Christian publishing's latest phenomenon is attracting critics as well as fans, who have attacked The Shack for such alleged shortcomings as heresy, a lack of theological integrity and promoting unorthodox theories.

Well-known author and radio commentator Charles Colson is the most prominent detractor. Although saying the Windblown Media book has some merit, Prison Fellowship's founder has warned people to avoid it because of its low view of Scripture.

Windblown Media co-founder Wayne Jacobsen has posted a lengthy response to the criticisms on Windblown's Web site, windblownmedia.com.

"Frankly, we thought it would happen far sooner and in far greater quantity than we have seen to date," Jacobsen wrote in his "Is the Shack Heresy?" rebuttal. "But we knew The Shack was edgy enough to prompt some significant backlash, which is why so many publishing companies didn't want to take it on at the beginning."

The brouhaha has not blunted the novel's popularity. Sales crossed the 1 million mark in mid-May and catapulted Windblown into a partnership with the Hachette Book Group USA. It is now in its 11th paperback printing, with an Oasis Audio edition to release soon.

Read the full report in the July 7 issue of Christian Retailing International.

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