Conversations with God, part 12

Morality, part 2

God says that she has "never set down a 'right' or 'wrong,' a 'do' or a 'don't.' To do so would be to strip you completely of your greatest gift—the opportunity to do as you please, and experience the result of that" (p.39). Also, "there are no 'shoulds' or shouldn'ts' in God's world. Do what you want to do" (p.38). To Walsch's amazement, God even said, "There are no such things as the Ten Commandments" (p.95). Walsch, apparently shocked at what God was saying to him, replied, "But I have been raised to believe that good and bad do exist; that right and wrong are opposed; that some things are not okay, not alright, not acceptable in the sight of God." To which, God said, "Everything is 'acceptable' in the sight of God, for how can God not accept that which is?" (p.61). If these things be so, there is no right or wrong, good or bad, should or shouldn't. We have no rules or obligations to do or not do anything. And God is quite explicit about this. She says, "you have no obligation. Neither in relationship, nor in all of life." Surprised, Walsch asked, "No obligation?" and God replied, "No obligation. Nor any restrictions or limitations, nor any guidelines or rules. Nor are you bound by any circumstances or situations, nor constrained by any code or law. Nor are you punishable for any offense, nor capable of any—for there is no such thing as being 'offensive' in the eyes of God" (p.135). We are completely autonomous. But watch, now, how God's deepest moral intuitions rise to the surface as she contradicts herself.

He [Jesus] did not perform a random healing. To have done so would have been to violate a sacred Law of the Universe: allow each soul to walk its path (p.47).

This "sacred Law of the Universe" sure sounds like a moral law to me. It sounds distinctly like something we are being commanded to do. And incidentally, it contradicts what God said elsewhere. She said, "Therefore, treating others with love does not necessarily mean allowing others to do as they wish." (p.132). So, on the one hand, there's this law telling us to allow each soul to walk its path, but then on the other hand, love doesn't mean allowing others to do as they wish.

It is not appropriate to interfere with choice, nor to question it. It is particularly inappropriate to condemn it (p.47).

What does "appropriate" mean if there's no such thing as right and wrong? God cannot help but make moral assertions even when denying them.

to be continued...

Part 13