William P. Young, author of the widely read novel "The Shack," anticipates further criticism from some Christian circles for his upcoming sequel, "Return to the Shack: A Journey into Redemption." The original novel, which depicted the Holy Trinity through unconventional figures—a middle-aged Black woman as God the Father, a Middle Eastern carpenter as Jesus, and an Asian woman as the Holy Spirit—drew accusations of heresy from some readers who felt it misrepresented the nature of God.
Young has stated that he does not actively prepare for such backlash but acknowledges it is likely. "You know, I don't brace for any of it," Young told Fox News Digital. "Yes, it'll probably happen. But yes, if you're going to have something out in public purview, you'll always find people who don't like it." He noted that the initial novel received considerable, though not overwhelming, pushback from within Christian communities.
The sequel, slated for release in October, is also expected to generate discussion due to its portrayal of the child murderer, known only as "J." In "Return to the Shack," J is depicted as a death row inmate, and Young includes a more humanized storyline that references the character's abusive childhood. This narrative choice was influenced by Young's own complex relationship with his father, whom he described as angry and distant. Young's novel about his father helped him to process their relationship and extend mercy, stating, "He was allowed only to be a failed father... And so I finally released him from my expectations and allowed him to become something greater than a failure to my expectations and greater than being my dad. And that was to finally become a human being. And when that happened, suddenly his story mattered."
Young also drew inspiration for the prisoner characters from death row inmates he befriended at the Riverbend Maximum Security Institution in Nashville, Tennessee. He felt compelled to view them with a sympathetic lens, recognizing that individuals are often defined by their worst moments. "That's just one of the layers that's going on," Young said. "But I think that death row inmates would be one of the most related to as animals, put into category. Like the guys say, 'We're only known for the worst day of our lives.'"
He believes that some of the criticism leveled against his first book stems from what he characterizes as a "fear-based religion." "And there is no fear in love," Young stated, referencing a New Testament scripture. "So any degree of fear, that's in your sense of the transcendent, in your sense of the higher power, your sense of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Any fear indicates that your theology, your religion is seriously flawed."
Young acknowledged that some reactions to his work resonate with his own past experiences, including marital infidelity and its impact on his faith. He described his past as a period of significant failure, from which he had to choose to either flee or confront the consequences. "I think it's by the grace of God that I faced it," he shared in a 2015 interview. "And I get that, because I've been there and done that."
He maintains that his identity is not defined by his books or the film adaptation of "The Shack." "My identity is outside of that," Young said. "And so, you know, sometimes I think if people are bothered by something, it means something is in them that needs to be addressed and it becomes an invitation. And I'm excited for that to happen in people's lives."
Young affirmed his belief in miracles, including the possibility of receiving a letter from God, as depicted in "The Shack." He stated, "I absolutely believe something like that could happen." He elaborated that while he has not heard God speak audibly, he believes God is intimately connected with every person. "God is not mute, but God is not coercive. And if you want to see what the character and nature of God is like, look at Jesus, read the Gospel, read John or one of the gospels, and you'll see how love lives in this world."