Conversations with God is one of my all-time favorite spiritual books — right up there with; Oneness by Rasha, and The New Earth by Eckhart Toole.  It's actually a series of four books, and book 1 is just the beginning of a lengthy but always engaging and intriguing conversation.

The books are quite controversial, especially amongst traditional Christians, which likely view much of the ideas contained as borderline blasphemy, if not full-on blasphemy.  I found the perspectives offered in this book (and the rest of the books in the series) very refreshing and they resonated deeply with me.  But decide for yourself.  All I suggest is that you keep an open mind and believe only that which resonates with your heart, and is consistent with the greater good of all   regardless of the source. This is my credo anyway.

The first thing you'll notice about the book is its cover, and quite frankly, its cover is underwhelming.  But as the old saying goes "You can't judge a book by its cover" and this has never been truer for any book than for Conversations with God.  Because once you open the book and start reading it, you will likely be blown away — for better or for worse.  Many people find it contains much profound information bordering on revelation, and as I said, others find it borderline blasphemous.

Book 1 starts off with the poignant story of how Neale came to write the book.  Neale was going through some very hard times in his life and in a moment of utter frustration, despair, and anger decided to write a letter to God.  It was a passionate scathing letter full of condemnations and angry questions.

Why wasn't his life working?  Why were all his relationships such disasters?  Why was his financial life such a disaster?  And finally — what had he done to deserve a life with so much struggle?

As he scratched out his final bitter words and was about to set down his pen, to his surprise, his hand remained poised over the paper.  And then abruptly, the pen began moving on its own.  Neale had no idea what he was about to write, but ideas seem to be coming so he let them flow onto the paper:

"Do you really want an answer to all these questions, or are you just venting?"

His heart skipped a beat, and then his reply came out onto the paper.

"Sure I'm venting, but if you've got answers, I'd sure as hell like to hear them!"

And this is how the conversation began, and which continued in this fashion for three whole years!  He was not writing so much as taking dictation because, until he asked a question, he really had no idea what was going to come next.

The conversation that ensued, and that has now produced four books, is a witty, humorous, and thoroughly entertaining dialog between Neale and God.  Did you know that God has a great sense of humor?  At least as expressed through Neale Donald Walsch he does.  Of course, Neale's (and everyone's) innermost or highest self is his God-Self, so that creates the amusing proposition that Neale is sort of just talking to himself.  If the idea that your innermost self, your highest self, is your God-self is new to you, then take a look at my article Discovered Your God-Self?

The first burning question the Neale asked of God was "How do you communicate, and to whom?"  And when God had explained the subtle and multifaceted ways that he communicates to us Neale's next question was "How can I be sure that a message is from God?  And how do I know this very dialog is not my own imagination?"  And the questions continued...

• Does God only communicate to special people?  At special times?
• Why do some people, take Christ for example, seem to hear more of your communication than others?
• Why haven't you revealed yourself in some obvious an incontrovertible way?
• Is there one true path to God?

And these questions were just a warmup because the answers that he received begged more questions which led to more answers that begged even more questions, in an ever-expanding circle.  Many of the questions relate to Neale's personal challenges in the areas of money, relationship, career, and health.  But of course, the answers contain wisdom that applies to everyone and which uncovers many deeper truths and many more important and interesting topics including the following:

• Our true relationship to God and the amazing power, freedom, and responsibility we have been bestowed with.
• The laws of creation and the nature of the creational process.
• The core polarity that powers all creation — love versus fear — and all of its multitude of implications.
• The real reasons why we are here in our physical reality.
• How and why God sub-divided itself into the many focal points of consciousness that are us.
• The real reasons "bad" things happen to us. And how we can transcend these types of experiences.
• The real truth about heaven and hell, the devil and the like (and you may find the answer very surprising).
• The true nature of good and evil.
• The fallacy of one true path to God.
• The many misconceptions we have about the nature of God.
• The fallacy of a punishing judgmental God.
• The true nature of suffering, how we create it in our reality, and how we can transcend it.
• The true nature of karma, karmic debt, and karmic lessons.
• The preeminence of choice and freewill and its relation to responsibility and creation.
• Self-realization and the path to mastery.

And this list still doesn't do justice to what is explored in this book.  Honestly, if there was only one book to read this one (actually the entire series) might be the one.  I'd make it required reading for everyone on the planet, that's how important I feel these books and the wisdom they contain is.

I wholeheartedly encourage you to see for yourself,