Conversations with God : An Uncommon Dialogue (Book 1) (Hardcover)

I read this book on the advice of a friend. He told me the book was "fascinating." I certainly agree.

The main thing I would like to say in the beginning is that this book shares some elements with Christianity, but is certainly not Christianity of the sort that most people will recognize. So if you do not like to read books that are at odds with your version of Christianity, avoid this one. It will be a one star book for you.

The author tells us that he had been writing down his religious and philosophical questions on a yellow legal pad for years. One day, he began to hear answers. He then wrote those answers down. What was "dictated" to him becomes the backbone of this book.

I have no way of knowing what the real source of these responses to the questions in the conversations is. It could be Divine communications. It could be Satanic ones. It could be a manifestation of the author's psychology. There are a lot of other things it could be. You'll have to decide for yourself. If you have a spiritual advisor or counselor whom you respect, that would be a good subject to discuss with her or him.

I found myself empathizing with the author's perspective of the conversations. "I am . . . deeply embarrassed by my own life . . . ." "Yet I am encouraged by God to grant myself forgiveness for my failings and not to live in fear and guilt but to always keep trying -- to live a grand vision. I know that's what God wants for all of us."

There were several concepts in the book that I found to be new, and which added to my spiritual perspective. One was: "The truth is, God talks to everybody." That made me think about ways that I could pay more attention to what was going on to me and inside me as ways to know God.

A second one was the notion that the Ten Commandments are there not to be obeyed merely, but as ways for us to test ourselves on how well attuned we are to God's way.

As someone who loves to work on creative activities, I liked the many affirmations about God wanting us to create the goodness we desire through our thoughts and deeds. "There is only one reason to do anything: as a statement to the universe of Who You Are."

About two-thirds of the way into the book, the conversation lost me. There were extensive discussions of reincarnation, infinite universes, gods beyond gods, and moving from being a killer to being someone imbued in love. That material did not resonate with me in either a religious or a spiritual sense.

The most unexpected part of the book for me was that the voice of God (as described in the book) is a very colloquial and humorous one. It is hard for me to equate this God with the God of Moses and Jesus Christ. But that may just be my limitation. To give you a flavor, the language is much like that in the George Burns movie of many years ago, Oh God.

If you are curious about other perspectives on spirituality, you will enjoy this book. If you are looking for a different perspective than the one you have today, especially one that is less threatening, you may find this to be enlightening.

Let me share with you the three laws in the book: "The First Law is that you can be, do, and have whatever you can imagine. The Second Law is that you attract what you fear. Love is all there is." God describes Himself as having no needs, but three desires: (1) that people know and experience Him (2) that people know and experience who they are and (3) that the whole process of life is a constant joy, continuous creativity, and never-ending experiences of total fulfillment.

May your life be filled with valuable spiritual experiences and guidance!

Reading this second book confirmed what Walsch said and more. These two books read together are strong evidence that God is indeed talking to us now, giving us new information.. Consider for yourself if it is mere coincidence that two books written about the same time by heretofore unknown authors, neither having any formal religious training, residing in different parts of the country having no relationship that I can discern, could both reveal, strikingly similar but previously unheard of concepts about God.

Consider the following startling similarities:

Walsch says God never gave us the ten commandments. Lewis tells us how and why Moses invented the Ten Commandments. Walsch says There are no shoulds or shouldn't. Lewis says God does not recognize our concepts of sin. Walsch says you have assigned devilish characteristics to God. Lewis says God does not have any character defects. Walsch says .God judges and condemns no one and nothing. Lewis says hell does not exist and explains how man came to believe in this concept.

Walsh quoting God says, " I am not pleased with suffering, and whoever says I am does not know me." Lewis tells us how to handle death of a loved one, abortion, incest, perversion, lust, suicide, murder, without experiencing suffering, judgment or guilt.

If you want confirmation of what Walsh says read An Encounter With A Prophet.

Firstly, I detect a sense of dishonesty in Walsch's claim that this material 'just came to him'. The book feels planned and prepared. The 'God' dialogue seems to be Walsch expressing his ideas and the 'Neale' character is like a host for questions that readers are likely to ask. The book is incredible, let there be no doubt about it, but I feel this dishonesty colours the purity of it's content. Also, note that in one of Walsch's new books he narrates with the 'God' voice only.

Secondly, look at the institution that is forming around this book. Perhaps I should not complain, perhaps it is the natural progression for such powerful material to grow beyond it's literary roots. But it leaves a nasty 'money-hoarding' taste to it. Add to this that Walsch is now churning out a whole new batch of books and tapes and setting up organisations around the globe - it just feels slimy.

This book has done wonders for me and it will for you, too. But I think it is healthy to question this emerging religion. It must be stressed, however, that the purpose of the message is to direct your mind to your OWN heart. An honest, noble message but with a shaky back-drop, a couple of little dents in the beauty.

Speaking more personally, I am at a stage where, when I'm feeling down, I use the books to brighten me up. I am not pleased with this situation of needing SOMEONE ELSE'S WORDS to make me happy, I don't want to become dependant on anything outside of myself but I find that it is the case. In honesty, I think that I am on just one rung of the ladder that leads to self-empowerment, so don't let my situation sway your decision to buy this book.