Chatting With God

The dawn of a new century stimulates many people to review their lives and wonder what it’s all about. Looking for the meaning of life stimulates authors as well.

Take the book “Conversations With God: An Uncommon Dialogue” (Putnam Publishing Group, $22.95) by Neale Donald Walsch. After hitting the best-seller lists in 1996, Walsch followed up with Books 2 and 3, guidebooks, meditations and related material. Audio versions feature Walsch as the narrator with actors Ed Asner and Ellen Burstyn switching roles as God.

You can learn more about the books at the “Conversations With God” discussion group at 7 p.m. Mondays at Borders in Thousand Oaks, facilitated alternately by local residents Jim Newell and Jim Michael. Members sit at a table with the books for reference. When discussions meander through relevant topics such as good and evil, someone will pick up a book and scan for answers. Anyone is free to jump in with comments.

According to Newell, a steady flow of people come and go--numbers range from eight to 12, more in the summer. Some say the books fill a void or clarify their beliefs. And although skeptics come and go, an eclectic group of followers remains. People who have dropped out of organized religion are typical participants.

The book “hits you right between the eyes with plain language,” Newell said. “Whether you agree with everything or not, it really causes people to have original thoughts. It’s for people who want to think for themselves. They could take what they want and leave the rest.”

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Newell is a member of the Interfaith Church of Today, a nondenominational body that meets Sundays at the Thousand Oaks Inn and sponsors the “Conversations With God” discussion group meetings. He described the church as having no restrictions, no dogma, no guidelines and no creed. The books pull together the vast majority of metaphysical principles, he said.

Jim Michael, co-facilitator and fellow member of the Interfaith Church of Today, recently received a master’s degree in spiritual psychology from the University of Santa Monica. CWG’s Book 1 transformed him, he said.

One of the group’s regulars, Susan Sampson, comes by way of the Lutheran faith and is enthusiastic about the meetings since she had been looking for people to talk to about the books. Sampson, a member of the Bahai community since 1982, said the books touched her.

“The one thing that the Bahai faith teaches is the oneness of mankind, and that just absolutely rings a bell in my heart when I read the books--that the main theme throughout all three books is oneness of humanity,” Sampson said. She listens to the tapes as she drives, because they sink in when she hears them a lot, she said.

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Walsch’s spiritual odyssey, as explained in his books, went from Catholicism to Protestantism and on to studies in Judaism, Hinduism, Islam and Bahai. He has been on record as describing his darkest hour with his life falling apart, when he began to write on a yellow legal tablet the questions and answers coming to him. He summarizes his philosophy as triune truths: We are all one, there’s enough and there’s nothing we have to do.

Walsch spreads his message through lectures and workshops all over the world. His recent book, “Questions and Answers on Conversations with God,” (Hampton Roads Publishing, $15.95) may answer your own questions about him.

HAPPENINGS

* Today--6 p.m. Poetry night, with a group discussion followed by a featured poet at 7 p.m. and open mike at 8 p.m. Borders, 125 W. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks, 497-8159.

* Monday--11 a.m. Stories and art with Coco. Borders, 497-8159.

* Monday--7 p.m. “Conversations with God” discussion group. Borders, 497-8159.

* Tuesday--4:30 p.m. A biography program for school-age kids will feature Pocahontas. Thousand Oaks Barnes & Noble, 160 S. Westlake Blvd., 446-2820.

* Tuesday--7 p.m. Pepperdine University professor Michael Collings conducts a monthly poetry workshop. Borders, 497-8159.

* Tuesday--7 p.m. Story time featuring the Caldecott award-winning book “The Big Snow” by Berta and Elmer Hader. Ventura Barnes & Noble, 4360 E. Main St., 339-9170.

* Wednesday--9:30 a.m. Preschool story time featuring “Joseph Had a Little Overcoat” by Simms Tabock. Ventura Barnes & Noble, 339-9170.

* Wednesday--7 p.m. The American Girls Club meeting will feature “Dr. Amelia’s Boredom Survival Guide” by Marissa Moss. Ventura Barnes & Noble, 339-3170.

* Wednesday--7 p.m. Debra Shelford will conduct a free Weight Watchers seminar and discuss the book “Win the Weight Game” by Sarah Ferguson. Borders, 497-8159.

* Wednesday--7:30-8:30 p.m. Earl Mindell will discuss the updated version of his guide to new and traditional herbal remedies. A book signing follows. Thousand Oaks Barnes & Noble, 446-2820.

* Friday--7 p.m. Story time featuring “The Trouble with Trolls,” “The Hat” and “The Mitten” by Jan Brett. Ventura Barnes & Noble, 339-9170.

* Saturday--10:30 a.m. Story time featuring “Rolie Polie Olie” by William Joyce. Thousand Oaks Barnes & Noble, 446-2820.

* Saturday--noon. Author Gar Harwood will discuss and sign “All the Good Ones are Dead.” Mysteries to Die For, 2940 Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks, 374-0084.

* Saturday--7 p.m. Members of the Sigma Delta Theta Sorority will present African American children’s literature. Borders, 497-8159.

Information about book-signings, writers groups and publishing events can be e-mailed to anns40aol.com or faxed to 647-5649).