Rating: 
Summary: Beautiful, creative, & powerful!
Review: If you are seeking a profound relationship with God, and are open to being mentally and spiritually challenged, this book will resonate with your soul.........If you are caught up in religious dogma, a belief in one "right" way, or have a vision of God as separate, commanding, and vengeful, you will struggle with each page........But, hopefully, in your struggle, you will find growth, awareness, and new feelings of tolerance, compassion, connection, and Love.........The words, concepts, and ideas presented significantly altered my life.........Remember, miracles come with a shift in perception.............
Rating: 
Summary: They Were Not Conversations With God
Review: Walsch's alleged "conversations with God" were NOT conversations with God. To find out why, see www.theywerenotconversationswithgod.com.
[This book gets one star only because there is no option for zero stars!]
Rating: 
Summary: CONVERSATIONS WITH....himself
Review: It's obvious that Walsch had a very specific target audience in mind when he wrote this book. He's clearly going after those folks who were raised as Christians in childhood, but who then abandoned their faith in their teenage years. Sadly, these people often never revisit the faith of their childhood with the advantage of an older, more mature mind. If, as adults, they would take the time to read such classics as C.S. Lewis' "Mere Christianity" or G.K. Chesterton's "Orthodoxy" or "The Everlasting Man", their minds would be opened up to a true and mature understanding of the faith that they never really knew. Instead, these folks walk around clinging to their childish stereotypes of Christianity, and continue to reject traditional Christianity because it seems to them to be (not surprisingly) so childish.Walsch knows this audience well, and he uses their ignorance of true Christianity to his own advantage. One of the more annoying tactics Walsch employs in his book is using true Christian doctrine (pretending that they're his own ideas) to debunk his reader's childish, false notions of Christianity. The uninformed reader recognizes the Christian ideas as ringing true (not knowing that they are, in fact, Christian ideas), and then assumes that these ideas are brand new ideas coming from Walsch's "god". The ignorant reader then wrongly thinks that traditional Christianity has been bested. For example: Walsch claims that Christianity teaches that God doesn't want us to have free will. But it doesn't! He claims that Christianity teaches that God's love is conditional. But it doesn't! He claims that Christianity teaches that sex is bad. But it doesn't! Walsch is doing battle with foes that don't exist - and the reason they don't exist is that Christianity Herself vanquished these heretical ideas eons ago. Now Walsch wants to take credit for the victory. A particularly eyebrow raising example of this bizarre shell game is Walsch's embracing of the concept of a Trinitarian God. Walsch repeatedly lumps traditional Christianity together with all other religions as being equally "in the dark" about the true nature of God. But he then embraces the uniquely Christian idea of God being a Trinity. Now, all the other religions of the world (Mohamedism, Judaism, Mormonism etc.) believe that the Trinitarian notion of God is an absolute blasphemy. Only traditional Christianity proclaims the Triune God. But Walsch bashes traditional Christianity for not understanding God , and then informs us that the true nature of God is (...you guessed it) Trinitarian. He triumphantly claims this central, uniquely Christian doctrine as his own while he spits in its author's eye. Go figure. The contradictions in this book are frequent and glaring. For example: Wlasch's "god" repeatedly talks about Jesus in the highest and most glowing of terms, as having achieved all the "understanding" that his "god" would have us achieve. He then, however, declares to us that there is no hell, no sin, no devil and no damnation. Oh really. How does Walsch square that with that fact that Jesus incessantly talks about hell, sin, the devil and damnation throughout the entirety of the Gospels? In fact, Jesus repeatedly declares that he, personally, will judge us for our sins at the end of time. Walsch, little buddy, you can't have it both ways. Throughout all this, of course, Walsh throws into the mix his own grab bag of predicable self serving doctrines for which New Agers are renowned (...you know, stuff like: we're all God). The unsuspecting reader will be lured in by the scattered Christian truths they find, and then assume that the rest of the book is true as well. This is how all the Christian heresies (Arianism, Gnosticism, Mohamedism, etc.) operated. A little bit a truth sprinkled as bait, followed by a banquet of falsehoods. On a lighter note, I found it very entertaining how Walsh's "god" in the beginning of the book speaks in plain, colloquial, everyday speech, but before long he starts sounding like the King James Bible - complete with Old English sentence structure. I suppose this is to give him an ever increasing tone of authority. I also got a good chuckle when I discovered that Walsch's "god" just happens to be opposed to the military-industrial complex and the destruction of the Rain Forest, and advocates free sex. Something tells me that if we pressed him, we'd find that Walsch's "god" also favors the legalization of marijuana for medical purposes.
Rating:
Summary: Connecting with God
Review: Neale Donald Walsh, the author of Conversations with God, writes about his experience with "God". He starts by describing how this book really started. It was in spring of '92 when he had a miserable life. He begins writing personal questions about his bad experiences during those days. As he wanted to throw the pen away, he portrays that "my hand remained poised over the paper, as if held there by some invisible source". This invisible force is God's force. This book is an actual conversation with "God", believe it or not, the choice is yours. In this novel, there are two characters, Walsh and "God". Walsh asks several questions concerning religious thoughts and the most important question on why is the world "like this". God, through Walsh, tells that humans should know their own truth then, find the truth of "God". Walsh answers that he knows "God" through Ministers, and the Bible. "God"
replies, knowing "God" is listening to the human's feelings, "Words are the least reliable purveyor of Truth". "God" suggests that humans should not listen to anybody about "God" only the human's thought. Walsh also asks how and why his choice of sentiments is negative. "God" gives an answer that humans have been taught to feel shame or to feel guilty by the priests or Islamists, which they call original sin. "God" states that some religions build up theories about this mistaken belief because it is not what priests or Islamists say but what humans believe. "God" responds to one of Walsh's simplest question , why the world is like this with disasters, famines, and wars. "God" responds that in the world "a thing cannot exist without its opposite, except in the world of the absolute". This is one of the reasons, but the specific reason is for humans to test their love toward the world, "I do not show my goodness by creating only what you call perfection all around you. I do not demonstrate My love by not allowing you to demonstrate yours." This is a non-religious book as it does not go into any details of specific religions but an overview of life and the world. It is a guide to help human humans. The book is a beautiful creation or actual conversation by Walsh. I first read this book with trouble believing that it was actually "God" communicating through Walsh to us. This novel does not offend any religion, it suggests only ideas that no human thought of. This conversation widely opens the readers view about life, and it also gives them more pride. It helps the readers know more about what life is, and how is it like. The novel unwraps several patterns of existence for the human being. This book gave an idea concerning life. I have more control over myself, I focus more on the unfortunate people who do not have the chance to eat, live and educate themselves, and not thinking that what can do for them but what the human can do for them, it sounds like John F .Kennedy talking but it is true in life, return the favor to "God". I enjoy this conversation, and I am reading the second one, which discusses society. I learn many facts about life and thoughts, and people. If someone told me to describe what this book did to me, I would share the same answer as one of my classmates, "It changed my religion"
Rating:
Summary: I'd say - soliloquy, not a conversation
Review: Most of what books like this advocates is typical New Age babble.
It's always been difficult to lead one's life according to the rigors of Chritianity. Over the centuries, many people have had problems with the day-to-day difficulties of living as a saint and, as a result, there were always new sects popping up to accomodate those who had personal agendas they were not willing to forego.
The common practice among contemporary "prophets" is to take bits from various religions (speaking of which, all religions are NOT similar nor alike; they differ greatly in some important aspects - reincarnation, for instance. Some of them are not even religions, but philosophical systems) and leave out the disturbing parts in order to create a custom made (pseudo)religion, a watered-down substitute for the real thing. There were many true Christian mystics (Mysticism is the direct intuition or experience of God) over the past couple of millenia. They lived in different time, in different countries, different cultures etc, but their experience does not differ at all. All of them make a clear distinction between the good and evil and none of them relativize the virtues of the morality of the Ten Commandments.
If you read the New Testament and then the writings of the likes of St. Teresa of Avila, Julianna of Norwich, St. Therese of Lisieux, St. John of the Cross, Meister Eckhart etc, you'll notice the SAME SPIRIT that inspired them.
I have not felt that spirit while reading this book.
Rating:
Summary: .........
Review: ...... rates this book one star only because there is no option for ZERO STARS. Below is an excerpt from a manuscript written in rebuttal to Walsch's book and available at www.theywerenotconversationswithgod.com: In his book Conversations With God: an uncommon dialogue, Neale Donald Walsch claims that since the Spring of 1992 he has had several different conversations with God regarding a wide range of various spiritual topics. Those topics include the nature of God, the purpose of life, and whether there is any difference between 'right' and 'wrong' in this life. Walsch also claims that God instructed him to write several books on these conversations (of which Conversations With God is the first) in order to share those conversations with others. Walsch's "conversations with God", were not conversations with God. Whoever 'spoke' to Walsch (the "Speaker") was merely pretending to be God in order to deceive Walsch and those who read and believe Walsch's book. The purpose of this book is to expose the nature and extent of that deception. The Speaker could not have been God because the Speaker utters things directly contrary to truths that God has consistently revealed to people throughout history. The book records at least four overarching lies by the Speaker. These falsehoods appear as recurring themes throughout the 'answers' given by 'God' to Walsch's questions recorded in the book. The First Lie: The Devil Does Not Exist
The Speaker's first fundamental lie is that "there is no such thing as the devil." On the contrary, based on statements recorded in the Bible and testimonies of people who have experienced personal contact with the Devil, not only does the Devil exist, but his principal aim throughout history (including today) has been to destroy every individual's relationship with and trust in God. The Devil (or "Satan") attempts to accomplish this objective through a ruthless barrage of lies, earthly temptations and appeals to man's pride, much like what occurs in Walsch's book. In fact, the strong similarities between Satan's words and conduct as revealed to us in the Bible, and the Speaker's words and conduct as recorded in Walsch's book, are so compelling that it is highly probable that the Speaker is the Devil himself (or one of his representatives) pretending to be God.
Read more at .............
Rating:
Summary: Beware of False Prophets
Review: After picking up this book one day and scanning through it, I was appalled. The things that are supposedly said by God in this book are false and very dangerous. The "god" in this book is not a just god. It pretty much says that people can do whatever they like without any consequences. This series discusses Hitler, and the "god" in the books states "Hitler did nothing "wrong." Hitler simply did what he did." The "god" in this book almost commends Hitler for killing millions, saying that "Hitler didn't hurt anyone. In a sense, he didn't inflict suffering, he ended it." What is the point then of being good or bad if there are no consequences? Another section deals with the fall of man. The "god" in this book calls what Adam and Eve did the original blessing because it allowed people to know the possibilities of good and evil. (Read the book Perelandra by C.S. Lewis for a brilliant counter argument to the above statement) This series also encourages people to pursue anything that makes them feel good; indulgence in whatever they like. One disturbing part in the series encourages married people to kiss and fondle each other in front of their children, as well as be naked in front of them. The "god" in this book even says that a married couple having sex in front of their children is a good thing. Many other disturbing things related to sex, especially the parts involving children, are stated in this series.
These are only a few examples from this series and I hope that you find them as disturbing as I do. An entire book could be written (and I hope one is) to combat the evils stated in this book. This series is basically a license to do whatever you like and very nearly does away with right and wrong. Many of the things that the "god" in this series says are outrageous and meant to deceive and lead people down the wrong path. I believe this series to be inspired by Satan (the "god" in the book says that there is no such being, which is exactly what Satan wants), and meant to deceive people by destroying the idea of sin, right and wrong, or good and evil, and giving them a license to do whatever they like. Please do not read this book; it can be tempting to believe in this book because it allows one to do whatever they like, but it is false. If you want to know the real God and truth study the Bible and find a good Christian church. I do accept that there are truths in other religions besides Christianity. Not everything in this series is totally wrong; Satan is a clever enemy and therefore puts enough truth in so that the books are convincing, though the bulk of the material is false and dangerous. Jesus warned that in the end days there would be false prophets, and I believe this author to be just that.
Rating: 
Summary: A good thought provoking and heretical(?) book!
Review: Neale Donald Walsch did something few will realy do in todays world. He told people that he speaks to God directly! Blashphemy! Heresy! and a whole host of other evils. Truth, fact or fiction? Christian, Anti Christian or??? I have read a lot of the reviews people have made about this book and have read it myself. Is he promoting free love and promiscuity? NO HE ISN'T! Sometimes the only way to make a point and to get it across is to dramatize things! We all do it! Just as with the condemnation of homosexuality and other sins in certain parts of the bible, people are not taking the whole paragraph but one sentance. Do you know that the whole Paragraph in Leviticus which speaks about homosexuality is speaking about the sins of the followers of Moloch? How they practice sexual acts in rituals to their god? One word makes the whole difference in this paragraph and it is 'toevah' which means ritually unclean. Take the book as a whole and see that he is not speaking about promiscuity or other acts of wantonness. It is speaking about experience! And that in the whole of the equation, that is what it is all about! Experience is neither good nor bad, right or wrong it is merely the collection of information through our sensory perceptions. His book is a fantasic read and well written it can help others whom are trying to put a face to their questions a little more in line. I personally am one for those who challenge us to look, listen and observe. I am one for those that make us think hard and long about so many things in our lives. Walsh has drawn a lot of fire, but he is essentially just making us think and question! Thats what make CWG an excellent book! Challenge your mindsets!
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Summary: To all the Christians who despise this book
Review: Funny how we keep hearing in negative reviews that this book is blasphemous because the author claims to have a dialogue with God and how it is not based on the Bible. Hmm, correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't the Bible written by not one but MANY men who supposedly worked out of divine inspiration? Okay, so the logic here is, one man talking to God in the 20th century is rubbish, but scores of men thousands of years ago talking to Him is (of course) the One True Way. Just another demonstration of these sorts of zealots' fanatical insecurities and lack of critical thinking. The biggest fundamental complaint I've seen regarding CWG's principles is that of no judgment or sin. If you take away the scare tactics of the church--its most viable and sustaining weapon--what are you left with? A new paradigm that suggests that mankind's biggest sorrow isn't its capacity to sin but rather its refusal to recognize just how divine each and every one of us are. This is the heart of CWG, and could prove to be one of the most beneficial notions ever. Unfortunately, we collectively think too little of ourselves to ever reach this point...and so suffering and guilt and blame and fear will continue to darken our times. Those who believe that without punishment man will only maim and cause suffering need to wake up and realize that since the dawn of Christianity--when the fear of God and the Church and hell was at its apex--these things still happened...only then it was done in Christ's name. Those who bash on this book's denial of right or wrong are missing the second biggest point of CWG--we are all one (hmm, didn't Jesus say the same thing?). To choose not to cause grief because of the realization that you're only hurting yourself, that is sublime. To choose not to cause grief out of fear of divine punishment, that is simply control. This book will be enlightening to anyone who can set aside their belief systems if but for a moment, for those mature enough to understand that the path does not matter, only the destination. Die hard Christians: do not bother picking this book up--you have the Bible to validate your beliefs. But for goodness's sake, recognize there ARE other beliefs out there and THAT'S OKAY. Don't criticize an apple for not being an orange.
Rating:
Summary: A wonderful book
Review: Don't take it at face value. Think about it. Consider it. I think Walsch was most likely talking with his "Higher Self", but what rings true for me is that this Higher Self may very well be the part of the Self that is closest to God. Yes, according to Walsch's God, there is no damnation and condemnation. But, as he so plainly points out, there are acts you can do that will bring you closer to God, and acts that won't. People who spend much of their time committing nonloving, nonjoyous acts, or who are not following their "highest thought" are creating their own hell. The choice is up to you. By the way, the reviewer that claimed a Triune God is a uniquely Christian concept should check up on that. None of the other Abrahamic religions claim a Trinity, as well as any other mainstream religion - this is true. But the concept of a trinity is far older than Christianity. I found much of the book rang true for myself - but I entirely understand how its credibility will always be challenged. What I find to be its main message is this: God speaks to us in many ways, not just through the words of some book that has been filtered, censored, altered, translated multiple times, and written by a lot of men who never even knew the real Jesus. (Same goes for all the other religious books.) God is everywhere, in everything, and communicates to us always, in all ways.
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