https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0489682/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conversations_with_God (CWG)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neale_Donald_Walsch (b 1943)
https://www.cs.cmu.edu/~zechner/cwg/lkl-ndw.html (2000-4-7)
In an interview with Larry King, Walsch described the inception of the books as follows: at a low period in his life, Walsch wrote an angry letter to God asking questions about why his life wasn't working. After writing down all of his questions, he heard a voice over his right shoulder say: "Do you really want an answer to all these questions or are you just venting?"[2] When Walsch turned around, he saw no one there, yet Walsch felt answers to his questions filling his mind and decided to write them down. The ensuing automatic writing became the Conversations with God books. When asked in a recent interview how he opens up to God, Neale stated, "I am reaching out to touch others with this information. When I reach out and touch others with this information, I reconnect immediately with the divine presence."[3]
Please tell me the remarkable story of Neale Donald Walsch (b 1943) and his CWG, thanks. (ChatGPT, 2025-6-5)
Certainly. The story of Neale Donald Walsch and his Conversations with God (CWG) is one of the most remarkable modern spiritual narratives—a tale of despair, an unexpected “dialogue with the Divine,” and the birth of a global movement rooted in radical spiritual rethinking.
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Who is Neale Donald Walsch?
Born in 1943 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Neale Donald Walsch grew up with a mixed Catholic and Protestant background. He was a radio broadcaster, journalist, and PR professional who struggled through a life that was often unstable, both personally and professionally. He had gone through multiple divorces, financial ruin, and even a period of homelessness after a car accident left him unable to work.
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The Turning Point (1992)
In his early 50s, Walsch hit what he called the lowest point in his life:
- He was broke, alone, living in a tent in a forest in Ashland, Oregon.
- In a moment of existential rage, he wrote an angry letter to God, scribbling on a yellow legal pad:
“What does it take to make life work? What have I done to deserve a life of such struggle?”
To his shock, he says, he heard a voice—not out loud, but a voice in his head. The voice was calm, loving, and began to respond directly to his questions.
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Conversations with God (Book 1)
What followed was a dialogue—or so Walsch claimed—between him and God, written in a question-and-answer format. This eventually became the 1995 book Conversations with God: Book 1, a surprise bestseller published by Hampton Roads Publishing.
🕊️ What made CWG different:
- God was not angry or punishing, but playful, paradoxical, nonjudgmental.
- The “voice” said:
“You are all divine. The purpose of life is to remember Who You Really Are.”
“There’s nothing you have to do. There is only what you choose to be.”
The book challenged traditional religious doctrines, saying:
- There is no Hell
- God is not a separate being but an expression of life itself
- Human suffering stems from forgetting our true nature
The book combined New Age metaphysics, non-dual language, and a deeply existential tone—yet with a surprising conversational and accessible style.
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CWG as a Movement
The success of Book 1 led to a trilogy:
- Book 1 (1995) – Personal life and relationships
- Book 2 (1997) – Global systems (education, politics, economy)
- Book 3 (1998) – Cosmology, metaphysics, God’s purpose
Over time, CWG expanded to include:
- Dozens of spin-off books
- A film: Conversations with God (2006)
- The CWG Foundation, which runs retreats and humanitarian projects
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The Message of CWG
CWG offers a non-dogmatic spirituality with a few core themes:
|
Theme |
Explanation |
|
God is a process, not a person |
Not a judgmental being, but the unfolding of all life |
|
Life is not a school but a playground |
There’s no “test” or “karma ledger” - only creation |
|
All relationships are mirrors |
Others help you remember and express your true self |
|
Fear and guilt are illusions |
These are tools of control, not divine truths |
|
You are creating your reality |
Thought is a tool of divine creation, not a passive event |
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Criticism and Controversy
Walsch has been both:
- Praised for offering spiritual comfort to millions disillusioned with organized religion.
- Criticized for promoting self-help idealism, vague universalism, and sometimes contradictory or unprovable metaphysical claims.
Some accuse CWG of channeling without accountability, while others see it as authentic mystical experience, much like Julian of Norwich, Emanuel Swedenborg, or Jane Roberts (Seth Books).
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Legacy
Walsch turned personal despair into a transformative spiritual platform. His work speaks especially to:
- People disenchanted with institutional religion
- Seekers of non-dual or universalist spirituality
- Those in crisis seeking a loving, conversational God
He remains a living figure, still writing and speaking worldwide. His message continues to emphasize:
“Your life is not about you. It’s about everyone whose life you touch.”
Would you like a comparison between CWG and other spiritual dialogues, such as The Course in Miracles or Dialogues with Krishna? Or perhaps a philosophical critique from a post-structuralist or psychoanalytic angle?
