Donâ€™t Talk to Strangers: Examining Conversations with God for Teens

(Originally printed in the Winter/Spring 2003 Issue of the MCOI Journal beginning on page 8)

God is a pool of energy; there is no certain age or time for sexual initiation; there is no right or wrong, our main purpose is to remember we are actually God; and after death, we will lose our individual distinctions in The Oneness, but then become individualized and be born again, a cycle to repeat for eternity. If one were to believe Neale Donald Walsch’s assertion that these proclamations are from God, then one would likely accept them as true. These statements are in Conversations with God For Teens, a book providing what Walsch claims are answers from God to questions sent to Walsch by teens on the Internet.¹

Walsch is a veteran of these conversations with someone he says is God, having published preceding conversations in three Conversations with God books, Friendship with God, Communion with God, and other similar books that sold quite well. The ideas in this book are not that new or different from his previous works; what is new is that this book is aimed at teens, and that real teens asked many of the questions. A variety of questions and topics are covered-from drugs, to sex, to love, to school, to death and suffering; but due to space and time limitations, only a few major and recurring themes can be discussed here.

Approaching this Book with Teens

Even before evaluating or criticizing this book, adults should pause and realize that the questions asked by the teens are normal questions. The idealism, frustrations, anxieties, and searching so common to teens shine clearly through the questions. The questions are not the problem, and the questions deserve answers. Keeping in mind this book was not written for adults, the approach should be to show teens: How the answers to these questions are problematic, the evidence that Walsch’s god may not be God at all, and then, to try to answer these questions for the teens. Dismissing the book could be seen as dismissing the teens’ questions, and that would be a serious mistake, opening a door for teens to turn away from advice from those who most care about them. Rather than a sweeping assault on this book, it might be more effective to address the issues in the book and to point teens to sound responses while exposing the unstable, contradictory, and flawed advice found in CWGT.

The second point to keep in mind is that there is some good advice and information in the book. For example, Walsch’s god strongly advises against taking drugs, he states that most suffering is caused by man himself, and he advocates honesty and responsibility.² He even urges teens to try to understand their parents, and he makes some good points on love versus need. ³ Acknowledging the few good ideas will not detract from any criticism of the book, but rather will make any criticism more credible and palatable.

Walsch has a cheerful website based on this book at http://thechangers.org where teens are warmly invited to join chat groups, to become involved in ongoing study groups based on the original Conversations with God books, to give their feedback, to attend a retreat for teens, and to participate in other activities related to Walsch’s books and projects. There is no effort to hide the fact this is a spiritual enterprise, and the goals involve finding new spiritual attitudes and beliefs.

Is this God Speaking?

The most important question for any reader of this book to ask is: Is the god giving answers to Walsch really God? Walsch states it is God.⁴ Should we take Walsch’s word for it? Walsch, in a classic case of circular reasoning, admits he asked God whether what was being communicated were Walsch’s own thoughts or not. Naturally, this god responded that the answers Walsch was receiving were from God, since how else would God communicate but by putting thoughts in his (Walsch’s) head?⁵ This is still not any evidence these thoughts are from God, since one can argue this answer itself came from Walsch’s thoughts or imagination.

Nevertheless, let’s apply another test to this god since one might maintain Walsch’s explanation does not disprove he’s hearing from God. Since we cannot assume this is any god we might be familiar with, this god will be referred to throughout this article as G. If G is a god that we can trust, then G would have to show wisdom, love, and perfection. Clearly, an imperfect, unloving, or unintelligent god will not do, since such a god would have failings and therefore could not be counted on. It would then be pointless to consider the advice offered in the book since G might be lying, stupid, crazy, or a total fraud. So what does the book indicate G is like?

Throughout the book G declares that, since there is no right or wrong, there is only what works and what doesn’t work; and G does not judge, condemn, or forgive since there is nothing to forgive. These are major themes in the book.[6. Neale Donald Walsch, Conversations with God for Teens (NY: Scholastic, Inc., March 2002) pp.115, 117ff., 120, 122, 124, 219, 226] If we are to take G at his word, one must assume Hitler is an okay guy with G. After all, G cannot condemn Hitler since G repeats over and over that he does not judge or condemn. This would have to hold true for rape, child molesting, racism, and other acts generally shunned by society. The reader may wonder why no one specifically asks how G sees such behavior.

It is crucial to understand that Walsch tells us in a “few cases,” he sent G’s answer back to the questioning teen to see if the teen had follow-up questions but that in most cases, Walsch himself asked the follow-up questions he thought the teens might ask.⁶Conversations with God for Teens (NY: Scholastic, Inc., March 2002) pp.19 This is an essential point to keep in mind when reading the book, since we do not really know what the teens thought of the answers G gave them. We only have, in most cases, follow-up questions from Walsch. In only one instance is there something close to a really hard follow-up question. This is when G has stated there is no right or wrong, and the follow-up asks if killing and cruelty are wrong. G replies with a question by asking: If these are wrong, what about wars and hitting someone who has broken into your home? The follow-up points out those actions would be self-defense, to which G replies, “Oh, so you mean that there are situations in which killing and cruelty are not wrong?”⁷Conversations with God for Teens (NY: Scholastic, Inc., March 2002) pp.122-123 The follow-up points out those actions are called self-defense, not killing or cruelty. G’s response is remarkable: “Changing your terminology does not change your actions. It merely justifies them.”⁸Conversations with God for Teens (NY: Scholastic, Inc., March 2002) pp.123 If we are to believe G, then even self-defense is the same as killing or an act of cruelty! G is telling teens defending themselves against an attacker is the same as murder.

If there really is no right or wrong, then we must conclude things like theft, racism, and rape cannot be wrong to G; so what should we think of G? Furthermore, if G says there is no right or wrong, how can we judge whether that sentence itself is right or wrong? We can’t. G tells us all of us will return to him. There is no Heaven or Hell, so Hitler, along with rapists and child abusers who have died, have presumably returned to “meld” with G.⁹Conversations with God for Teens (NY: Scholastic, Inc., March 2002) pp.140, 142, 143, 261, 264, 278, 281, 296 G says we then go out again to be born once more in a cyclical fashion for eternity.[11. Neale Donald Walsch, Conversations with God for Teens (NY: Scholastic, Inc., March 2002) pp.261, 296, 314-315.] That means for a while, Hitler, rapists, murderers, and others-who may not even care about what they did-have become part of God. According to G, we lose our individual identity in melding with G. Consequently, at any point in time, G is composed of the essence of those who have committed violent or cruel acts on others!

Interestingly, G tells teens religion has kept us “stuck in a system of Absolute Right and Wrong” which is part of a theory of separation that is “killing the lot of you.”¹⁰Conversations with God for Teens (NY: Scholastic, Inc., March 2002) p.127 G is talking about morality. According to G, we are all one, and the idea that we are separate is destructive. But which is more likely to kill: A system that recognizes right and wrong based on a consistent standard of good and evil, or a system that believes there is no right or wrong? Separation is a part of believing there is a right and a wrong, since there must be a line between the two. But according to G, there are no lines, there can be no absolutes, and there is no right or wrong. What are the implications of this?

If we are all one, and there are no absolutes, then all actions and behaviors are equal. A man robbing a bank is not doing anything different, worse, or better than a woman feeding hungry children. Lying to your friends or doing them a favor must have the same value. In fact, G says he did not create us to obey, but to create, because we are like him.¹¹Conversations with God for Teens (NY: Scholastic, Inc., March 2002) p.147, 153, 177, 287, 300, 302 We are all “Divine Beings” and “Gods in formation.”¹²Conversations with God for Teens (NY: Scholastic, Inc., March 2002) p.260 We must conclude that, like G, we then should not judge or believe in right or wrong. Therefore, it cannot even be wrong to disagree with G! It cannot be wrong to have a “religion.” But wait a minute! G clearly expresses an unfavorable view of “religion” since he said it is killing us. G contradicts himself. He also expresses disapproval of such things as: The belief there is only one way to God, damage to the environment, lying, and hypocrisy.[15. Neale Donald Walsch, Conversations with God for Teens (NY: Scholastic, Inc., March 2002) pp.131, 245-246, 249, 253] He prefers we remember we are God and advises our present views of God should change.¹³Conversations with God for Teens (NY: Scholastic, Inc., March 2002) pp.28-29, 42, 196, 321

We now have someone claiming to be God who wants us to make no judgments-which would mean no judgment about the actions of a Hitler or a rapist, who tells us there is no difference between right and wrong since right and wrong don’t exist, and who contradicts himself. Is this a picture of a perfect and wise God? If we can catch him in these contradictions, what does that say about G’s intelligence? What does it say about his character?

Although G talks a lot about love, he also says he only observes us, he does not care what we do, and has “no preference in the matter.”¹⁴Conversations with God for Teens (NY: Scholastic, Inc., March 2002) p.163 If G truly does not care what we do, then how can he love us? Loving and caring go together. On the other hand, G has stated some preferences, so he is contradicting himself. So here is a god who does not really love, who lies to us, and who contradicts himself. Could this be God? Do we want a God like this?

Are We Real?

Most of the human race is living in an “illusion,” according to G.¹⁵Conversations with God for Teens (NY: Scholastic, Inc., March 2002) p.256, 264 The illusion is we are separate from each other and separate from God. If someone says something is an illusion, then there should be a way to decide if this is true. But if we are in an illusion, how can that be done? Furthermore, if we are in an illusion, then maybe G himself is part of that illusion. Maybe the answers Walsch has recorded are illusions. Maybe the illusion is really we are being told we are in an illusion!

This idea of being in an illusion and being deceived into thinking we are separate from God is part of a teaching that derives from Hinduism. This belief has also been foundational to New Age thinking for the past few decades. If we accept this teaching, then we must doubt our senses. We cannot accept the normal awareness of being separate individuals, or the belief that we are not God. This teaching causes us to mistrust our own eyes, mind, and feelings. In fact, G tells us we are not our body, and we are not our mind; and he advises us to get out of our mind and to “drop our thoughts.”¹⁶Conversations with God for Teens (NY: Scholastic, Inc., March 2002) p.272 Of course, one must use one’s mind to read this sentence and to understand this advice. If we are to stop thinking, it seems strange that we need to think in order to understand that we should not think.

If we are not separate from each other, then our individual identity must be an illusion or a temporary vehicle that will be blotted out. A unique identity is essentially meaningless. In fact, G states that when we meld back with him after death, we can hold on to our individual identity for as long as it “serves” us, implying that it will be a temporary crutch before finally letting go and being absorbed.¹⁷Conversations with God for Teens (NY: Scholastic, Inc., March 2002) p.314 If we really are not separate from God-but actually are God (as G insists), then how did we forget this? How can we, as gods, be in an illusion? We only have G’s word for this, against all evidence of our individual senses, thoughts, and feelings.

G explains that after being absorbed after death, we will be in tune with a “primal vibration” that will stimulate us to “differentiate,” and we somehow will leave and be born again and again.¹⁸Conversations with God for Teens (NY: Scholastic, Inc., March 2002) p.315 Why is God differentiating? G partly explains this by saying in order to know God, we must be away from God.[22. Neale Donald Walsch, Conversations with God for Teens (NY: Scholastic, Inc., March 2002) pp.262, 295-296] We can’t know hot without cold, we can’t know night without day, etc. But since G has insisted all is one, and there is no separation; then these opposites-hot and cold, night and day-must be illusions as well. Essentially, G (who should be perfect and all knowing) must create illusion so he can know himself, and must create opposites that do not really exist so we can realize there really are no opposites, but that all is one.

It is as though someone has taken us as a baby to a house that is really a stage set but has given us senses that inform us it is a real place, has allowed us to grow up there as though it is real, and then tells us our senses really are faulty, and that it is all an illusion created just so we would know this fake house is not real. Some may argue it is us who created the illusion. But G has said we are God, too; so whatever we do, God is doing. After all, if we take G’s words to heart, we are not separate. This illusion seems to be a rather roundabout, unnecessary, and even cruel process for what should be easy for God. In other words, G is saying an illusion of what is false must be created and experienced in order to know truth, so that what we think is true is false, and what is true is hidden in an illusion.

It is a serious matter for someone to teach to mistrust our thinking, our senses, and our awareness. In fact, this kind of teaching is often found in leaders who want to deceive and then control others. If the followers believe they cannot trust their thinking and senses but must rely on the leader alone, then they have no way to assess or disagree with anything the leader says. This is exactly what G is doing in this book. Any rational objections raised to G’s teachings can be dismissed as coming from illusory thinking. G sets this up quite cleverly, but it should be recognized for the trap that it is.

G’s Solutions

How do we advance when we are laboring under such bad teachings and illusions? We are to recognize the illusion of separateness, we are to shed outdated thinking and remember that we are God, and we are to decide what we want and create it, since we have the “original power” of God.¹⁹Conversations with God for Teens (NY: Scholastic, Inc., March 2002) pp.37, 38, 154 When we understand what G is saying, we are “Christed” and are like the Buddha.²⁰Conversations with God for Teens (NY: Scholastic, Inc., March 2002) p.293 As he often does in this book, G misquotes the Bible or uses quotes out of context.[25. Neale Donald Walsch, Conversations with God for Teens (NY: Scholastic, Inc., March 2002) pp.37, 118, 208, 243, 313] One of the most blatant examples is where he states we can create like God, because we are made in His image.²¹Conversations with God for Teens (NY: Scholastic, Inc., March 2002) p.37 But being made in the image of God means (without going into complex theological discussions) that we are made unique from nature and animals in that we have a moral conscience and the ability to conceive of, communicate with, and worship God. It does not mean we are God.

G tells teens they can create a new reality with thoughts, words, and actions.²²Conversations with God for Teens (NY: Scholastic, Inc., March 2002) p.45, 68, 71-72 Undoubtedly, people can change things in the environment and in society through action, but G implies we can do this in a godlike fashion. Of course, all of us would have to agree on what to create; otherwise, we will have realities competing with and crashing into each other! We must also assume that before creating a new reality, we have realized the present reality is an illusion. What prevents us from creating further illusion, however? How can we be sure we are totally out of all illusion, since there is no way given by G to measure illusion and reality? In fact, if all is one, how can there even be a distinction between reality and illusion?

There is the further problem of what should motivate us to create a new reality. Since G has stated he does not care what we do, our individual identities are not real, and there is no wrong or right, then what difference does anything make? What are we striving for? If we are striving for peace, an end to suffering, and a healthy environment (as G implies in parts of the book), then G has once again contradicted his teachings that he has no preferences and that nothing can be wrong. If nothing is right or wrong, why should we try to improve what exists now? One may even ask, what is the point of the book?

A Dismantled G

G dismantles himself through his irrational and contradictory statements. He seems to offer hope to teens who are hurting, angry, worried about the future, having problems with parents, and who are seeking direction. But this hope is an illusion itself, since G reveals he is not perfect, loving, caring, or wise. He butters teens up by catering to their gripes, and by sympathizing with their idealism and their recognition of hypocrisy, but then tells them their individual identity is unreal and ultimately will come to an end. He urges teens to recognize they are God and have godlike power, but then admits god has no preference about what they do with this power. G expresses outrage at “religion” and beliefs he says are holding the world back; but teaches there is no right or wrong, which means any action must be accepted. Therefore, we have no cause to oppose cruel or violent actions. On what basis should an abused teen complain, if they are to believe they cannot judge an action as right or wrong? G massages egos by telling teens they are God, but then turns around to say they have all been living in an illusion and cannot trust their own thinking and senses.

Is G, who contradicts himself, who openly states he does not care what we do, and who says there is no right or wrong, really God? The book reveals G actually to be more of a clever con artist, a master of mirages, one who appears to be a friend but who is actually undermining the identity, thinking, and confidence of teens.

A Real God

It is unsettling to have a god who does not recognize right or wrong, but only what works. It is fearful to have a god who is a pastiche of the various spirits of dead people, including those who have no remorse for what they have done. And to what end are we traveling in life if there is no actual goal, but only a temporary “bliss” during the constant swing in and out of a cosmic “pool of energy” in which we lose our identity?²³Conversations with God for Teens (NY: Scholastic, Inc., March 2002) pp.315, 317 Interestingly, G says the one thing he would change is our beliefs about who we are and who God is.²⁴Conversations with God for Teens (NY: Scholastic, Inc., March 2002) p.321 Of course he would, as that would be the only way to accept G as God.

We can present a real God to teens, not a religion, but a God who is light and in whom there is no darkness at all, one who does not lie, and does not change.²⁵ He created us as unique individuals, but he is holy and must judge sin. God loved us enough to send his son, Jesus, to atone for those sins.²⁶ In trusting Christ, we are delivered from the penalty of sin and able to be with him in a place free of sorrow after death.²⁷ This is the real God who has revealed himself in the order of nature, in his Word, and in Christ, a God whose faithfulness and power overshadow any pretenders to the throne.Î©

Marcia Montenegro is a former professional astrologer who taught astrology, was President of the Metropolitan Atlanta Astrological Society, and wrote for New Age journals. She was involved for many years with Eastern, New Age, and occult practices until meeting Christ in late 1990.

Donâ€™t Talk to Strangers: Examining Conversations with God for Teens

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