The False Teachings Of "The Spirit World"

 

It's hard to believe the number of popular "self-help" and "spiritual books" written by those who have claimed to have (a) channeled spirits or (b) were suddenly "spoken to" by "God." Just to focus on three such authors, Neale Donald Walsch claims "God" dictated his book  Conversations With God; Helen Schucman who claimed a spirit declaring itself to be the "voice of Jesus Christ" dictated A Course in Miracles; and Judy Zebra "J. Z." Knight (born Judith Darlene Hampton) who channels an "enlightened spirit of  a human warrior" that wrote Voyage to the New World: An Adventure Into Unlimitedness will be examined. 

They have all written follow-up books and have far-reaching influence. Interestingly, even though Walsch, Schucman, and Knight do not have anything to do with each other, and in spite of claims that their books come from very different sources, they all have the same basic false claims stated slightly different. These claims show a decidedly occult worldview.

There are three basic teachings of the occult:

1. Moral and Cognitive Relativism. Moral relativism teaches there are no absolute standards of right and wrong; cognitive relativism teaches there is no objective truth (listen to Millennials who speak about "my truth" and "your truth.").

2. "You are God." Pantheism teaches the universe conceived of as a whole is God, so everything is "part of God." Panentheism teaches everything is in some way a part of God, because God exists in the universe like a soul exists in a body. Both of these philosophies are at the root of most paganism and virtually all of the occult. Humans are exalted to "God status."

3. The Denigration of Our Lord Jesus Christ and His One True Church. True Christianity is made to seem irrelevant, inferior to other things, and even evil. 

In this post, the occult connection between these authors' writings will be explored. In fact, you could see the similarity between any so-called "message from the spirit world" and the authors I mention. Ditto for those claiming "God" spoke to them (you will see the stark difference between those phonies and authentic private revelation from God, like Christ to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque regarding His Most Sacred Heart). The Holy Bible tells us to test the spirits. Dearly beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits if they be of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. By this is the spirit of God known. Every spirit which confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh, is of God: And every spirit that dissolveth Jesus, is not of God: and this is Antichrist, of whom you have heard that he cometh, and he is now already in the world. (1 St. John 4:1-3; Emphasis mine). 

The Teachings of Demons

First, I will present a brief summary in which I expose the spirits’ (i.e., demons') views from chan­neled literature, which are at open odds with Church teaching. Then I will quote the spirits in more detail to further document their beliefs.

God

The spirits teach that God is ultimately an impersonal force (an “it”), like electricity or a “personalized” universal energy that constitutes everything. God is “infinite power,” “all life,” “universal consciousness,” etc. The consensus of “most channeled material” is that “God is all that is” and that “the universe is a multi-dimensional living Being,” i.e.. God.

Jesus Christ

The spirits teach that Jesus is an evolved spirit or a man just like us. Jesus was the person who highly emulated the Christ spirit which is also part of us all. The spirits say that Jesus has died and has now evolved to a higher state of existence just like other people have. Thus, one spirit confesses that Jesus was only a representative of the impersonal divine force living in all men (the Christ spirit) and that Catholics who believe in Jesus Christ as the Incarnate Second Person of the Most Blessed Trinity are "delusional."

Human Beings

The spirits teach that humanity's true nature is perfect and one essence with God. Original sin and even personal sin is denied.

Sin

The spirits teach that sins are merely “mistakes,” “an illusion,” or ignorance of one’s own deity, and that sin in the Catholic sense is nothing with which God concerns Himself.

Salvation

The spirits teach that “salvation” involves realizing that one is already part of God. Each person must accomplish this for himself by practicing various occult techniques.

Death

The spirits teach that at death there is no final judgment. It is merely transition into the wonderful spirit world or Heaven. Hell does not exist.

Satan

The spirits teach there is no devil. (I'm reminded of the famous saying: “The devil's greatest trick is convincing the world he doesn't exist.”). 

Conversations with "God"?

Neale Donald Walsch (b. 1943) was baptized and raised in the One True Church. He claims to have studied comparative religions for years, but was never a devout Catholic. In 1992, Walsch, then 49, was angry and despondent over the course his life had taken. His marriage ended in divorce, a fire then destroyed all his belongings, after which he was in a car accident wherein he suffered a broken neck. After he left the hospital, he was alone, broke, and living in a tent. He picked up aluminum cans for the deposit money in order to eat.

It was then he decided to write an angry letter to God asking why He allowed all this to happen to him. As he finished writing the last question, Walsch claims the pen moved on its own and he found himself writing words as though taking dictation (known as "automatic writing"). Walsch states he knew this was "God" dictating the responses, although he does not explain how he knew God was responsible. Later, he would deny automatic writing, and assert he was writing down what "God" told him.

In an interview with Larry King, Walsch claims he heard a voice saying, "Do you really want an answer to all these questions or are you just venting?" (See cs.cmu.edu/~zechner/cwg/lkl-ndw.html). He turned around he saw no one there, yet Walsch felt answers to his questions filling his mind and decided to write them down as his pen moved. The resulting "dialogue" became the best selling book Conversations With God in 1995. It spent an incredible 135 weeks on the New York Times Bestsellers List. There were eight other books in the series to follow, and Walsch is worth approximately $81 million dollars today. 

The elements set forth above will be examined in Walsch's books. As there are a total of nine (9) books in the series, quotes will be culled from more than just the first book, and citations will be given accordingly (For example 3:27, means book 3 page 27 in the series). I obtained copies of originals years ago and the pages might be different from other editions, or pdf versions.

Sin is non-existent and morality is subjective. In his first book, pg. 152, we are treated to this gem: 

There’s nothing "wrong" with anything. "Wrong'" is a relative term, indicating the opposite of that which you call "right." Yet, what is "right"? Can you be truly objective in these matters? Or are "right" and "wrong" simply descriptions overlaid on events and circumstances by you, out of your decision about them?

I'm sure if Mr. Walsch's publisher refused to pay him the royalties on his book, I'm willing to bet he would see something very wrong with that and sue. The danger of this nonsense should be self-evident. We can't be truly objective about murder, lying, stealing, etc. being immoral? It gives the green light to sin.

God loves you as you are; there is no need to amend your life. 

You must first see your Self as worthy before you can see another as worthy. You must first see your Self as blessed before you can see another as blessed. You must first know your Self to be holy before you can acknowledge holiness in another (1:26)

 Walsch claims "God" taught him Original Sin is a "myth," and we are all holy--why? Because everything is holy (part of God; pantheism). Pure heresy.

"True for you, but maybe not for me."

Feeling is the language of the soul. If you want to know what's true for you about something, look to how you're feeling about it. (1:13). 

Notice the phrase "what's true for you"--as if each person can have a "different truth" because there is no objective, unchanging truth. If that's the case, why is Walsch (or "God") asking us to accept what is said in the book as true? Wouldn't that eliminate anything that contradicts it as objectively false? At the beginning of the book we are told by "God" that Words are really the least effective communicator . . . merely utterances... If true, why is "God" communicating words to Walsch and why should we believe these "mere utterances"? It's a self-refuting statement.

There is no One True Religion.

No path to God is more direct than any other path. No religion is the "one true religion," no people are "the chosen people," and no prophet is the "greatest prophet." (7:98).

In one sentence, Catholicism, Judaism, and Islam are denied. All organized religions are false according to Walsch's "conversations with 'God.'"  Furthermore, there is no Hell, and everyone is assured of eternal happiness. Your happy destiny is unavoidable. You cannot be "saved." There is no hell except not knowing this.-- (1:93).

Jesus Christ is NOT God.

In book 2 of his series, on page 244, we are told The Buddha, Krishna, and Jesus were spacemen. Yes, aliens from another planet! Walsch denigrates Catholicism by claiming "God" said: Wait a minute! This God of yours sent you to Purgatory if you ate meat on Friday? (2:44). In the first book we are told by "God" that drinking is not OK. But Jesus took alcohol! says Walsch. To which "God" replies, So who said Jesus was perfect? (1:192).

A Course in Miracles (and the Occult)

Popular occultist Marianne Williamson (running for U.S. President in 2024), is a follower of the teachings of one Helen Schucman (d. 1981) who wrote the occult book A Course in Miracles (1976). In October of 1965, then 56 year old Schucman, a Jewish atheist psychologist and associate professor of medical psychology at Columbia University in NYC, began receiving what she claimed were channeled messages from a "spirit guide" identifying itself as "the voice of Jesus Christ." Soon, Schucman became used to the "voice" which dictated things for her to write down. She acted as a scribe, with her hand moving in what is known as "automatic writing," which I mentioned above. Popular in occult circles, this automatic writing means that the writer's hand forms the words, but the person is unaware of what will be written. This is what also happened to Walsch. It is undeniable Walsch claimed automatic writing, but later said it was locutions dictated by "God."

The result of Schucman's automatic writing was the book A Course in Miracles. The book tells us that our beliefs are unimportant. What is important is the application of the book's ideas which will bring you into a "higher form of consciousness." It further states that what is important is the "inner core of our own being" that unifies all religions of the world. This is a sample of what the "spirit guide" pretending to be the voice of Jesus Christ dictated to Schucman:

Some of the ideas the workbook presents you will find hard to believe, and others may seem quite startling. This does not matter. You are merely asked to apply the ideas as you are directed to do. You are not asked to judge them at all. You are asked only to use them. It is their use that will give them meaning to you, and will show you they are true.

Remember only this; you need not believe the ideas, you need not accept them, and you need not even welcome them. Some of them you may actively resist. None of this will matter, or decrease their efficacy. But do not allow yourself to make exceptions in applying the ideas the workbook contains, and whatever your reaction to the ideas may be, use them. Nothing more than that is required. (See A Course in Miracles: Text, Workbook for Students, Manual for Teachers, Glen Ellen, CA, The Foundation for Inner Peace [Reprint 1977], pg.ix).

Here are the teachings of “Jesus Christ”—the demon who worked through medium Helen Schucman in A Course in Miracles, 1977; citations are listed by volume and page:

Teaching on God: The recognition of God is the recognition of yourself. There is no separation of God and His creation. (1:136). Pure pantheism. 

Teaching on Jesus Christ: There is nothing about me [Jesus] that you cannot attain. (1:5); Christ waits for your acceptance of Him as yourself. (1:187); Is Jesus the Christ? O yes, along with you. (1:83). Once more, YOU are "God." Christ is blasphemously denigrated as "nothing special." 

Teaching on humanity: God’s Name is holy, but no holier than yours. To call upon His Name is but to call upon your own. (2:334); You are the Holy Son of God Himself.  (2:353-54). More self-divinization. 

Teaching on sin: Sin does not exist. (3:81); Sin is the grand illusion… joyously [release] one another from the belief in sin.  (1:375, 377-78); See no one, then, as guilty … [within all people] there is perfect innocence; No one is punished for sins [and you] are not sinners. (1:88).

Teaching on salvation: [Divine] forgiveness, then, is an illusion (3:79);  [It is] a terrible misconception that God Himself [judged] His own Son on behalf of salvation…. It is so essential that all such thinking be dispelled that we must be sure that nothing of this kind remains in your mind. I was not ‘punished’ because you were bad. (1:32-33, 87);  A sense of separation from God is the only lack you really need to correct; Salvation is nothing more than ‘right-mindedness’; You are one with God. (1:11,53; 2:125); Do not make the pathetic error of ‘clinging to the old rugged cross.’… This is not the gospel I… intended to offer you. (1:47).

Teaching on death: There is no death, but there is a belief in death. (1:46); Death is the central dream from which all illusions stem. (3:63).

Voyage to...Hell

JZ Knight explains herself thus on her website:

JZ Knight is the unique channel of Ramtha and author of the best-selling autobiography, “A State of Mind, My Story.” Historians and religious experts who have studied her life’s work call JZ Knight the Great American Channel and recognize her as one of the most charismatic and compelling spiritual leaders of the modern age.

JZ Knight and Ramtha have captivated and inspired audiences worldwide for the last three decades, bridging ancient wisdom and the power of consciousness together with the latest discoveries in science. JZ Knight has appeared on national TV shows, such as Larry King and The Merv Griffin Show, offering spiritual insight and inspiration to thousands of people from all over the world and all walks of life, including many well-known figures from the entertainment world....

Ramtha is an ascended Master Teacher who learned in his lifetime the unlimited potential of our minds for creating reality and the extraordinary in our lives. Ramtha lived as a human being on Earth 35,000 years ago. In that lifetime he discovered the true nature of the human person, the power of the mind, and the malleable nature of physical reality. Through his study of the nature of reality he achieved the supreme convergence of spirit and matter and became an ascended master. His powerful message of hope for humanity has already changed countless lives — none more powerfully and dramatically than JZ’s own life. (See jzknight.com/about).

Knight claims the entity appeared to her in her kitchen in 1977, and dictates what to write through her. He also speaks through her. 

“Ramtha”—the spirit speaking through medium J. Z. Knight in Douglas Mahr’s, Ramtha, Voyage to the New World, 1987; citations are listed by pages.

“Ramtha’s” teaching on God: Ramtha teaches the Christian God is an “idiotic deity” (p. 219); God, the principal, is all things (p. 250). Pantheism strikes again.

“Ramtha’s” teaching on humanity: You are God.(p. 61); God the Father is you .(p. 136); Everyone is what you call a psychic. (p. 139); Love yourself… live in the moment, to exalt all that you are.(p. 149).

“Ramtha’s” teaching on sin:  There is no such thing as evil. (p. 60); For 2,000 years we have been called sinful creatures … [but] we are equal with God or Christ. (pgs. 180-81).

“Ramtha’s” teaching on salvation: Do not preach to this world…. The world doesn’t need saving— leave it alone. (p. 130); Relinquish guilt… do not live by rules, live by feelings. … You are the Lord of Hosts, you are the Prince of Peace. (p. 149); Now to become enlightened is to make the priority of enlightenment first—the priority of love of Self first. (p. 227).

“Ramtha’s” teaching on death: God has never judged you or anyone. (p. 62); No, there is no Hell and there is no devil. (p. 252).

Conclusion

Notice the common themes throughout all these alleged contacts with "spirits," or "God," or specifically, "Jesus Christ." All came from occult automatic writing and/or locutions. Could some be simply money-making scams? Sure. However, did they remain such? Are the recurrent themes all coincidence? All three authors had some rough times in their lives connected to their interaction with spirits, or voices claiming to be God. They all teach the same things, even though there are many ways to be against the Church. 

Directly from Hell, or doing Satan's work--one thing remains clear: The religious teachings of the spirits are exactly what one might expect from demons. Many have gone into the occult as skeptics to "see if it's real" or to make a quick buck--but in my experience and research, I have never known anyone who remained skeptical once they began. 

The next time you see a "self-help book," a book that gives "spiritual guidance/enlightenment" or read about an alleged "message from God," put it to the test.