The Conversations with God book series by Neale Donald Walsch has gained a lot of popularity over the years, but how does it line up with the Bible? Let’s take a deeper look.
Overview of the Conversations with God series
The Conversations with God series consists of 9 books that are written in a dialog format with Walsch asking questions and God answering. The books cover a wide range of theological and philosophical topics as God explains his nature and spiritual truths. Some of the core teachings include:
- God is an all-loving, non-judgmental being who desires to have relationships, not set up rules.
- Hell does not exist as an actual place of torment.
- All religions are equally valid paths to God.
- Reincarnation is real and we live multiple lives to learn spiritual lessons.
- There is no such thing as right or wrong, sin or righteousness.
- The only real sin is not living in alignment with one’s personal truths.
- Jesus was an enlightened master, but his divinity and sacrifice for sin were metaphorical.
As you can see, many of these ideas are at odds with traditional Christian theology. Let’s analyze some of the major discrepancies between the Conversations with God books and the Bible.
The Nature of God
One of the areas where Conversations with God diverges most radically from the Bible is in its depiction of God. In the Bible, God is described as holy, righteous, and just (Isaiah 6:3; Psalms 7:11; Deuteronomy 32:4). He has abundant compassion, but he also hates sin and will judge evildoers (Exodus 34:6-7; Psalms 5:4-6).
By contrast, the God of Conversations with God is only loving and non-judgmental. He does not consider any behavior or belief as wrong, because he sees everything as part of humanity’s learning process. This ignores the many Bible verses that warn of God’s coming judgment, wrath against sin, and expectations of holiness for his people (Romans 2:5-8; Colossians 3:5-6; 1 Peter 1:15-16).
The Afterlife
The Conversations with God books repeatedly state that there is no eternal hell or punishment after death. Instead, it is claimed that everyone will go to “heaven” regardless of their beliefs or actions in life. This contradicts what the Bible says about the eternal destiny of those who reject Christ and live in unrepentant sin.
Jesus himself taught that there is a real place of torment called hell for those who do not follow him (Matthew 13:42; 25:41). He warned people to fear God who can destroy both body and soul in hell (Matthew 10:28). The Bible clearly teaches that there will be a final judgment where the unrighteous will be condemned (Revelation 20:11-15). The idea that everyone will be saved disregard core biblical teachings on heaven, hell, and salvation.
All Religions Lead to God
A core tenet of the Conversations with God books is that all religions and spiritual paths lead to God. There is no one right religion, and seeking to convert others is unnecessary. However, Jesus made very exclusive statements like “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). The Bible is adamant that salvation is found in Christ alone, not through works, religious rituals, or any other gods (Acts 4:12; Ephesians 2:8-9).
While Christianity should be practiced with humility and grace toward those of other faiths, the belief that all religions are equally valid contradicts Christ’s own words. He taught that he alone is the path to salvation and relationship with God (John 10:7-9).
Sin and Right/Wrong
In the Conversations with God series, there is no such thing as sin or objective right/wrong. People are encouraged to pursue whatever beliefs or lifestyle seems right for them individually. Everything is part of humanity’s learning process, so no choice – even things like murder – can be labeled good or evil.
Biblically, sin is defined as transgression of God’s moral law (1 John 3:4). There are behaviors God clearly states he considers detestable and wrong, such as idolatry, theft, dishonesty, and sexual immorality (Proverbs 6:16-19; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10). While we should interact with grace and compassion, the Bible still calls people to repent from objective sin and embrace God’s righteousness.
The Divinity of Jesus
In Conversations with God, Jesus had an important mission and message, but he is not regarded as divine. His miracles were not meant to be taken literally, and his claims about being one with God were metaphorical. This de-deifies Christ and contradicts clear biblical evidence of his divinity.
The Bible teaches that Jesus claimed equality with God and demonstrated powers only God possesses (John 5:18; Mark 2:1-12). The apostles taught Christ’s role in creation and identified him as fully divine (Colossians 1:15-20; Philippians 2:5-8). Scripture claims the blood of Jesus provides forgiveness and redemption – something no mere human sacrifice could accomplish (Matthew 26:28; Hebrews 9:11-14). Affirming Jesus as the divine Son of God is foundational biblical truth.
Bible Verses for Further Study
Here are some additional Bible passages that give insight into the discrepancies between the Conversations with God teachings and Scripture:
- Isaiah 46:9-10 – God declares his unique divine nature and foreknowledge of all things.
- John 3:16-18 – Jesus taught eternal life is found only through believing in him.
- Acts 17:29-31 – God will judge the world through Christ.
- 1 Timothy 2:5 – There is only one mediator between God and man, Jesus Christ.
- Hebrews 9:27 – Judgment comes after death, not reincarnation.
- 2 Peter 3:7 – The unrighteous will face eternal destruction, not universal salvation.
Conclusion
In reviewing core themes and assertions made in the Conversations with God books, it is clear there are frequent and stark contradictions with the teachings of the Bible. While presented as conversations with God, the worldview presented aligns much more closely with New Age thinking than biblical theology.
Followers of Christ should exercise caution and discernment in approaching this series. While the books may contain some inspiring or insightful content, ultimately they depart from Scripture’s revelation about the nature of God, sin, salvation, and eternity. The Bible advises testing all teachings against God’s authoritative Word (Acts 17:11; 1 John 4:1). When evaluated biblically, the Conversations with God series strays outside Christian orthodoxy on many fundamental points.