered blue-jeans who is a gardener named Sarayu (from the Sanskrit word for 'wind'), who personifies the Holy Spirit.
These three live together in 'The Shack'. (The three - the 'trinity' - meet in the shakti, in the 'Shack'; they are independent of each other, while at the same time interdependent - not only with each other, but the entire universe - this is the Hindu 'panentheistic' concept of God manifested "in and through all things.")
The "trinity" of the Shakti is described as, "The Tridevi (three Goddesses, who can also manifest as male) - the conjoined forms of Lakshmi , Parvati and Saraswati - who are considered Shaktis of the Trimurti- Vishnu, Shiva and Brahma respectively." [8]
These three - the 'trinity' - the Tridevi - meet in the shakti; or, in The 'Shack' as do the three characters of the 'trinity' in the book of this name. Furthermore, the Shakti Tridevi is worshiped as the Supreme Being; the "three-in-one", a counterfeit to the Holy Trinity of the Bible.
At this point we should stop to ask ourselves if we are possibly being introduced to another view of God through The Shack - one that is contrary to the God of the Bible - who exists in 'The Shakti' in the form of a Trinity as the Tridevi (the Triple Goddess), who also can manifest as either male or female, as they do in the book.
Consider the following:
"Adi Shakti is a Hindu concept of the ultimate Shakti, the ultimate feminine power inherent in all Creation. This is especially prevalent in the Shakta denomination within Hinduism, which worships the Goddess Devi in all Her manifestations. Shaktism regards Devi (lit., 'the Goddess') as the Supreme Brahman itself, the 'one without a second', with all other forms of divinity, female or male, considered to be merely Her diverse manifestations." [9]
Papa, 'God', is portrayed as a woman throughout most of the book, however she is also portrayed as a man later on at the end – …in all her ‘diverse manifestations’. This then is not the God of the Bible who states throughout the scriptures, "I am he...", but rather the Supreme Being of the Hindu religion in disguise.
Let's look further:
"Like Shiva-associated Shaktism, Shakti embodies the active feminine energy and power of male supreme deity Vishnu. As Vishnu is the Father who stands for absolute justice, Sri is the Mother of the universe and is considered to be an important element in the redemption of mankind, and is the interceder with Vishnu on behalf of spiritual seekers." [10]
Papa is seen to have an intercessory role as 'Mediatrix', just as does the 'Black Madonna' icon, Elousia, which again is incidentally also the name given to the Papa character in The Shack. In the preceding quote, 'Sri, Mother of the universe', is considered to be an important element in the redemption of mankind. In the book, Papa is shown to have the exact same scars from the Crucifixion as 'Jesus', therefore portraying 'her' to be co-redeemer with Jesus.
'Co-redemptrix' is one of the titles also given to 'Mary', mother of Jesus, in the Catholic faith. So again we see the gospel being redefined in order to prepare a wide path that is open to people of all faith - a wide path that is leading towards an ecumenical union with the Roman Church, and an eventual union with all the religions of the world.
CHAPTER 4 - KUNDALINI: ('Serpent' Power, Rev. 12:9) -
A fourth 'entity', in addition to the 'trinity' of The Shack - Papa, 'Jesus', and Sarayu - is Sophia, or 'wisdom'. Sophia portrays the mysterious 'psycho-spiritual force' of the Shakti. She is also connected in the book to a Kundalini type of experience – yet another Hindu concept.
The relation of Kundalini to Shaktism is described in this definition of the Shakti:
"A cosmic existence as well as liberation, its most significant form being the Kundalini-shakti, a mysterious psychospiritual force. Shakti Force is described as, "Devi Prakriti (a Shakti) in the context of Shaktis as forces unifies Kundalini, Kriya, Itcha, Para, Jnana, Mantrika Shaktis. Each is in a chakra." [11]
Shakti is then, in part, defined as 'Liberation'. This aspect of the Shakti is portrayed in the book as well. It is after the main character’s meeting with this mysterious person Sophia that 'Mack', finally begins to feel 'liberated', or set free, from his great burden of sadness.
In addition to this 'Liberation' there is also a connection to the Kundalini force, the 'Kundalini-Shakti' mentioned above. This connection to a Kundalini type of experience is seen in the interaction between Mack and Sophia upon their meeting in the dark cave.
Pastor Larry DeBruyn exposes this connection in the following 'Herescope' article entitled, "The Shack: 'Elousia' and the Black Madonna’:
"Kundalini is Sanskrit for “snake” or “serpent power,” named as such because of the belief that it lies coiled within the body ready to strike at any moment. (see Gen 3:1) Kundalini describes the mystical experience when energy enters the body and arouses the “sleeping serpent” via the chakras, vortices that penetrate the body and the body’s aura, through which various energies, including the universal life force, are received, transformed, and distributed."
"When that happens, . . .this transient moment of arousal is defined to include, 'physical sensations . . . clairaudience, visions, brilliant lights . . . ecstasy, bliss, and transcendence of self.' With this description in mind, let’s look at one incident in The Shack to see if Mack, the novel’s main character, experienced kundalini." [12]
Upon hearing the sensual Sophia ask him, during his journey into the darkness, 'Do you understand why you’re here’? The novel records that, ‘Mack could almost feel her words (clairaudience) rain down on his head first (the 7th chakra) and melt into his spine (the 1st chakra), sending delicious tingles everywhere.’ (the 2nd chakra)"
"He shivered (physical sensations) and decided that he never wanted to speak again (transcendence of self). He only wanted her to talk (bliss) . . .' (Shack, p. 153). What do you think? Did Mack experience kundalini? If so, then it came to him at a spontaneous moment in the darkness via the voice of the goddess-like Sophia." [13]
The word used in The Shack to describe Mack’s impression of Sophia is ‘sensual’…
https://truthwithsnares.org/2016/12/04/the-ungodly-truth-about-the-shack-a-short-bookmovie-review/
CHAPTER 5 - SOPHIA: ('Wisdom')
In this chapter, we’ll explore the meanings and uses in both history and the occult of the name Sophia itself. Sophia is known as the Greek and occult goddess of wisdom:
"Sophia (Greek for 'wisdom') is a central term in Hellenistic philosophy and religion, Platonism, Gnosticism, Theosophy, and Esoteric Christianity, as well as Christian mysticism. Sophiology is a philosophical concept regarding wisdom, as well as a theological concept regarding the wisdom of God.*"
"Sophia, or Sofya, is one of the four cardinal virtues of Plato's Protagoras. (Wisdom is also personified in the deities of Minerva and Athena.) In Mesopotamian religion and mythology, Enki, also known as Ea, was the God of wisdom and intelligence. Wisdom was achieved by restoring balance. In Norse mythology, the god Odin is especially known for his wisdom." [14]
*Paul refers to this concept deconstructing worldly wisdom, and sets worldly wisdom against a higher wisdom of God:
"Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?" (1 Corinthians 1:20)
"But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory." (1 Corinthians 2:7)
Conversely, the wisdom of 'Sophia' in The Shack is a worldly wisdom that encourages Mack to 'use his own imagination' and to 'judge for himself', in contrast to our admonition to, "Test everything according to the scriptures." He meets Sophia in a place of 'darkness', the darkness of the soul.
In regard to the occult roots of 'Sophia', Gregory Reid relates this in his article, The Dark Night of the Shack: A Parable of Illusions:
"Two decades ago, the New Age began to partner with the dead, carnal Western organized church denominations. That melding, in part, took place through both the 'Gaia' (mother earth) concept and the 'Sophia' movement – and the Sophia conferences, which were designed to rewrite the gender specific references in the Bible concerning God, emasculate and feminize God, destroy church Patriarchy, and as a result, introduce 'new ways' of worshipping 'God' – through a variety of New Age and occultic means, including Wiccan worship, crystal healing, etc."
"Thankfully it didn’t get widespread acceptance, but the Sophia concepts and conferences are still going on, and if you do a little internet searching, you will find that most of the sites are New Age and occult websites. Because Sophia is an occult concept, she is the acknowledged goddess of wisdom in the occult world, and even they trace her origins back to the days of Solomon, when his marriage to pagan wives (which became his downfall) caused him to bring the worship of the goddess Asherah into the house of the Lord."
"She is known by many names in the occult and pagan worlds, and one of the most well-known is Sophia. In other words, the Sophia concept and movement is the deliberately designed incursion of goddess worship into the house of God today – even if disguised as 'Papa'. All the occult, Wiccan and Pagan world acknowledges Sophia as the one known originally as Asherah." [15]
Asherah is, incidentally, just another of the many names for Satan himself (who manifests as both male and female) - the one who gave us 'wisdom' by opening our eyes to the knowledge of good and evil....
CHAPTER 6 - Kundalini, 'Wisdom' & The Serpent Together -
In Part 5 of our study on The Shack, by Wm. Paul Young, we discussed the character of Sophia met briefly in the book. In it, Sophia is portrayed as wisdom - as God's wisdom, in fact. However, Sophia is in actuality an occult concept and is the Greek and occult goddess of 'wisdom', not God's true wisdom.
The female deity of Sophia also has a connection to the 'Serpent' through Gnostic and occult Wisdom traditions. Sophia is linked to the 'Serpent Power' within known as Kundalini in Yoga and Hinduism. The following definition of Kundalini is from the Wikipedia Online Encyclopedia:
"Kundalini (Sanskrit for 'coiled'), is an unconscious, instinctive or libidinal force, or Shakti, envisioned either as a goddess or else as a sleeping serpent coiled at the base of the spine. When Kundalini Shakti is conceived as a goddess, then, when it rises to the head, it unites itself with the Supreme Being." [16]
In Secrets of the Serpent: In Search of the Sacred Past, researcher and author Philip Gardiner posts the theory that mankind's history began with a cult that worshipped snakes and serpents. His documentary uses mythology to make its case. He posits that Serpent worship was widespread in ancient tradition.
And so it was, from the fall of Man, and will be to the end of the present age. (Rev. 12:9 - "...that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan.")
Many methods were used by ancient man to access this Serpent Power within and his own 'internal world' known as Kundalini. However, there is danger in this as Gardiner informs us, "This access into the 'internal world', if uncontrolled, can cause serious mental problems. Even today, the Kundalini experience, linked to the 'road to enlightenment' can and has caused psychosis."
He continues, "The snake was worshipped and revered across the globe in ancient times and in every instance, the practice and rituals of worship were the same and based on the same core 'truths'. Early Gnostics, 'Ophites', worshipped the Serpent for his 'wise' attributes. They drank from the ritual cup of their 'good serpent'. This was an early Eucharist Ritual."
"The connection of the Serpent to Gnostic and occult wisdom traditions is seen through the hidden female deity symbol of Sophia. This is all based around the belief in the 'Enlightenment' experience through the inner serpent which was quite simply expressed as the access to the core center of reality." [17]
This experience is not unlike Mack's experience with Sophia in the cave nearby to the Shack. This process of ‘enlightenment’ is revealed in the balancing out of two serpentine elements or energies known together as the Kundalini which itself means 'Coiled Serpent'.
We see this expressed in the 'Caduceus', the wand of Hermes, or Mercury. The wisdom of the serpent was seen as the internal dialogue within man whereby he must unite the male and female principles of himself in order to be whole" (As seen in the 'Yin' and 'Yang' principle in Taoism.)
However, the Bible states that it is, "The fear of God (that) is the beginning of wisdom." (Prov. 9:10)
While I would not base my theology on the beliefs of Philip Gardiner, he is a foremost expert and researcher in ancient serpent worship. He himself has noted that, "It's time to decide where our true history lies."
Indeed, does our history lie with the 'Serpent', or with the one true God of the Bible? How about our future? Yes, many cultures did worship this Serpent and has woven itself throughout history, but truly the Serpent is the one "...who didst weaken the Nations!" (Isaiah 14:12)
CHAPTER 7 - 'PAPA': The First Person of the 'Trinity' of The Shack
In our discussion of The Shack, and its resemblance to the Shakti of Hinduism, we have noted that the character of ‘Papa’, portrayed in the book as a black woman, is actually a representation of the goddess Kali rather than the God of the Bible.
In Hinduism, the color black is one of the symbolic aspects of Kali. In this description of her, we can see the parallel to 'Papa' and the 'Shakti' goddess religion, both who are represented as a black woman:
"Kali is represented as a Black woman...Kali's blackness symbolizes her all-embracing, comprehensive nature, because black is the color in which all other colors merge; black absorbs and dissolves them.”
'Just as all colors disappear in black, so all names and forms disappear in her'. Black is said to represent the total absence of color, again signifying the nature of Kali as ultimate reality."
"This in Sanskrit is named as nirguna (beyond all quality and form). Either way, Kali's black color symbolizes her transcendence of all form. The origin of the name Kali, which is the feminine form of 'Kala', is the Sanskrit term for Time.
“Kali dwells where dissolution takes place. In terms of devotion and worship, this denotes the dissolving of attachments, anger, lust, and other binding emotions, feelings, and ideas. The heart of the devotee is where this burning takes place, and it is in the heart that Kali dwells. The devotee makes her image in his heart and under her influence burns away all limitations and ignorance..." [19]
In fact, "Kali’s name derives from the Sanskrit meaning ‘she who is black’ or ‘she who is death’. While being associated with violence and destruction, “Kali also embodies shakti - feminine energy, creativity and fertility and is considered a strong mother-figure and symbolic of motherly-love.”
In The Shack, we see Mack being 'embraced' by the all-encompassing 'Papa' and he is asked by her to 'dissolve' his attachments of 'anger, binding emotions, feeling, and ideas'. This is exactly what is mentioned above in the description of Kali herself. This ‘dissolving of emotion’ is what is meant here by the 'taking of her into his heart' –
But this is not at all the same as receiving Jesus into our hearts and into our lives as Lord and Savior. When one comes to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ and what he has done for us at the Cross, it is through Him alone and not an act of a ‘dissolution of emotion’ through our own imperfect efforts.
Do you really want to find your salvation in the arms of a Hindu ‘devi’ goddess of death and damnation? It is at best a ‘false salvation’ from a ‘false idol’ with an apparent identity crisis. This not-so-benevolent Kali is represented in association with death and violence as a fearful fighting figure with a garland of skulls, skirt of dismembered arms and a lolling tongue.
She is further shown with a knife in one hand, and a severed head in the other, both dripping with blood. She is also said to be the wife of Shiva, who himself is the "destroyer of all things and leader of evil spirits, ghosts and vampires and master of thieves, villains and beggars."
Definition by Mark Cartwright http://www.ancient.eu/Kali/ published on 21 June 2013
The Bible has this to say about a 'lolling tongue' and ‘false idols’ in Isaiah 57:3-5:
"But draw near hither, ye sons of the sorceress, the seed of the adulterer and the whore. Against whom make ye a wide mouth, and draw out the tongue? are ye not children of transgression, a seed of falsehood... Enflaming yourselves with idols."
The following is worth keeping in mind as well in regard to the Hindu concept of ‘salvation’ which is man-centered and devoid of belief in sin and therefore any true atonement:
"In Hinduism, they don't believe that you're a sinner, they believe you are ignorant of your divinity." http://muddystreams.wordpress.com/2012/11/19/saddleback-church-and-holy-yoga/
The following description of Elousia further brings together the identities of Kali/Papa and Elousia/the Black Madonna:
SHAKTI & KALI:
ELOUSIA & THE 'BLACK MADONNA'"Elousia is Greek for tenderness. It is also the title of a Catholic icon depicting the Madonna and the baby Jesus. The icon shows the tenderness between Our Lord and His Mother, emphasizing the humanity of the Son of God. If you look up Elousia or Elousea she is always the Virgin Mary, in the form of the Black Madonna, not God The Father.
This particular Elousia, The Black Madonna, came from the middle East and is the same Character as The goddess Kali/Surga/Durga. This miraculous image given the title, Our Lady of Vladimir, is known as an Elousea, the Greek word meaning Mother of Tenderness. The icon of the Virgin Mary and Christ child is ...In the Greek, in the Orthodox traditions, called elousia, and that word 'elousia' comes to mean a universal, loving kindness, that reaches out to the entire world." [20]
"Ousia , is the Ancient Greek noun formed on the feminine present participle for the Greek verb "to be" (remember that Shakti, from the Sanskrit shak meant "to be able," meaning sacred force or empowerment, is the primordial cosmic energy). When you add the word el in front, you are now speaking of the Black Madonna, the cultic symbol of the Madonna and Child, the Babylonian symbol of Isis and Osiris."[21] So El-Ousia, or Elousia, is the Black Madonna. (From "The Two Babylons")
states of The Shack that, "This book is nothing more than a clever re-telling of the Black Madonna heresy: The Black Madonna - Kali of the Black Queen and her daughter Sara-la-Kali (the Black Queen in the spirit), and finally Christ as the grown Osiris of Babylonian text. If you read Reverend Dr Matthew Fox's article on the Black Madonna, available on his website, the coincidences are too close, then do a little research on the Cult of Sara, and the picture becomes clear. 'Papa' the black female and male god/goddess, Sarayu, Sara-la-kali, and Osiris, from the Madonna and Child as Jesus. No wonder the emergent church is moved by this work. It is classic icon worship wrapped in a veil of Christianity. They move from the concrete foundation of the Rock to the instability of a Shack on the sand."[18]
In The Shack, Papa says "You may call me Elousia it is just a name I am rather fond of and has particular meaning to me". (I would suppose it also had 'a particular meaning' to the author, Wm. Paul Young as well.) Later in the book 'Jesus' explains to Mack, "Elousia That is a wonderful name. El is my name as Creator God, but ousia is 'being' or 'that which is truly real', so the name means the Creator God who is truly real and the ground of all being. From "The Shack"[22]
This next statement, though it was originally used as a support for the message in The Shack, is very telling: "Elousia, if you do a quick search, you will find out is Greek for tenderness. It is also the title of a Catholic icon depicting the Madonna and the baby Jesus. Critics jump all over this saying that Mr. Young is trying to sneak in some Marianism, attempting to water down God by inserting Mary. I find this interesting because it would seem to me that a book attempting to plead the case of a merciful and good God might use a name that reveals just that." (And indeed, that's what they have done.) "We must go back to the definition of the word, tenderness. This is a trait that the God of The Shack is soaked in."[23] -
You have said it...! (But it is a very one-sided view of the true God; He is merciful and just.)
I found this meaning of the word 'Papa' to be very interesting. The English to Spanish Translation of the word 'Pope' revealed this definition: papa (m) 1. "Papa, la cabeza suprema de la Iglesia católica romana. (The Supreme Head of the Roman Catholic Church.)"[19] The word in Italian for Pope is also, incidentally, Papa (il Papa). So, Papa means Pope. Hmm...nothing Catholic there, so I'm sure there wouldn't be any 'Marianist' overtones either... But there are in fact further Marianist overtones in The Shack, even in addition to the use of the word 'Papa' for God. In the book, Papa is portrayed as a woman, and states that Jesus is her son. (Mary, the Mother of the Eucharist.) The character of Papa is also shown to have the same scars as Jesus from the Crucifixion on her body. She is therefore portrayed as not only the Mother of Jesus, but also Co-Redemptrix with Christ having suffered with Him at the Cross, and therefore as Mediatrix, mediator of Divine Grace. Similarly, the Pope (il Papa) is said to be the mediator between man and God. However, the Bible says that, "There is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus." (1 Timothy 2:5)
This inclusion of Catholic concept and dogma in The Shack further points to the assertion that the elements of Roman Catholicism, Eastern Mysticism, the New Age, and an Ecumenical Union are to be found in its pages. In his article entitled, THE SHACK & Its New Age Leaven: God IN Everything?, Warren Smith states that, "In The Shack, Wm. Paul Young uses the person of 'Jesus' to suddenly introduce the foundational teaching of the New Spirituality/New World Religion — God is “in” everything. Using the New Age term 'ground of being” to describe 'God,' the 'Jesus' of The Shack states, of 'Papa': 'God, who is the ground of all being, dwells in, around, and through all things….' (p. 112) This false teaching about a “God” who 'dwells in, around, and through all things' is the kind of New Age leaven that left unchallenged could leaven the church into the New Age/New Spirituality of the proposed New World Religion. And while many people have expressed a great deal of emotional attachment to The Shack and its characters, this leaven alone contaminates the whole book." http://www.crossroad.to/articles2/08/discernment/6-23-shack.htm
Ground of All Being: 'Ground of all being' is a New-Age term that has its roots in ancient and pagan philosophy. The following is a brief background of the philosophical roots for this term: "Plotinus, a Neo-Platonic philosopher, saw all forms of existence as emanating from 'The One', a non-sentient power or 'force'. The concept of the Absolute, either under that name, or as the 'Ground of Being', in one form or another include Hinduism, Jainism, Taoism, and existential or metaphysical forms of Christianity. The Absolute is . conceived of as a single all-encompassing experience, rather along the lines of Shankara and Advaita Vedanta. Recently, certain philosophers have attempted to reconceive Christianity as a Gnostic religion. Here 'the Absolute' is referred to as 'the All'. The human vital essence - soul, spirit, spark of awareness, is said to have originally derived in each case from the Absolute, and to be indestructible after the nature of the Absolute, and to be capable of returning to its source. This returning is the goal of those Eastern religions that have such a concept." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Absolute_(philosophy)
So, again we see a term and a concept from Hinduism and other Eastern religions being used in The Shack. This term has also been borrowed from the writings of esoteric 'theologian' Paul Tillich who said, “God is not a being, not even the highest of all beings; he is being itself, or the ground of being, the internal power or force that causes everything to exist.”[7] This conception of God compliments the conception of deity amongst devotees to the New Age/New Spirituality. Even though Tillich’s assertions about deity were esoteric and complex, Young presents a Tillich-like scheme of deity ('Papa') who describes herself as “the ground of all being” that dwells “in, around, and through all things . . .” (The Shack, 112). Such a view of God is acknowledged to be panentheistic (i.e., God dwells “through all things”).[ ] http://herescope.blogspot.com/2008/07/shack-elousia-mythical-mystical-black.html It is important to remember at this point the assertion made earlier by Roger Oakland, "It is apparent that the religions of the world are being drawn into a global plan that is uniting all religions...It is also important to note the role that "Mary - the mother of the Eucharist" and her son, the "Eucharistic Jesus" play in this global ecumenical agenda."[1]
'JESUS': The Second Person of the 'Trinity -
False Christ appears in India as Indra: Kali is the female form of Indra: "Finally, in legend, Christ made an appearance in India in the form of Indra, the husband of Kali (in the legend of Osiris, Isis is both the Mother and the wife of Horus). Kali is the Supreme Mahavidya, and is the Vedic Goddess Shachi (another 'Shack'!), or Indrani, the female form of Indra the supreme Vedic divinity, (Indra = male form of Kali as the Supreme Goddess. Is it pure luck that 'The Shack' and Shaci sound alike, and that Kali, in the form of Elousia, her daughter Sara-La-Kali (Saryu or Sarayu) and Indra all meet together in the form 'Shaci' like they meet in 'The Shack'..." (It can't be!)
In regard to Indra being both the son and husband of Kali, noted mythologist Donald Allen Mackenzie tells us that, "The Indian father-slaying myth appears to be connected with the doctrine of reincarnation. In the Laws of Manu it is stated that 'the husband, after conception by his wife, becomes an embryo and is born again of her; for that is the wifehood of a wife, that he is born again by her'. In the famous story of Shakuntălā, the husband is similarly referred to as the son of his wife, the son being a reincarnation of the father. This belief resembles the Egyptian conception which is summed up in the phrase 'husband of his mother'."[ ] In Indian myth, Indra is then the 'son of Kali' just as Horus is the son of Isis, and just as the 'Jesus' of The Shack is the son of 'Papa' - Papa says that "Jesus is her son."[ ]
"Do you remember when Jesus drops a bowl and splashes food all over the 'black goddess' (Papa)? Lord Indra (the 'False Christ') is the king of the cosmic gods, according to Indian mythology. On the one hand, according to tradition, he is most powerful. On the other hand, because he makes mistakes, he does not remain fixed in his own transcendental height. The so-called modern world is not guided or shaped by Indra." The Watcher on the Wall goes on to say, "Although he won't reply, I believe that Paul Young knows exactly who these characters were meant to be, and I contend for the faith that it was not the God of the Bible! It's not just a novel, it's not great Christian literature, it's just Hinduism mass marketed to blind sheep."[21]
The human qualities of Indra are illustrated in this epic Hindu narrative: "Indra thereupon embraced him (Arjuna, the warrior) with his round and plump arms. And taking his hand, made him sit on a portion of his own seat. And, bending in humility, even took him upon his lap . . . Moved by affection, the wielder of the thunderbolt (Indra), patting and rubbing (him) gently with his own hands, which bore the marks of the thunderbolt, began to console him."[ ] In The Shack, we see 'Jesus' being portrayed as bearing the "marks" in his hands as well.
http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/iml/iml06.htm Indra, INDIAN MYTH AND LEGEND, by Donald Alexender Mackenzie, Ch. 1 - King of the Gods (Counterfeit of our King of Kings and Lord of Lords.)
It is interesting to note, aside from the similarity of name with the main character, Mackenzie Allen Philips, that Donald A. MacKenzie (1873-1936) was a journalist and prolific writer on religion, mythology and anthropology in the early 20th century. His works included Indian Myth and Legend (1913), Celtic Folklore and Myths of China and Japan, as well as Greek, Egyptian, Assyrian and Babylonian mythology. In his works, Indra is said to be the 'Harvest God and is likened to the Egyptian Ptah - God of Craftsmen, Rebirth and Creation, and Kali is said to be a symbol of wholeness and healing. Do any of these sound familiar with some of the themes in the book, The Shack?
Mackenzie also notes that, "The Sanskrit word "Ribhu" is sometimes compared with the Germanic word "Elf", likely that the Ribhus were originally terrestrial or aerial elves. They are evidently of common origin with the Teutonic elfin artisans who are associated with Thor, the Germanic Indra. The mother of the Ribhus was Saranyu (Sarayu?), daughter of Twashtri, the "master workman". Twashtri forms the organism in maternal wombs and supports the races of man. As we have seen, he was the fashioner of Indra's thunderbolt: similarly the Teutonic elfin artisan Sindre makes Thor's hammer. The Ribhus and Twashtri were the artisans of nature, the spirits of growth, the genii of the seasons, the elves of earth and air - all indicative of gardening, like the character Sarayu (Saranyu, mother of the Ribhus)!
'SARAYU': The Third Person of the 'Trinity' -
The Cult of Sara or Sarayu: At Les Saintes Maries de la Mere church in France, the Black Madonna is venerated as the patron saint of the Gypsies...they congregate and pay homage to the image they call, Kali Sara, or Sara-La-Kali. Sara-La-Kali is also known as Kali in the Spirit. Dr Matthew Fox wrote an article: The Return of the Black Madonna: A Sign of Our Times or How the Black Madonna Is Shaking Us Up for the Twenty-First Century. It states, "The Black Madonna calls us to our depths, to living spiritually and radically on this planet and not superficially and unthinkingly and oblivious to the grace that has begotten us in so many ways. The depths to which we are called include the depths of awe, wonder and delight-joy itself is a depth experience we need to re-entertain in the name of the Black Madonna. She calls us to enter into the depths of our pain, suffering and shared grief-not to run from it (Such as 'Papa' did with Mack?)...She calls us to the depths of our psyche which...are "dark" and to the depths of the earth (such as the cave of Sophia?), which are surely dark and to the depths of the sky that have also been rediscovered for all their darkness.
The Sarayu was a river in ancient India, flowing beside the ancient city of Ayodhya. Western observers who are familiar with Hindu religious customs have identified this ceremony with the Durga Pooja of India In Romani, Kali Sara means Black Sara and in India, the Goddess Kali is known as Kali/Durga/Sara. Like the Hindus, the Roma practice Shaktism, the worship of Goddesses. In other words, the Roma who attend the pilgrimage to Les Saintes Maries in France and in other related ceremonies elsewhere honouring black female divinities, are in fact continuing to worship Kali/Durga/Sara their original Goddess in India. [20] Remember that we mentioned the Black Madonna Heresy: The Black Madonna - is Kali of the 'Black Queen' and her daughter is Sara-la-Kali (the Black Queen IN THE SPIRIT!)?
So, we have 'Papa' - who is Kali, the Black Madonna or the Black Queen; 'Sarayu' - her daughter Sara-la-Kali, who is the Black Queen IN THE SPIRIT (the 'Holy Spirit'); and of course 'Jesus', the son of Kali: The 'Jesus' of The Shack, who is clumsy, 'goofy', and described as being still 'fully human', is not our true, risen Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. In fact, he is never referred to as Christ even one time in The Shack. Likewise, 'Papa', who poses as both male and female, is not our Almighty God, God the Father. And, finally, the female spirit Sarayu is not the Holy Spirit - of whom it is said, "overshadowed Mary, the Mother of Jesus, and she conceived and bore a Son."
CONCLUSION:
'Papa' - ...is actually: The"Black Madonna" / Egyptian goddess Isis / Elousia / Kali / Male and Female Entity.
- 'Papa' is not the Almighty God of the Bible!
'Sarayu' - ...is actually: Saryu / "Sara-La-Kali" / Daughter of Kali / Kali In The Spirit / A Female Entity.
- 'Sarayu': the novel’s impersonation of the Holy Spirit as female contradicts Jesus’ clear statement that the Spirit is neither an “it” nor a “she,” but “He” (John 16:13). But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.
'Jesus' - ...is actually: Indra / A 'Jesus' who is "clumsy" and who "makes mistakes" / Still Fully Human, as portrayed in The Shack.
- Not the 'sinless lamb of God that taketh away the sins of the world', our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
'Sophia' - ...is actually: Minerva / Athena / Enki / Occult Goddess of 'Wisdom'.
- 'Sophia' is not "wisdom crying out in the street..."
The 'Trinity' - ...is actually: the Shakti / Shaci / Shachi / Shak / An imagined hermaphroditic (both male and female) trinity.
- Not the Holy Trinity of the Bible: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Were the characters in The Shack just a creation of the author's imagination, or did they so closely resemble the above Hindu deities for a reason? The characters in The Shack had to be as they were if indeed they were to portray these deities. The character of 'Papa' had to be a woman, and one who was black, if she was meant to portray Kali, the Black Goddess - 'Elousia', the Black Madonna. 'Sarayu' likewise had to be female if she was to portray Saryu, Saranyu the daughter of Kali - 'Sara-La-Kali', Kali In the Spirit. 'Jesus' is portrayed as a humble, very human, sometimes clumsy, carpenter-handyman with a large nose - just as is Indra, the Son of Kali! These three, this 'Trinity', meet in the 'Shakti' - The Tridevi 'Trinity' of Shaktism in the Hindu religion. Can it be coincidence?
Why? - Warren Smith, author of Reinventing Jesus Christ explains, "Without ascribing any ill motive to William Young and his book The Shack, the author’s use of spiritual creativity seems to give a “Christian” assent to the New Age/New Spirituality of the proposed New World Religion. His mixing of truth and error can become very confusing to readers, and God is not the author of confusion" (I Corinthians 14:33). Truth mixed with error results in “all error” — a direct refutation of the Emergent Church teaching to find “truth” wherever it may be found — including books like The Shack."[ ]
What 'truth' that may or may not be found in The Shack, is mixed with the poison of error. Rat poison is 99.999% good food, and only .001% poison - but it is still poison! “A little leaven leaventh the whole lump.” - Galatians 5:9 And there is a lot more than just a 'little leaven' here.
According to Smith, "What had been called 'new age' is now being presented as 'new gospel.' These 'new gospel' teachings are not new and have actually been around for centuries in one form or another. Whether it was ancient gnosticism, occultic teachings, or the present day 'new gospel' channelings, the bottom line has always been the same--everyone is a part of God. This (other) 'Christ' ...explains that his 'new gospel' will unify the world's major religions and bring peace to the world. He has communicated these 'new gospel' teachings to his designated teachers, who in turn are now conveying these same teachings to the rest of the world."[ ] - including through books like The Shack.
The apostle Paul went to great lengths to warn the Corinthians not to be deceived by a "Jesus" that wasn't Jesus Christ the Son of God, a spirit that wasn't the Holy Spirit and a gospel that was not the true biblical Gospel (2 Corinthians 11:4). Throughout the New Testament, believers are continually warned not to be deceived by spiritual teachings and experiences that are not from God. Jesus Christ specifically warned his disciples that spiritual deception would be a sign of the end (Matthew 24:3-4). Do not allow yourself to get carried away by this story, while disregarding the book’s New Age/New Spirituality leaven, and therefore fall prey to the “truth-and-error” mixture that pervades The Shack."[ ] “And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” (1 Timothy 4:4)
Please do not 'turn your ears' and listen to the deceiver: "that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world." (Revelation 12:9) Be like the first century Bereans who tested their leaders and tested their teachings as they "searched the scriptures daily" to see "whether those things were so" (Acts 17:11). The Bible warns that we should not allow ourselves to be influenced or intimidated by teachings that originate not from God but from the spirit world and from the hearts of men. "Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils" (1 Timothy 4:1). A popular tagline for The Shack says, "Experience the heart and nature of God in the midst of human suffering." If you really want to know more about God, read the Word of God, not the words of William Paul Young and The Shack.
"But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed." Galatians 1:8
1. http://www.understandthetimes.org/yir2008.shtml
2. the shack
3. http://www.squidoo.com/ShackHeresy
4. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shakti
5. Ibid.
6. Ibid.
7. Ibid.
8. Ibid.
9. Ibid.
10. Ibid.
11. Ibid.
12. DeBruyn, Larry, "The Shack: 'Elousia' and the Black Madonna"
13. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sophia_(wisdom)
14. http://www.gregoryreid.com/id202.htm
13. http://spiritualemergency.blogspot.com/2006/01/kali-divine-mother.html
14.
15. http://www.squidoo.com/ShackHeresy
16. The Two Babylons
17. The Shack
18. http://wiredforstereo.blogspot.com/2008/02/answers-to-some-concerns-about-shack.html
19. http://www.spanishdict.com/translate/pope
20. http://www.squidoo.com/ShackHeresy
21. Ibid.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sophia_(wisdom) , http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minerva , and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wisdom http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shakti
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In regard to the very strong emotions that are felt when reading the opening chapters of The Shack:
Because of the emotional impact of reading good fiction, it can be easy to allow it to become manipulative and to allow the emotion of a moment to bypass our ability to discern what is true and what is not. This is another thing the reader must keep in mind. We cannot trust our laughter or our tears but must allow our powers of discernment to be trained to distinguish good from evil (see Hebrews 5:14). Discernment is primarily a Spirit-empowered discipline of the mind rather than an emotional response." Young did not write this book for the story. This book is all about the content and about the teaching it contains. The book’s reviews focus not on the quality of the story but on its spiritual or emotional impact. “Test everything; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil.” [ ]
http://www.challies.com/archives/book-reviews/the-shack-by-william-p-young.php
Why would a book, especially one that is supposed to be a 'Christian' book be so interested in provoking such strong emotion in its readers? I can't say for sure, but the preceding quote gives us some insight as to the possible reason, i.e., to bypass our ability to discern what is true and what is not. If this is the case, and the makers of this book had less than noble intentions, then perhaps there is yet another reason as well. This highly emotional effect may not have been a conscious intention on the part of the author, but if this book is being used by the 'enemy of our souls' to deceive many in the faith, then the following may have some merit.
I would not even have entertained this thought if, while reading this book, I did not also have a very strong emotional reaction - especially as a parent myself. I do quite a lot of reading, and have never run across a book that provoked that deep of an emotional response. I wondered at the reasoning behind this and ran across this information, for what it's worth. If you are a person of faith, you believe in a spirit world, and know that there are evil spirits as well as good ones. Do the not-so-nice ones get anything out of our emotional reactions? Could this be one of the reasons that the Word of God says to, "set no evil thing before my eyes." ( ) The battle is in the mind!
Demons are said to feed off of fear and negative emotions. A tragic story can also do that in the sense of provoking or producing these very emotions! When we feed our emotions, and therefore our 'demons', we are using our imagination consciously (as when reading and forming mental pictures of a scene...) What is a demon? A demon, in true form, is generally an entity made of 99.9% energy; i.e. an energy body. The one thing that really all demons seem to have in common is our affinity with chaos. Demons love watching humans and trying to understand why they act the way they do. (Perhaps also when they are reading/watching a story which produces certain strong emotions.) In natural form, demons feed on energy/emotions that living beings emit, and there are even some who provoke peope to release energy. A tragic story can certainly do that![ ] http://www.dream-link.org/spiritualthings/heavymetal.htm
Great Spirit (Mentioned on pp. 28 - 31 of The Shack as being "the same as God.") - Further, the One True God of the Bible does not, and has never, required human and/or child sacrifice; (as in the legend of the daughter of a Multnomah Indian chief whose sacrificial death was required to stop a devastating illness among the warriors of their tribe.) When Abraham was willing to sacrifice his son Isaac to God as instructed by Him, God gave instead a substitutionary sacrifice as a picture of the substitutionary sacrifice of Jesus Christ. (Genesis 22:1 - 19) Also, in the Old Testament God condemns the practice of child sacrifice to Baal as was being practiced by the Israelites. (Jeremiah 19:5) Can there really be many kinds of redemption for man as suggested in The Shack, or just the one and only as the Bible says, through Jesus Christ - our Lord and Savior?!
The online encyclopedia, Wikipedia, defines The Great Spirit as, "A conception of a supreme being prevalent among some Native American and First Nations cultures. Also called Wakan Tanka among the Sioux The Creator, or The Great Maker in English and Gitchi Manitou (The term manitou (or 'mana') refers to the concept of one aspect of the interconnection and balance of nature/life, similar to the East Asian concept of qi; in simpler terms it can refer to a spirit. This spirit is seen as a person as well as a concept. Everything has its own manitou— every plant, every stone and, since their invention, even machines. These manitous do not exist in a hierarchy like European gods/goddesses, but are more akin to one part of the body interacting with another and the spirit of everything; the collective is named Gitchi Manitou.) in Algonquian , the Great Spirit is a synchretist conception of God . The Great Spirit is personal, close to the people, and immanent in the fabric of the material world." (God in all and through all...)
(A COUNTERFEIT!) - "The Great Spirit is generally considered the nearest equivalent (but not God), in description to the God of the main monotheistic religions (such as Judaism, Christianity and Islam). These religions often describe a being who is all-powerful, all-knowing, and all-loving. They believe that God speaks through human intermediaries and issues spiritual laws that human beings are to follow, and an afterlife is promised. However the Great Spirit differs in that his panentheistic nature is especially emphasized; he is embodied in everything. This more closely resembles the Hindu conception of the divine (Brahman), rather than the embodied concept of the Holy Spirit. Regardless, the Great Spirit being the Native American conception of God has been reinforced such as how some Native American tribes even talk about the Great Spirit's son was sent down from the sun to die for the people of earth; an obvious connection with Jesus Christ. (Not an obvious connection with Jesus Christ, only a similarity. (Satan can never be the same as God - and Jesus is God - Satan only attempts to be similar. "I will be like the Most High..." Isaiah 14:13-15). Some Native American tribes even have the six cardinal rules which are very similar to the Ten Commandments. (Except that there are only 6 instead of 10...! Again, 'similar', but not the same.)[ ] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Spirit
A good Counterfeit is often one that is exact in nearly every detail. In the counterfeiting of money, it takes a very well trained 'eye' to detect the flaw that will reveal it as a counterfeit. Even though there may be only one minor flaw - undetectable to most! - even this one flaw will reveal the entire bill to of course be of a counterfeit origin and therefore not a real bill at all. How does one train to detect a counterfeit bill? Is it by studying many counterfeit bills that exist? No! It is by careful study of the real thing! Likewise, we as believers should study the 'real thing' - the true Word of God as given to us in His infallible, inspired, God-breathed, inerrant holy scriptures, the Bible. This is the only way one can ever have true discernment.
The apostle Paul chided the Corinthians and warned them that they were vulnerable and extremely susceptible to “another Jesus” and “another gospel” and “another spirit” that were not from God (2 Corinthians 2:11). In the Bible, the real Jesus Christ warned that spiritual deception would be a sign before His return. He further warned that there would be those who would even come in His name, pretending to be Him (Matthew 24:3-5;24). Do not allow yourself to get carried away by this story, while disregarding the book’s New Age/New Spirituality leaven, and therefore fall prey to the “truth-and-error” mixture that pervades The Shack. “And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” (1 Timothy 4:4)
Kali - Hindu Goddess who liberates souls
www.goddess.ws/kali.htmlMother Kali is the most misunderstood of the Hindu goddesses. ... Shiva and Kali grant liberation by removing the illusion of the ego. ... Ma Kali wears a garland of skulls and a skirt of dismembered arms because the ego arises out of identification with the body.
Definition by Mark Cartwright http://www.ancient.eu/Kali/
published on 21 June 2013
Kali is the Hindu goddess (or Devi) of death, time, and doomsday and is often associated with sexuality and violence but is also considered a strong mother-figure and symbolic of motherly-love. Kali also embodies shakti - feminine energy, creativity and fertility - and is an incarnation of Parvati, wife of the great Hindu god Shiva. She is most often represented in art as a fearful fighting figure with a necklace of heads, skirt of arms, lolling tongue, and brandishing a knife dripping with blood.
Name & Worship
"Kali’s name derives from the Sanskrit meaning ‘she who is black’ or ‘she who is death'. Goddess of destruction and wife of Shiva, who himself is the destroyer of all things and leader of evil spirits, ghosts and vampires and master of thieves, villains and beggars."
Introduction – The truth about The Shack…from a Biblical perspective
Chapter 1 – THE SHACK - Parallels to the 'Shakti' of Hinduism
Chapter 2 - EASTERN MYSTICISM: The (Un-) 'Holy' Trinity
Chapter 3 - EAST MEETS WEST: (In the "Shack")
Chapter 4 - KUNDALINI: ('Serpent' Power, Rev. 12:9)
Chapter 5 - SOPHIA: (True 'Wisdom'?)
Chapter 6 - Kundalini, 'Wisdom' & The Serpent
Chapter 7 - 'PAPA': The First Person of the 'Trinity' of The Shack
Back Cover: The Shack, the popular ‘Christian’ novel written by Wm. Paul Young, has brought comfort to many who have read it. However, from a Biblical point of view, there are many doctrinal problems with the spirituality presented in his book.
While ‘just’ a novel, The Shack is claimed to be based on Christian spirituality, but it more closely resembles that of the Hinduism. The ‘comfort’ offered in this book is better found from the true Comforter, the Holy Spirit of the one true God of the Bible.
John 14:26
But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
John 15:26
But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:
INTRODUCTION: The truth about The Shack…from a Biblical perspective
I didn't initially set out to write an expose such as the one that follows. However, after reading The Shack, by Wm. Paul Young and following with further research, I felt led to put forth some information that I had uncovered on the subject raised of the particular ‘spirituality’ presented in this novel.
As a work of bible-based ‘fiction’ the book is intended to be based mainly on Christian belief and faith. It is very problematic then to find that there are numerous unscriptural elements noted throughout The Shack that pique your discernment, and that run contrary to scripture many times.
In most stories of fiction, even those based on historical fact, some 'artistic license' is allowable. However, when you are writing a novel based on Christian principles, it is very ill-advised to stray from true Biblical teaching lest you come into grave error and lead yourself, and others, astray.
To be sure, there are both positive and negative elements in this book, and both stand out upon first reading it: It makes you laugh; it makes you cry; it makes you fear; and most of all to grieve alongside with the main character – especially if you have ever lost someone very close to your heart.
These elements however tend to cause the reader to temporarily suspend some of their spiritual reason and discernment due to the highly emotionally aspects in the story: from the shocking depths of loss and despair to the awe-inspiring heights of newly found peace and restoration.
Join me on this journey to look beyond the ‘shock and awe’ in the storyline and uncover some of the hidden deeper meanings in its spirituality … and decide for yourself if there is more to this book, The Shack, than initially meets the eye.
CHAPTER 1: THE SHACK - Parallels to Hinduism and the coming One-World Church
The juggernaut of a 'new-age', 'new world order' religion is earnestly bearing down and headed our way. I immediately noticed several 'New-Age' and 'ecumenical' elements in reading The Shack, but upon deeper investigation there appeared to be even more parallels with 'new-age' and pagan belief systems than had first met the eye.
The pagan and 'New Age' elements in the book may or may not be intentional; however, the parallels are striking. If they are indeed intentional, it is just one more sign of the infiltration of New Age belief into the Christian church. Though not an exhaustive work on the subject, one can draw their own conclusions from the evidence presented here.
The following excerpt from an article by Roger Oakland of Understand the Times is a fitting introduction to the dangers of some of the beliefs contrary to biblical Christianity that are entering the modern Christian church through many new practices and teachings - one of these being the subject in question, the New York Times bestseller, The Shack.
Mr. Oakland states: (emphasis mine)
"Christianity based on faith in the Word of God continues to be under attack from all angles. The emerging church continues to promote Roman Catholic experiences and contemplative eastern meditative practices ('Christian' mysticism). The gospel of Jesus Christ is clearly being redefined in order to prepare for a wide path that is open to people of all faith. This wide path is leading towards an ecumenical union with the Roman Church."
"Not only are the 'separated brethren' being drawn back into the fold, it is apparent that the religions of the world are being drawn into a global plan that is uniting all religions for the cause of peace with headquarters in Rome. It is also important to note the role that 'Mary - the mother of the Eucharist' and her son, the 'Eucharistic Jesus' play in this global ecumenical agenda." [1]
Many of the elements mentioned in the article by Mr. Oakland - particularly that of Eastern Mysticism and Ecumenical Union - are found deeply woven within the storyline and characters of The Shack. As mentioned above, Mary - the mother of the Eucharist" and her son, the "Eucharistic Jesus" will play a role in the coming global ecumenical agenda.
Likewise, two of the main characters in The Shack seem to typify this 'Mother of Jesus' and 'Jesus the son' relationship. The character of God, who goes by the name of 'Papa' in the book, is portrayed as a large black woman who points out that the 'Jesus' in this story is "her son". [2]
This is, of course, in direct contrast to the Holy Bible which states very clearly that God is the Father, and Jesus is his one and only begotten son. (John 1:14; John 3:16)
Yes, the Bible does tell us that Mary was indeed the mother of Jesus - it certainly does not tell us, however, that God was his mother. While The Shack is purportedly ‘just a novel’, it should still stick to the basic truth of the story of God, Jesus and Mary without blurring the important distinctions made between these biblical characters.
The Shack does seem to seek to 'deify' Mary in making her, the mother of Jesus, 'God'? Or does it seek to possibly now give God the role of being Jesus' mother in place of Mary? Or, further, perhaps to let God share in that role...Yes, perhaps, but I think that there's more.
I think, rather, that the blending of these separate roles - a bringing together of these identities - may be intended to make them more or less ‘one and the same’, the reasons for which will become increasingly clearer as we continue further with our study here.
CHAPTER 2: EASTERN MYSTICISM - The (Un-) 'Holy' Trinity of The Shack
In considering a connection with 'Eastern Mysticism' in The Shack, first, let's take a look at the very name of the book itself. On the surface of the story, the ‘Shack' refers to just that, a remote shack in the Oregon wilderness, while also being a metaphor of the main character, Mack's, 'darkest nightmare'.
It is in this shack that his youngest daughter, Missy, may have been brutally murdered. As the story unfolds, The Shack becomes a moving allegory of God's grace in the midst of great tragedy and sadness. I am not without empathy for the character of 'Mack', Mackenzie Allen Philips. I can certainly imagine the deep emotion that the loss of a child would bring, especially under the horrific circumstances of abduction and murder.
All the truly heart-rending emotion aside, though, if this story is viewed somewhat more objectively, elements of a different sort begin to appear that transcend a mere story about a father's loss and suffering, and subsequent reconciliation with God. While this story is indeed a work of fiction, it is however meant to be based on Christian belief and faith.
However, many elements in this book point to a very different kind of 'faith' than that put forth in the true Word of God. While I am willing to give the author, William Paul Young, the benefit of the doubt, there is much more in the story of The Shack akin to a 'New Age' belief system than there is to the Bible itself.
In the story’s narrative, there are far too many 'coincidental' parallels that can be drawn with many of the New Age influences currently entering the Church - particularly those such as Eastern Mysticism, Universalism, and Ecumenism - for it to be a mere 'coincidence'.
Though certainly not the most obvious, or telling, of these many 'coincidences’, I will start with the name on the cover of the book, The Shack, as this is the very first thing most readers will encounter. This name has been said to have a possible connection to the religion of Hinduism in the form of the Sanskrit word 'Shakti' or 'Shaci'…
An article entitled 'Hidden Heresies of The Shack' asks, "Is it pure luck that "The Shack" and Shaci sound alike, and that Kali in the form of Elousia (the Black Madonna), her daughter Sara-La-Kali (Saryu or Sarayu), and Indra (a false 'Christ' who makes his appearance in India), all meet together in the form Shaci like they meet in The Shack?" [3]
This may seem at first to be rather far-fetched as a ‘one-off’ until you observe the many parallels between the 'Shack' of this story, and the ‘Shakti’ (or Shaci) of Hinduism. For instance, two of the three characters in the (un-) holy 'trinity' of the shakti, and of The Shack, even have nearly, and even exactly, the same name.
A name used in The Shack for the character of ‘Papa’ (God) is Elousia. This is also the name of the Hindu goddess Kali of the Shakt trinityi in the form of Elousia, the Black Madonna. Additionally, Sarayu is the name for Holy Spirit (of God) in the story of The Shack. This name is also used in Hinduism as being the name of the daughter of Kali: Saryu, or Saranyu,
These names for the daughter of Kali are used to denote ‘Kali-in-the-Spirit’ (Kali's Spirit), or Sara-La-Kali. So, Sarayu (Sanskrit for ‘wind’) is the name of the ‘holy’ spirit of Kali, just as it is used as the name in The Shack to represent the ‘holy spirit’ of God. But, again, not the God, or Holy Spirit, of the Bible.
The Hindu concept of Shakti is of a male-female / god-goddess deity, and a ‘trinity’ that meet together in a ‘Shakti’ or ‘sacred force’. This is exactly what we see in The Shack with the personification of God and the Holy Spirit as female characters, with the addition of Jesus – and these three all meeting in the ‘shack’.
Following is a definition from Wikipedia of this Hindu concept of the Shakti which will help to further show its connection to 'The Shack' -
"Shakti, from Sanskrit shak - "to be able," meaning sacred force or empowerment, is the primordial cosmic energy and represents the dynamic forces that move through the entire universe. Shakti is the concept, or personification, of divine feminine creative power, sometimes referred to as 'The Great Divine Mother' in Hinduism. On the earthly plane, Shakti most actively manifests through female embodiment ('Papa' / Sarayu) and fertility - while also existing in males ('Jesus'), in its potential, unmanifest form." [4]
As portrayed in The Shack, the female embodiment of the sacred force in ‘Shakti’ is manifested in the female form of 'Papa' (as well as 'Sarayu,' a female personification of the Holy Spirit). As stated above, “Shakti most actively manifests through female embodiment, while also existing in males." [5]
This male embodiment in The Shack is seen in the character of 'Jesus’ and 'Papa' (God) often refers to herself as ‘The Mother’, and to Jesus as her son. As we also saw above, "Shakti is the concept sometimes referred to as 'The Great Divine Mother'." [6] This female Papa-God, Elouisa, is just exactly that.
The article on Shaktism in the Wikipedia online dictionary continues:
"In Shaktism, Shakti is worshiped as the Supreme Being... Shakti embodies the active feminine energy. Not only is the Shakti responsible for creation, it also the agent of all change. Shakti is cosmic existence as well as liberation... Shakti exists in a state of dependence on no-one, being interdependent with the entire universe.” [7]
The Shakti – The Shack – is a ‘force’, a predominantly female energy. It is an un-holy trinity forged from the ‘union’ of Kali (Papa/God/Elouisa), Sarayu ((Saryu/Saranyu), and Indra (‘Jesus’/a false 'Christ'), who meet together in the form of Shakti, or Shaci, just like they meet in The Shack.
CHAPTER 3 - EAST MEETS WEST: (In the "Shack")
As described in Chapter 2 in regard to the Hindu belief of 'Shaktism', Shakti is worshiped as the Supreme Being... Shakti embodies the active feminine energy. Not only is the Shakti responsible for creation, it also the agent of all change. Shakti is cosmic existence as well as liberation...
"Shakti exists in a state of svātantrya, dependence on no-one, being interdependent with the entire universe." [7]
These same aspects - those of being creation's caretaker, an agent of change, having cosmic existence, liberation, and interdependence with the entire universe - are all clearly seen in the descriptions that 'Papa' (God) gives of herself The Shack; but they are not at all consistent with the description of God Almighty in the Bible.
It is, however, consistent with the description of the Shakti concept in Hinduism – the ‘god’ who merges with itself and with all of creation - and even the universe itself. This vague universalism is at complete odds with the distinct personage of the God of the Holy Bible.
In The Shack, we have a ‘trinity’ consisting of a female personification of God in the form of a black woman named Papa, a young Jewish carpenter who is a handyman named 'Jesus', and an Asian woman in embroidered blue-jeans who is a gardener named Sarayu (from the Sanskrit word for 'wind'), who personifies the Holy Spirit.
These three live together in 'The Shack'. (The three - the 'trinity' - meet in the shakti, in the 'Shack'; they are independent of each other, while at the same time interdependent - not only with each other, but the entire universe - this is the Hindu 'panentheistic' concept of God manifested "in and through all things.")
The "trinity" of the Shakti is described as, "The Tridevi (three Goddesses, who can also manifest as male) - the conjoined forms of Lakshmi , Parvati and Saraswati - who are considered Shaktis of the Trimurti- Vishnu, Shiva and Brahma respectively." [8]
These three - the 'trinity' - the Tridevi - meet in the shakti; or, in The 'Shack' as do the three characters of the 'trinity' in the book of this name. Furthermore, the Shakti Tridevi is worshiped as the Supreme Being; the "three-in-one", a counterfeit to the Holy Trinity of the Bible.
At this point we should stop to ask ourselves if we are possibly being introduced to another view of God through The Shack - one that is contrary to the God of the Bible - who exists in 'The Shakti' in the form of a Trinity as the Tridevi (the Triple Goddess), who also can manifest as either male or female, as they do in the book.
Consider the following:
"Adi Shakti is a Hindu concept of the ultimate Shakti, the ultimate feminine power inherent in all Creation. This is especially prevalent in the Shakta denomination within Hinduism, which worships the Goddess Devi in all Her manifestations. Shaktism regards Devi (lit., 'the Goddess') as the Supreme Brahman itself, the 'one without a second', with all other forms of divinity, female or male, considered to be merely Her diverse manifestations." [9]
Papa, 'God', is portrayed as a woman throughout most of the book, however she is also portrayed as a man later on at the end – …in all her ‘diverse manifestations’. This then is not the God of the Bible who states throughout the scriptures, "I am he...", but rather the Supreme Being of the Hindu religion in disguise.
Let's look further:
"Like Shiva-associated Shaktism, Shakti embodies the active feminine energy and power of male supreme deity Vishnu. As Vishnu is the Father who stands for absolute justice, Sri is the Mother of the universe and is considered to be an important element in the redemption of mankind, and is the interceder with Vishnu on behalf of spiritual seekers." [10]
Papa is seen to have an intercessory role as 'Mediatrix', just as does the 'Black Madonna' icon, Elousia, which again is incidentally also the name given to the Papa character in The Shack. In the preceding quote, 'Sri, Mother of the universe', is considered to be an important element in the redemption of mankind. In the book, Papa is shown to have the exact same scars from the Crucifixion as 'Jesus', therefore portraying 'her' to be co-redeemer with Jesus.
'Co-redemptrix' is one of the titles also given to 'Mary', mother of Jesus, in the Catholic faith. So again we see the gospel being redefined in order to prepare a wide path that is open to people of all faith - a wide path that is leading towards an ecumenical union with the Roman Church, and an eventual union with all the religions of the world.
CHAPTER 4 - KUNDALINI: ('Serpent' Power, Rev. 12:9) -
A fourth 'entity', in addition to the 'trinity' of The Shack - Papa, 'Jesus', and Sarayu - is Sophia, or 'wisdom'. Sophia portrays the mysterious 'psycho-spiritual force' of the Shakti. She is also connected in the book to a Kundalini type of experience – yet another Hindu concept.
The relation of Kundalini to Shaktism is described in this definition of the Shakti:
"A cosmic existence as well as liberation, its most significant form being the Kundalini-shakti, a mysterious psychospiritual force. Shakti Force is described as, "Devi Prakriti (a Shakti) in the context of Shaktis as forces unifies Kundalini, Kriya, Itcha, Para, Jnana, Mantrika Shaktis. Each is in a chakra." [11]
Shakti is then, in part, defined as 'Liberation'. This aspect of the Shakti is portrayed in the book as well. It is after the main character’s meeting with this mysterious person Sophia that 'Mack', finally begins to feel 'liberated', or set free, from his great burden of sadness.
In addition to this 'Liberation' there is also a connection to the Kundalini force, the 'Kundalini-Shakti' mentioned above. This connection to a Kundalini type of experience is seen in the interaction between Mack and Sophia upon their meeting in the dark cave.
Pastor Larry DeBruyn exposes this connection in the following 'Herescope' article entitled, "The Shack: 'Elousia' and the Black Madonna’:
"Kundalini is Sanskrit for “snake” or “serpent power,” named as such because of the belief that it lies coiled within the body ready to strike at any moment. (see Gen 3:1) Kundalini describes the mystical experience when energy enters the body and arouses the “sleeping serpent” via the chakras, vortices that penetrate the body and the body’s aura, through which various energies, including the universal life force, are received, transformed, and distributed."
"When that happens, . . .this transient moment of arousal is defined to include, 'physical sensations . . . clairaudience, visions, brilliant lights . . . ecstasy, bliss, and transcendence of self.' With this description in mind, let’s look at one incident in The Shack to see if Mack, the novel’s main character, experienced kundalini." [12]
Upon hearing the sensual Sophia ask him, during his journey into the darkness, 'Do you understand why you’re here’? The novel records that, ‘Mack could almost feel her words (clairaudience) rain down on his head first (the 7th chakra) and melt into his spine (the 1st chakra), sending delicious tingles everywhere.’ (the 2nd chakra)"
"He shivered (physical sensations) and decided that he never wanted to speak again (transcendence of self). He only wanted her to talk (bliss) . . .' (Shack, p. 153). What do you think? Did Mack experience kundalini? If so, then it came to him at a spontaneous moment in the darkness via the voice of the goddess-like Sophia." [13]
The word used in The Shack to describe Mack’s impression of Sophia is ‘sensual’…
https://truthwithsnares.org/2016/12/04/the-ungodly-truth-about-the-shack-a-short-bookmovie-review/
CHAPTER 5 - SOPHIA: ('Wisdom')
In this chapter, we’ll explore the meanings and uses in both history and the occult of the name Sophia itself. Sophia is known as the Greek and occult goddess of wisdom:
"Sophia (Greek for 'wisdom') is a central term in Hellenistic philosophy and religion, Platonism, Gnosticism, Theosophy, and Esoteric Christianity, as well as Christian mysticism. Sophiology is a philosophical concept regarding wisdom, as well as a theological concept regarding the wisdom of God.*"
"Sophia, or Sofya, is one of the four cardinal virtues of Plato's Protagoras. (Wisdom is also personified in the deities of Minerva and Athena.) In Mesopotamian religion and mythology, Enki, also known as Ea, was the God of wisdom and intelligence. Wisdom was achieved by restoring balance. In Norse mythology, the god Odin is especially known for his wisdom." [14]
*Paul refers to this concept deconstructing worldly wisdom, and sets worldly wisdom against a higher wisdom of God:
"Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?" (1 Corinthians 1:20)
"But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory." (1 Corinthians 2:7)
Conversely, the wisdom of 'Sophia' in The Shack is a worldly wisdom that encourages Mack to 'use his own imagination' and to 'judge for himself', in contrast to our admonition to, "Test everything according to the scriptures." He meets Sophia in a place of 'darkness', the darkness of the soul.
In regard to the occult roots of 'Sophia', Gregory Reid relates this in his article, The Dark Night of the Shack: A Parable of Illusions:
"Two decades ago, the New Age began to partner with the dead, carnal Western organized church denominations. That melding, in part, took place through both the 'Gaia' (mother earth) concept and the 'Sophia' movement – and the Sophia conferences, which were designed to rewrite the gender specific references in the Bible concerning God, emasculate and feminize God, destroy church Patriarchy, and as a result, introduce 'new ways' of worshipping 'God' – through a variety of New Age and occultic means, including Wiccan worship, crystal healing, etc."
"Thankfully it didn’t get widespread acceptance, but the Sophia concepts and conferences are still going on, and if you do a little internet searching, you will find that most of the sites are New Age and occult websites. Because Sophia is an occult concept, she is the acknowledged goddess of wisdom in the occult world, and even they trace her origins back to the days of Solomon, when his marriage to pagan wives (which became his downfall) caused him to bring the worship of the goddess Asherah into the house of the Lord."
"She is known by many names in the occult and pagan worlds, and one of the most well-known is Sophia. In other words, the Sophia concept and movement is the deliberately designed incursion of goddess worship into the house of God today – even if disguised as 'Papa'. All the occult, Wiccan and Pagan world acknowledges Sophia as the one known originally as Asherah." [15]
Asherah is, incidentally, just another of the many names for Satan himself (who manifests as both male and female) - the one who gave us 'wisdom' by opening our eyes to the knowledge of good and evil....
CHAPTER 6 - Kundalini, 'Wisdom' & The Serpent Together -
In Part 5 of our study on The Shack, by Wm. Paul Young, we discussed the character of Sophia met briefly in the book. In it, Sophia is portrayed as wisdom - as God's wisdom, in fact. However, Sophia is in actuality an occult concept and is the Greek and occult goddess of 'wisdom', not God's true wisdom.
The female deity of Sophia also has a connection to the 'Serpent' through Gnostic and occult Wisdom traditions. Sophia is linked to the 'Serpent Power' within known as Kundalini in Yoga and Hinduism. The following definition of Kundalini is from the Wikipedia Online Encyclopedia:
"Kundalini (Sanskrit for 'coiled'), is an unconscious, instinctive or libidinal force, or Shakti, envisioned either as a goddess or else as a sleeping serpent coiled at the base of the spine. When Kundalini Shakti is conceived as a goddess, then, when it rises to the head, it unites itself with the Supreme Being." [16]
In Secrets of the Serpent: In Search of the Sacred Past, researcher and author Philip Gardiner posts the theory that mankind's history began with a cult that worshipped snakes and serpents. His documentary uses mythology to make its case. He posits that Serpent worship was widespread in ancient tradition.
And so it was, from the fall of Man, and will be to the end of the present age. (Rev. 12:9 - "...that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan.")
Many methods were used by ancient man to access this Serpent Power within and his own 'internal world' known as Kundalini. However, there is danger in this as Gardiner informs us, "This access into the 'internal world', if uncontrolled, can cause serious mental problems. Even today, the Kundalini experience, linked to the 'road to enlightenment' can and has caused psychosis."
He continues, "The snake was worshipped and revered across the globe in ancient times and in every instance, the practice and rituals of worship were the same and based on the same core 'truths'. Early Gnostics, 'Ophites', worshipped the Serpent for his 'wise' attributes. They drank from the ritual cup of their 'good serpent'. This was an early Eucharist Ritual."
"The connection of the Serpent to Gnostic and occult wisdom traditions is seen through the hidden female deity symbol of Sophia. This is all based around the belief in the 'Enlightenment' experience through the inner serpent which was quite simply expressed as the access to the core center of reality." [17]
This experience is not unlike Mack's experience with Sophia in the cave nearby to the Shack. This process of ‘enlightenment’ is revealed in the balancing out of two serpentine elements or energies known together as the Kundalini which itself means 'Coiled Serpent'.
We see this expressed in the 'Caduceus', the wand of Hermes, or Mercury. The wisdom of the serpent was seen as the internal dialogue within man whereby he must unite the male and female principles of himself in order to be whole" (As seen in the 'Yin' and 'Yang' principle in Taoism.)
However, the Bible states that it is, "The fear of God (that) is the beginning of wisdom." (Prov. 9:10)
While I would not base my theology on the beliefs of Philip Gardiner, he is a foremost expert and researcher in ancient serpent worship. He himself has noted that, "It's time to decide where our true history lies."
Indeed, does our history lie with the 'Serpent', or with the one true God of the Bible? How about our future? Yes, many cultures did worship this Serpent and has woven itself throughout history, but truly the Serpent is the one "...who didst weaken the Nations!" (Isaiah 14:12)
CHAPTER 7 - 'PAPA': The First Person of the 'Trinity' of The Shack
In our discussion of The Shack, and its resemblance to the Shakti of Hinduism, we have noted that the character of ‘Papa’, portrayed in the book as a black woman, is actually a representation of the goddess Kali rather than the God of the Bible.
In Hinduism, the color black is one of the symbolic aspects of Kali. In this description of her, we can see the parallel to 'Papa' and the 'Shakti' goddess religion, both who are represented as a black woman:
"Kali is represented as a Black woman...Kali's blackness symbolizes her all-embracing, comprehensive nature, because black is the color in which all other colors merge; black absorbs and dissolves them.”
'Just as all colors disappear in black, so all names and forms disappear in her'. Black is said to represent the total absence of color, again signifying the nature of Kali as ultimate reality."
"This in Sanskrit is named as nirguna (beyond all quality and form). Either way, Kali's black color symbolizes her transcendence of all form. The origin of the name Kali, which is the feminine form of 'Kala', is the Sanskrit term for Time.
“Kali dwells where dissolution takes place. In terms of devotion and worship, this denotes the dissolving of attachments, anger, lust, and other binding emotions, feelings, and ideas. The heart of the devotee is where this burning takes place, and it is in the heart that Kali dwells. The devotee makes her image in his heart and under her influence burns away all limitations and ignorance..." [19]
In fact, "Kali’s name derives from the Sanskrit meaning ‘she who is black’ or ‘she who is death’. While being associated with violence and destruction, “Kali also embodies shakti - feminine energy, creativity and fertility and is considered a strong mother-figure and symbolic of motherly-love.”
In The Shack, we see Mack being 'embraced' by the all-encompassing 'Papa' and he is asked by her to 'dissolve' his attachments of 'anger, binding emotions, feeling, and ideas'. This is exactly what is mentioned above in the description of Kali herself. This ‘dissolving of emotion’ is what is meant here by the 'taking of her into his heart' –
But this is not at all the same as receiving Jesus into our hearts and into our lives as Lord and Savior. When one comes to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ and what he has done for us at the Cross, it is through Him alone and not an act of a ‘dissolution of emotion’ through our own imperfect efforts.
Do you really want to find your salvation in the arms of a Hindu ‘devi’ goddess of death and damnation? It is at best a ‘false salvation’ from a ‘false idol’ with an apparent identity crisis. This not-so-benevolent Kali is represented in association with death and violence as a fearful fighting figure with a garland of skulls, skirt of dismembered arms and a lolling tongue.
She is further shown with a knife in one hand, and a severed head in the other, both dripping with blood. She is also said to be the wife of Shiva, who himself is the "destroyer of all things and leader of evil spirits, ghosts and vampires and master of thieves, villains and beggars."
Definition by Mark Cartwright http://www.ancient.eu/Kali/ published on 21 June 2013
The Bible has this to say about a 'lolling tongue' and ‘false idols’ in Isaiah 57:3-5:
"But draw near hither, ye sons of the sorceress, the seed of the adulterer and the whore. Against whom make ye a wide mouth, and draw out the tongue? are ye not children of transgression, a seed of falsehood... Enflaming yourselves with idols."
The following is worth keeping in mind as well in regard to the Hindu concept of ‘salvation’ which is man-centered and devoid of belief in sin and therefore any true atonement:
"In Hinduism, they don't believe that you're a sinner, they believe you are ignorant of your divinity." http://muddystreams.wordpress.com/2012/11/19/saddleback-church-and-holy-yoga/
The following description of Elousia further brings together the identities of Kali/Papa and Elousia/the Black Madonna:
SHAKTI & KALI:
ELOUSIA & THE 'BLACK MADONNA'"Elousia is Greek for tenderness. It is also the title of a Catholic icon depicting the Madonna and the baby Jesus. The icon shows the tenderness between Our Lord and His Mother, emphasizing the humanity of the Son of God. If you look up Elousia or Elousea she is always the Virgin Mary, in the form of the Black Madonna, not God The Father.
This particular Elousia, The Black Madonna, came from the middle East and is the same Character as The goddess Kali/Surga/Durga. This miraculous image given the title, Our Lady of Vladimir, is known as an Elousea, the Greek word meaning Mother of Tenderness. The icon of the Virgin Mary and Christ child is ...In the Greek, in the Orthodox traditions, called elousia, and that word 'elousia' comes to mean a universal, loving kindness, that reaches out to the entire world." [20]
"Ousia , is the Ancient Greek noun formed on the feminine present participle for the Greek verb "to be" (remember that Shakti, from the Sanskrit shak meant "to be able," meaning sacred force or empowerment, is the primordial cosmic energy). When you add the word el in front, you are now speaking of the Black Madonna, the cultic symbol of the Madonna and Child, the Babylonian symbol of Isis and Osiris."[21] So El-Ousia, or Elousia, is the Black Madonna. (From "The Two Babylons")
states of The Shack that, "This book is nothing more than a clever re-telling of the Black Madonna heresy: The Black Madonna - Kali of the Black Queen and her daughter Sara-la-Kali (the Black Queen in the spirit), and finally Christ as the grown Osiris of Babylonian text. If you read Reverend Dr Matthew Fox's article on the Black Madonna, available on his website, the coincidences are too close, then do a little research on the Cult of Sara, and the picture becomes clear. 'Papa' the black female and male god/goddess, Sarayu, Sara-la-kali, and Osiris, from the Madonna and Child as Jesus. No wonder the emergent church is moved by this work. It is classic icon worship wrapped in a veil of Christianity. They move from the concrete foundation of the Rock to the instability of a Shack on the sand."[18]
In The Shack, Papa says "You may call me Elousia it is just a name I am rather fond of and has particular meaning to me". (I would suppose it also had 'a particular meaning' to the author, Wm. Paul Young as well.) Later in the book 'Jesus' explains to Mack, "Elousia That is a wonderful name. El is my name as Creator God, but ousia is 'being' or 'that which is truly real', so the name means the Creator God who is truly real and the ground of all being. From "The Shack"[22]
This next statement, though it was originally used as a support for the message in The Shack, is very telling: "Elousia, if you do a quick search, you will find out is Greek for tenderness. It is also the title of a Catholic icon depicting the Madonna and the baby Jesus. Critics jump all over this saying that Mr. Young is trying to sneak in some Marianism, attempting to water down God by inserting Mary. I find this interesting because it would seem to me that a book attempting to plead the case of a merciful and good God might use a name that reveals just that." (And indeed, that's what they have done.) "We must go back to the definition of the word, tenderness. This is a trait that the God of The Shack is soaked in."[23] -
You have said it...! (But it is a very one-sided view of the true God; He is merciful and just.)
I found this meaning of the word 'Papa' to be very interesting. The English to Spanish Translation of the word 'Pope' revealed this definition: papa (m) 1. "Papa, la cabeza suprema de la Iglesia católica romana. (The Supreme Head of the Roman Catholic Church.)"[19] The word in Italian for Pope is also, incidentally, Papa (il Papa). So, Papa means Pope. Hmm...nothing Catholic there, so I'm sure there wouldn't be any 'Marianist' overtones either... But there are in fact further Marianist overtones in The Shack, even in addition to the use of the word 'Papa' for God. In the book, Papa is portrayed as a woman, and states that Jesus is her son. (Mary, the Mother of the Eucharist.) The character of Papa is also shown to have the same scars as Jesus from the Crucifixion on her body. She is therefore portrayed as not only the Mother of Jesus, but also Co-Redemptrix with Christ having suffered with Him at the Cross, and therefore as Mediatrix, mediator of Divine Grace. Similarly, the Pope (il Papa) is said to be the mediator between man and God. However, the Bible says that, "There is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus." (1 Timothy 2:5)
This inclusion of Catholic concept and dogma in The Shack further points to the assertion that the elements of Roman Catholicism, Eastern Mysticism, the New Age, and an Ecumenical Union are to be found in its pages. In his article entitled, THE SHACK & Its New Age Leaven: God IN Everything?, Warren Smith states that, "In The Shack, Wm. Paul Young uses the person of 'Jesus' to suddenly introduce the foundational teaching of the New Spirituality/New World Religion — God is “in” everything. Using the New Age term 'ground of being” to describe 'God,' the 'Jesus' of The Shack states, of 'Papa': 'God, who is the ground of all being, dwells in, around, and through all things….' (p. 112) This false teaching about a “God” who 'dwells in, around, and through all things' is the kind of New Age leaven that left unchallenged could leaven the church into the New Age/New Spirituality of the proposed New World Religion. And while many people have expressed a great deal of emotional attachment to The Shack and its characters, this leaven alone contaminates the whole book." http://www.crossroad.to/articles2/08/discernment/6-23-shack.htm
Ground of All Being: 'Ground of all being' is a New-Age term that has its roots in ancient and pagan philosophy. The following is a brief background of the philosophical roots for this term: "Plotinus, a Neo-Platonic philosopher, saw all forms of existence as emanating from 'The One', a non-sentient power or 'force'. The concept of the Absolute, either under that name, or as the 'Ground of Being', in one form or another include Hinduism, Jainism, Taoism, and existential or metaphysical forms of Christianity. The Absolute is . conceived of as a single all-encompassing experience, rather along the lines of Shankara and Advaita Vedanta. Recently, certain philosophers have attempted to reconceive Christianity as a Gnostic religion. Here 'the Absolute' is referred to as 'the All'. The human vital essence - soul, spirit, spark of awareness, is said to have originally derived in each case from the Absolute, and to be indestructible after the nature of the Absolute, and to be capable of returning to its source. This returning is the goal of those Eastern religions that have such a concept." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Absolute_(philosophy)
So, again we see a term and a concept from Hinduism and other Eastern religions being used in The Shack. This term has also been borrowed from the writings of esoteric 'theologian' Paul Tillich who said, “God is not a being, not even the highest of all beings; he is being itself, or the ground of being, the internal power or force that causes everything to exist.”[7] This conception of God compliments the conception of deity amongst devotees to the New Age/New Spirituality. Even though Tillich’s assertions about deity were esoteric and complex, Young presents a Tillich-like scheme of deity ('Papa') who describes herself as “the ground of all being” that dwells “in, around, and through all things . . .” (The Shack, 112). Such a view of God is acknowledged to be panentheistic (i.e., God dwells “through all things”).[ ] http://herescope.blogspot.com/2008/07/shack-elousia-mythical-mystical-black.html It is important to remember at this point the assertion made earlier by Roger Oakland, "It is apparent that the religions of the world are being drawn into a global plan that is uniting all religions...It is also important to note the role that "Mary - the mother of the Eucharist" and her son, the "Eucharistic Jesus" play in this global ecumenical agenda."[1]
'JESUS': The Second Person of the 'Trinity -
False Christ appears in India as Indra: Kali is the female form of Indra: "Finally, in legend, Christ made an appearance in India in the form of Indra, the husband of Kali (in the legend of Osiris, Isis is both the Mother and the wife of Horus). Kali is the Supreme Mahavidya, and is the Vedic Goddess Shachi (another 'Shack'!), or Indrani, the female form of Indra the supreme Vedic divinity, (Indra = male form of Kali as the Supreme Goddess. Is it pure luck that 'The Shack' and Shaci sound alike, and that Kali, in the form of Elousia, her daughter Sara-La-Kali (Saryu or Sarayu) and Indra all meet together in the form 'Shaci' like they meet in 'The Shack'..." (It can't be!)
In regard to Indra being both the son and husband of Kali, noted mythologist Donald Allen Mackenzie tells us that, "The Indian father-slaying myth appears to be connected with the doctrine of reincarnation. In the Laws of Manu it is stated that 'the husband, after conception by his wife, becomes an embryo and is born again of her; for that is the wifehood of a wife, that he is born again by her'. In the famous story of Shakuntălā, the husband is similarly referred to as the son of his wife, the son being a reincarnation of the father. This belief resembles the Egyptian conception which is summed up in the phrase 'husband of his mother'."[ ] In Indian myth, Indra is then the 'son of Kali' just as Horus is the son of Isis, and just as the 'Jesus' of The Shack is the son of 'Papa' - Papa says that "Jesus is her son."[ ]
"Do you remember when Jesus drops a bowl and splashes food all over the 'black goddess' (Papa)? Lord Indra (the 'False Christ') is the king of the cosmic gods, according to Indian mythology. On the one hand, according to tradition, he is most powerful. On the other hand, because he makes mistakes, he does not remain fixed in his own transcendental height. The so-called modern world is not guided or shaped by Indra." The Watcher on the Wall goes on to say, "Although he won't reply, I believe that Paul Young knows exactly who these characters were meant to be, and I contend for the faith that it was not the God of the Bible! It's not just a novel, it's not great Christian literature, it's just Hinduism mass marketed to blind sheep."[21]
The human qualities of Indra are illustrated in this epic Hindu narrative: "Indra thereupon embraced him (Arjuna, the warrior) with his round and plump arms. And taking his hand, made him sit on a portion of his own seat. And, bending in humility, even took him upon his lap . . . Moved by affection, the wielder of the thunderbolt (Indra), patting and rubbing (him) gently with his own hands, which bore the marks of the thunderbolt, began to console him."[ ] In The Shack, we see 'Jesus' being portrayed as bearing the "marks" in his hands as well.
http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/iml/iml06.htm Indra, INDIAN MYTH AND LEGEND, by Donald Alexender Mackenzie, Ch. 1 - King of the Gods (Counterfeit of our King of Kings and Lord of Lords.)
It is interesting to note, aside from the similarity of name with the main character, Mackenzie Allen Philips, that Donald A. MacKenzie (1873-1936) was a journalist and prolific writer on religion, mythology and anthropology in the early 20th century. His works included Indian Myth and Legend (1913), Celtic Folklore and Myths of China and Japan, as well as Greek, Egyptian, Assyrian and Babylonian mythology. In his works, Indra is said to be the 'Harvest God and is likened to the Egyptian Ptah - God of Craftsmen, Rebirth and Creation, and Kali is said to be a symbol of wholeness and healing. Do any of these sound familiar with some of the themes in the book, The Shack?
Mackenzie also notes that, "The Sanskrit word "Ribhu" is sometimes compared with the Germanic word "Elf", likely that the Ribhus were originally terrestrial or aerial elves. They are evidently of common origin with the Teutonic elfin artisans who are associated with Thor, the Germanic Indra. The mother of the Ribhus was Saranyu (Sarayu?), daughter of Twashtri, the "master workman". Twashtri forms the organism in maternal wombs and supports the races of man. As we have seen, he was the fashioner of Indra's thunderbolt: similarly the Teutonic elfin artisan Sindre makes Thor's hammer. The Ribhus and Twashtri were the artisans of nature, the spirits of growth, the genii of the seasons, the elves of earth and air - all indicative of gardening, like the character Sarayu (Saranyu, mother of the Ribhus)!
'SARAYU': The Third Person of the 'Trinity' -
The Cult of Sara or Sarayu: At Les Saintes Maries de la Mere church in France, the Black Madonna is venerated as the patron saint of the Gypsies...they congregate and pay homage to the image they call, Kali Sara, or Sara-La-Kali. Sara-La-Kali is also known as Kali in the Spirit. Dr Matthew Fox wrote an article: The Return of the Black Madonna: A Sign of Our Times or How the Black Madonna Is Shaking Us Up for the Twenty-First Century. It states, "The Black Madonna calls us to our depths, to living spiritually and radically on this planet and not superficially and unthinkingly and oblivious to the grace that has begotten us in so many ways. The depths to which we are called include the depths of awe, wonder and delight-joy itself is a depth experience we need to re-entertain in the name of the Black Madonna. She calls us to enter into the depths of our pain, suffering and shared grief-not to run from it (Such as 'Papa' did with Mack?)...She calls us to the depths of our psyche which...are "dark" and to the depths of the earth (such as the cave of Sophia?), which are surely dark and to the depths of the sky that have also been rediscovered for all their darkness.
The Sarayu was a river in ancient India, flowing beside the ancient city of Ayodhya. Western observers who are familiar with Hindu religious customs have identified this ceremony with the Durga Pooja of India In Romani, Kali Sara means Black Sara and in India, the Goddess Kali is known as Kali/Durga/Sara. Like the Hindus, the Roma practice Shaktism, the worship of Goddesses. In other words, the Roma who attend the pilgrimage to Les Saintes Maries in France and in other related ceremonies elsewhere honouring black female divinities, are in fact continuing to worship Kali/Durga/Sara their original Goddess in India. [20] Remember that we mentioned the Black Madonna Heresy: The Black Madonna - is Kali of the 'Black Queen' and her daughter is Sara-la-Kali (the Black Queen IN THE SPIRIT!)?
So, we have 'Papa' - who is Kali, the Black Madonna or the Black Queen; 'Sarayu' - her daughter Sara-la-Kali, who is the Black Queen IN THE SPIRIT (the 'Holy Spirit'); and of course 'Jesus', the son of Kali: The 'Jesus' of The Shack, who is clumsy, 'goofy', and described as being still 'fully human', is not our true, risen Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. In fact, he is never referred to as Christ even one time in The Shack. Likewise, 'Papa', who poses as both male and female, is not our Almighty God, God the Father. And, finally, the female spirit Sarayu is not the Holy Spirit - of whom it is said, "overshadowed Mary, the Mother of Jesus, and she conceived and bore a Son."
CONCLUSION:
'Papa' - ...is actually: The"Black Madonna" / Egyptian goddess Isis / Elousia / Kali / Male and Female Entity.
- 'Papa' is not the Almighty God of the Bible!
'Sarayu' - ...is actually: Saryu / "Sara-La-Kali" / Daughter of Kali / Kali In The Spirit / A Female Entity.
- 'Sarayu': the novel’s impersonation of the Holy Spirit as female contradicts Jesus’ clear statement that the Spirit is neither an “it” nor a “she,” but “He” (John 16:13). But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.
'Jesus' - ...is actually: Indra / A 'Jesus' who is "clumsy" and who "makes mistakes" / Still Fully Human, as portrayed in The Shack.
- Not the 'sinless lamb of God that taketh away the sins of the world', our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
'Sophia' - ...is actually: Minerva / Athena / Enki / Occult Goddess of 'Wisdom'.
- 'Sophia' is not "wisdom crying out in the street..."
The 'Trinity' - ...is actually: the Shakti / Shaci / Shachi / Shak / An imagined hermaphroditic (both male and female) trinity.
- Not the Holy Trinity of the Bible: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Were the characters in The Shack just a creation of the author's imagination, or did they so closely resemble the above Hindu deities for a reason? The characters in The Shack had to be as they were if indeed they were to portray these deities. The character of 'Papa' had to be a woman, and one who was black, if she was meant to portray Kali, the Black Goddess - 'Elousia', the Black Madonna. 'Sarayu' likewise had to be female if she was to portray Saryu, Saranyu the daughter of Kali - 'Sara-La-Kali', Kali In the Spirit. 'Jesus' is portrayed as a humble, very human, sometimes clumsy, carpenter-handyman with a large nose - just as is Indra, the Son of Kali! These three, this 'Trinity', meet in the 'Shakti' - The Tridevi 'Trinity' of Shaktism in the Hindu religion. Can it be coincidence?
Why? - Warren Smith, author of Reinventing Jesus Christ explains, "Without ascribing any ill motive to William Young and his book The Shack, the author’s use of spiritual creativity seems to give a “Christian” assent to the New Age/New Spirituality of the proposed New World Religion. His mixing of truth and error can become very confusing to readers, and God is not the author of confusion" (I Corinthians 14:33). Truth mixed with error results in “all error” — a direct refutation of the Emergent Church teaching to find “truth” wherever it may be found — including books like The Shack."[ ]
What 'truth' that may or may not be found in The Shack, is mixed with the poison of error. Rat poison is 99.999% good food, and only .001% poison - but it is still poison! “A little leaven leaventh the whole lump.” - Galatians 5:9 And there is a lot more than just a 'little leaven' here.
According to Smith, "What had been called 'new age' is now being presented as 'new gospel.' These 'new gospel' teachings are not new and have actually been around for centuries in one form or another. Whether it was ancient gnosticism, occultic teachings, or the present day 'new gospel' channelings, the bottom line has always been the same--everyone is a part of God. This (other) 'Christ' ...explains that his 'new gospel' will unify the world's major religions and bring peace to the world. He has communicated these 'new gospel' teachings to his designated teachers, who in turn are now conveying these same teachings to the rest of the world."[ ] - including through books like The Shack.
The apostle Paul went to great lengths to warn the Corinthians not to be deceived by a "Jesus" that wasn't Jesus Christ the Son of God, a spirit that wasn't the Holy Spirit and a gospel that was not the true biblical Gospel (2 Corinthians 11:4). Throughout the New Testament, believers are continually warned not to be deceived by spiritual teachings and experiences that are not from God. Jesus Christ specifically warned his disciples that spiritual deception would be a sign of the end (Matthew 24:3-4). Do not allow yourself to get carried away by this story, while disregarding the book’s New Age/New Spirituality leaven, and therefore fall prey to the “truth-and-error” mixture that pervades The Shack."[ ] “And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” (1 Timothy 4:4)
Please do not 'turn your ears' and listen to the deceiver: "that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world." (Revelation 12:9) Be like the first century Bereans who tested their leaders and tested their teachings as they "searched the scriptures daily" to see "whether those things were so" (Acts 17:11). The Bible warns that we should not allow ourselves to be influenced or intimidated by teachings that originate not from God but from the spirit world and from the hearts of men. "Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils" (1 Timothy 4:1). A popular tagline for The Shack says, "Experience the heart and nature of God in the midst of human suffering." If you really want to know more about God, read the Word of God, not the words of William Paul Young and The Shack.
"But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed." Galatians 1:8
1. http://www.understandthetimes.org/yir2008.shtml
2. the shack
3. http://www.squidoo.com/ShackHeresy
4. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shakti
5. Ibid.
6. Ibid.
7. Ibid.
8. Ibid.
9. Ibid.
10. Ibid.
11. Ibid.
12. DeBruyn, Larry, "The Shack: 'Elousia' and the Black Madonna"
13. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sophia_(wisdom)
14. http://www.gregoryreid.com/id202.htm
13. http://spiritualemergency.blogspot.com/2006/01/kali-divine-mother.html
14.
15. http://www.squidoo.com/ShackHeresy
16. The Two Babylons
17. The Shack
18. http://wiredforstereo.blogspot.com/2008/02/answers-to-some-concerns-about-shack.html
19. http://www.spanishdict.com/translate/pope
20. http://www.squidoo.com/ShackHeresy
21. Ibid.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sophia_(wisdom) , http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minerva , and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wisdom http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shakti
____________________________________________________
In regard to the very strong emotions that are felt when reading the opening chapters of The Shack:
Because of the emotional impact of reading good fiction, it can be easy to allow it to become manipulative and to allow the emotion of a moment to bypass our ability to discern what is true and what is not. This is another thing the reader must keep in mind. We cannot trust our laughter or our tears but must allow our powers of discernment to be trained to distinguish good from evil (see Hebrews 5:14). Discernment is primarily a Spirit-empowered discipline of the mind rather than an emotional response." Young did not write this book for the story. This book is all about the content and about the teaching it contains. The book’s reviews focus not on the quality of the story but on its spiritual or emotional impact. “Test everything; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil.” [ ]
http://www.challies.com/archives/book-reviews/the-shack-by-william-p-young.php
Why would a book, especially one that is supposed to be a 'Christian' book be so interested in provoking such strong emotion in its readers? I can't say for sure, but the preceding quote gives us some insight as to the possible reason, i.e., to bypass our ability to discern what is true and what is not. If this is the case, and the makers of this book had less than noble intentions, then perhaps there is yet another reason as well. This highly emotional effect may not have been a conscious intention on the part of the author, but if this book is being used by the 'enemy of our souls' to deceive many in the faith, then the following may have some merit.
I would not even have entertained this thought if, while reading this book, I did not also have a very strong emotional reaction - especially as a parent myself. I do quite a lot of reading, and have never run across a book that provoked that deep of an emotional response. I wondered at the reasoning behind this and ran across this information, for what it's worth. If you are a person of faith, you believe in a spirit world, and know that there are evil spirits as well as good ones. Do the not-so-nice ones get anything out of our emotional reactions? Could this be one of the reasons that the Word of God says to, "set no evil thing before my eyes." ( ) The battle is in the mind!
Demons are said to feed off of fear and negative emotions. A tragic story can also do that in the sense of provoking or producing these very emotions! When we feed our emotions, and therefore our 'demons', we are using our imagination consciously (as when reading and forming mental pictures of a scene...) What is a demon? A demon, in true form, is generally an entity made of 99.9% energy; i.e. an energy body. The one thing that really all demons seem to have in common is our affinity with chaos. Demons love watching humans and trying to understand why they act the way they do. (Perhaps also when they are reading/watching a story which produces certain strong emotions.) In natural form, demons feed on energy/emotions that living beings emit, and there are even some who provoke peope to release energy. A tragic story can certainly do that![ ] http://www.dream-link.org/spiritualthings/heavymetal.htm
Great Spirit (Mentioned on pp. 28 - 31 of The Shack as being "the same as God.") - Further, the One True God of the Bible does not, and has never, required human and/or child sacrifice; (as in the legend of the daughter of a Multnomah Indian chief whose sacrificial death was required to stop a devastating illness among the warriors of their tribe.) When Abraham was willing to sacrifice his son Isaac to God as instructed by Him, God gave instead a substitutionary sacrifice as a picture of the substitutionary sacrifice of Jesus Christ. (Genesis 22:1 - 19) Also, in the Old Testament God condemns the practice of child sacrifice to Baal as was being practiced by the Israelites. (Jeremiah 19:5) Can there really be many kinds of redemption for man as suggested in The Shack, or just the one and only as the Bible says, through Jesus Christ - our Lord and Savior?!
The online encyclopedia, Wikipedia, defines The Great Spirit as, "A conception of a supreme being prevalent among some Native American and First Nations cultures. Also called Wakan Tanka among the Sioux The Creator, or The Great Maker in English and Gitchi Manitou (The term manitou (or 'mana') refers to the concept of one aspect of the interconnection and balance of nature/life, similar to the East Asian concept of qi; in simpler terms it can refer to a spirit. This spirit is seen as a person as well as a concept. Everything has its own manitou— every plant, every stone and, since their invention, even machines. These manitous do not exist in a hierarchy like European gods/goddesses, but are more akin to one part of the body interacting with another and the spirit of everything; the collective is named Gitchi Manitou.) in Algonquian , the Great Spirit is a synchretist conception of God . The Great Spirit is personal, close to the people, and immanent in the fabric of the material world." (God in all and through all...)
(A COUNTERFEIT!) - "The Great Spirit is generally considered the nearest equivalent (but not God), in description to the God of the main monotheistic religions (such as Judaism, Christianity and Islam). These religions often describe a being who is all-powerful, all-knowing, and all-loving. They believe that God speaks through human intermediaries and issues spiritual laws that human beings are to follow, and an afterlife is promised. However the Great Spirit differs in that his panentheistic nature is especially emphasized; he is embodied in everything. This more closely resembles the Hindu conception of the divine (Brahman), rather than the embodied concept of the Holy Spirit. Regardless, the Great Spirit being the Native American conception of God has been reinforced such as how some Native American tribes even talk about the Great Spirit's son was sent down from the sun to die for the people of earth; an obvious connection with Jesus Christ. (Not an obvious connection with Jesus Christ, only a similarity. (Satan can never be the same as God - and Jesus is God - Satan only attempts to be similar. "I will be like the Most High..." Isaiah 14:13-15). Some Native American tribes even have the six cardinal rules which are very similar to the Ten Commandments. (Except that there are only 6 instead of 10...! Again, 'similar', but not the same.)[ ] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Spirit
A good Counterfeit is often one that is exact in nearly every detail. In the counterfeiting of money, it takes a very well trained 'eye' to detect the flaw that will reveal it as a counterfeit. Even though there may be only one minor flaw - undetectable to most! - even this one flaw will reveal the entire bill to of course be of a counterfeit origin and therefore not a real bill at all. How does one train to detect a counterfeit bill? Is it by studying many counterfeit bills that exist? No! It is by careful study of the real thing! Likewise, we as believers should study the 'real thing' - the true Word of God as given to us in His infallible, inspired, God-breathed, inerrant holy scriptures, the Bible. This is the only way one can ever have true discernment.
The apostle Paul chided the Corinthians and warned them that they were vulnerable and extremely susceptible to “another Jesus” and “another gospel” and “another spirit” that were not from God (2 Corinthians 2:11). In the Bible, the real Jesus Christ warned that spiritual deception would be a sign before His return. He further warned that there would be those who would even come in His name, pretending to be Him (Matthew 24:3-5;24). Do not allow yourself to get carried away by this story, while disregarding the book’s New Age/New Spirituality leaven, and therefore fall prey to the “truth-and-error” mixture that pervades The Shack. “And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” (1 Timothy 4:4)
Kali - Hindu Goddess who liberates souls
www.goddess.ws/kali.htmlMother Kali is the most misunderstood of the Hindu goddesses. ... Shiva and Kali grant liberation by removing the illusion of the ego. ... Ma Kali wears a garland of skulls and a skirt of dismembered arms because the ego arises out of identification with the body.
Definition by Mark Cartwright http://www.ancient.eu/Kali/
published on 21 June 2013
Kali is the Hindu goddess (or Devi) of death, time, and doomsday and is often associated with sexuality and violence but is also considered a strong mother-figure and symbolic of motherly-love. Kali also embodies shakti - feminine energy, creativity and fertility - and is an incarnation of Parvati, wife of the great Hindu god Shiva. She is most often represented in art as a fearful fighting figure with a necklace of heads, skirt of arms, lolling tongue, and brandishing a knife dripping with blood.
Name & Worship
"Kali’s name derives from the Sanskrit meaning ‘she who is black’ or ‘she who is death'. Goddess of destruction and wife of Shiva, who himself is the destroyer of all things and leader of evil spirits, ghosts and vampires and master of thieves, villains and beggars."
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