According to Merriam-Webster an epigraph is “a quotation set at the beginning of a literary work or one of its divisions to suggest its theme.” If William P. Young felt it necessary to use these quotes at the beginning of the chapters, it suggests that he has read a reasonable amount of the author’s work and appreciates their opinions. Consequently, knowing a little about the source of the epigraphs will improve the reader’s understanding of Young’s book The Shack.
Chapter 1 – A Confluence of Paths
“Two roads diverged in the middle of my life, / I heard a wise man say / I took the road less traveled by / And that’s made the difference every night and every day.” Larry Norman (with apologies to Robert Frost)
Larry Norman (April 8, 1947 – February 24, 2008) was an American Christian songwriter and singer. Many consider him to be the father of Christian rock. His work and person were unconventional and often at odds with the conservative Christian community.
Chapter 2 – The Gathering Dark
“Nothing makes us so lonely as our secrets.” Paul Tournier
Paul Tournier (May 12, 1898 - October 7, 1986) is most well-known for his work that brought the fields of medicine and counseling together to view the person as a whole and not as separate parts. He was particularly well-known for his ideas regarding pastoral counseling. Tournier believed in universal salvation something, which Young seems to agree with in The Shack.
Chapter 3 – The Tipping Point
“The soul is healed by being with children.” Fyodor Dostoevsky
Fyodor Dostoevsky (1821-1881) is one of the giants of Russian literature. Dostoevsky’s works often feature complex characters delineated with profound psychological insight. Dostoevsky’s involvement with a liberal organization led to his arrest, mock execution, and five years in Siberia. His experiences after the arrest resulted in his conversion to Orthodox Christianity. His conversion had a profound effect on the stories he wrote and the characters he created.
Chapter 4 – The Great Sadness
“Sadness is a wall between two gardens.” Kahlil Gibran
Kahlil Gibran (1883-1931) was born in Lebanon to Christian Maronite parents. However, Gibran was not exclusively Christian. He was interested in Islam, especially Sufism. Therefore, he did not believe that Christianity was the only way to God. He drew from various religions and religious writings including the Hindu scriptures, Judeo-Christian mystics, and Islamic Sufism to create his own creed. The result of his combination creed was a belief in universal ecumenicalism.
Chapter 5 – Guess Whose Coming to Dinner
“We routinely disqualify testimony that would plead for extenuation. That is, we are so persuaded of the rightness of our judgment as to invalidate evidence that does not confirm us in it. Nothing that deserves to be called truth could ever be arrived at by such means.” Marilynne Robinson, The Death of Adam
Marilynne Robinson’s book The Death of Adam is a series of essays. In the book, Robinson, tackles different issues in modern thought in provoking and fresh ways. A true scholar, Robinson reads the original writings of history shapers and doesn’t rely on secondary sources to inform her opinions.
Young, William P. The Shack: Where Tragedy Confronts Eternity. Windblown Media. Newbury Park, CA. ISBN 978-0-9647292-4-7
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