Fred Sanders: The Trinity and "The Shack" [The Biola Hour]

Dr. Fred Sanders, author of "The Deep Things of God: How the Trinity Changes Everything," discusses how the doctrine of the Trinity is portrayed in the book, "The Shack." In this balanced discussion, Fred unpacks the implications of weak trinitarian theology as it is played out in literature and art. Fred teaches systematic theology at Biola's Torrey Honors Institute.
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[@georgehulse9080]

This was great and well done, well said. I agree with Dr. Sanders' assessments and yet I have seen the movie twice and loved it! Perhaps that is because I am similar to the targeted audience in my race, gender, and pain past. Dr. Sanders points to the reality of how difficult it is to give more than a slice of who God is in a work of fiction or art. In the case of The Shack they do a good job of giving a small slice of relating with God through pain, in my opinion. I learned some winsome and helpful things from God being portrayed as an African Lion as Alsan, and I learned some winsome and helpful things from God being portrayed as an African American woman in The Shack. My theology will continue to come from the Bible alone as Dr. Sanders so rightly points us toward. Yet these artistic slices like The Shack are helpful to some of us.

[@LoveJaneAusten12]

The Shack seems to me like an Oprah version of the Trinity.

[@Terminus_El_Camino]

You're not the first to make that association, but it's a good observation.

[@michaeltrent2726]

Loved the book. But as entertainment. I think we all tend to get the trinity wrong. One God separated into 3 different forces. but not 3 different personalities or beings. I would use water as an example. Put water in a freezer over night and voila ICE. Put water in a pot and boil and you have steam. one substance 3 different properties.

[@sgedeon01]

All analogies fall short because the Trinity is unparalled. The water, ice, steam example you use is modalism (Sabellianism). The doctrine of the Trinity is that there are three distinct persons who share the same divine nature and are therefore one in essence. God is not one substance and three "different properties" but rather one substance (essence) and three distinct persons. One what and three whos. Check out the Cappadocian Fathers

[@zulu3779]

@@sgedeon01 correct