聽神談【神是如何在啟發人們、與人溝通的？】
以「神」這個字取代「真正的智慧」(true wisdom)，你會瞭解神到底是怎麽跟你對話上的。神從來沒有，也永遠不會停止啓發人類 —— 神經由送給我們訊息—— 念頭、想法、歌詞、書裡的話……各種你能想到的方式在啓發我們。
它是我所謂的「無聲之聲」，有點兒像自己的思維的聲音。你可能會說：「喔，那是你自己的思維！你怎麽會認爲這是神的聲音？」這樣問很公道。當我問神這個問題時，以下是我聽到的回答：
尼爾，如果我要與你溝通，還有什麽別的方法？「將想法放進你腦子裡」("putting thoughts into your head") 豈不是一個最有效率的方法？
當莫札特對於音樂「腦子裡有了想法」時，人們不是說他「受到神的啓發」嗎？
當杰弗遜對於自由「腦子裡有了想法」時，人們不是說他「受到神的啓發」，寫下一篇「上帝之下，一個不可分裂的國家」的宣言嗎？
如果不是藉由「把想法放進他們的腦子裡」，你認爲我是如何與人們溝通的？你以爲我出現在他們家門口，身穿一件白長袍，遞給他們一個卷軸嗎？你以爲我出現在他們床前的一團雲霧中，把智慧從空氣中吹向他們嗎？那樣的話是否對你們更可信些？
這是不是你認爲的樣子？是不是越難以置信的事，就越可信？
我要告訴你們這點：我以最可信的方式降臨到人們。我有一個非常好的理由這樣做：我想要被人們相信(I want to be believed.)。然而，既使那時候你們也不相信我。
對於大多數人而言，要神在他們生活中出現最可信的方式，是要我以幽靈的模樣，穿著長袍出現，並遞給他們一塊石板。我曾做過那些事(摩西十誡的故事)，沒錯。但你以爲我的能耐只限於做那些事嗎？
更多時候——更多很多的情況是——我以一種更自然得多的方式降臨到人們身上，就像是生活本身更完整的一部分。這可以是像一個想法，像一種感覺，或像一個靈感，正如現在我來到你面前，是透過你正有的感覺，你正聽到的話，以及來到你面前的這段文字那樣。
摘自《與神對話 青春版》第2章
Now substitute the word "God" for the words "true wisdom" in the above sentence, and you will understand how your conversation with God works. God has never, ever stopped inspiring the human race—and God inspires us by sending us messages—ideas, thoughts, song lyrics, words for a book . . . you name it.
It is what I have called a "voiceless voice," something like the voice of your own thoughts. Now you might say, "Well, they are your own thoughts! What makes you think this is the voice of God?" That's a fair question. When I asked God that question, here's the answer that I heard:
Neale, if I was going to communicate with you, how else would I do it? Wouldn't "putting thoughts into your head" be one of the most effective ways?
When Thomas Aquinas had "thoughts in his head" about theology, wasn't he said to have been "inspired by God"?
When Amadeus Mozart had "thoughts in his head" about music, wasn't he said to have been"inspired by God"?
When Thomas Jefferson had "thoughts in his head" about freedom, wasn't he said to have been "inspired by God" to write a decla- ration about "one nation, under God"?
How do you think I communicate with people if it is not by putting "thoughts in their head"? Do you think that I show up at their doorstep in a long, white robe and hand them a scroll? Do you think that I appear in a cloud of mist over their bed and boom wisdoms into the air? Would that be more believable to you?
Is this how you have it? That the more unbelievable something is, the more believable it is?
I'll tell you this: I come to people in the way that is most believable. I do this for a very good reason. I want to be believed. Yet even then you do not believe me.
For most people, the most believable way for God to show up in their lives would be as an apparition, with me appearing in robes and handing over a tablet. I have done those things, yes. But do you think I am limited to those things?
More often—much more often—I come to people in a much more natural way, as a much more integral part of life Itself. This could be as a thought, as a feeling, or as an inspiration, just as I'm coming to you now through the feelings you are having and the words you are hearing and the paragraph that is coming to you in this way.
