Belief
no need to correct a brother...
allow all beliefs in the knowing
that what we believe
will show up for us in our world-----
will show up-----
this is the power of creation
distorted by belief....
belief making but the illusion of creation....
all power and freedom is given us....
even the power to make the unreal...
know also that all that has
an appearance of non-love
only comes to be blessed
so that the judgments
we have made may
be erased by Holy Spirit.....
just as God allows
this power of creation in us
we are asked to allow all...
trust all....
knowing all comes to bring us
the blessings of love...
but first we must extend
this love
to know/have this love...
michael
--Ken wrote:
Many of my ACIM friends read the following 50-verse psalm written by
King
David and find its "theology" at odds with Jesus' teachings in the Course.
This is true, the teachings in the
Old Testament focus for the most part on
how one behaves in the world; while ACIM teaches "Look not outside
yourself." As far as I can tell, many ancient Israelites believed that good
people follow God's laws and God rewards them by making life easier. In
contrast, "sinners" don't follow God's laws and are often punished by bad
things happening. God smiles on (i.e., protects) those who follow His
revealed word.
But rest assured that many, probably most ancient Israelites were committed
fully and wholly to this belief, and they found tremendous peace, strength,
comfort and solace in their beliefs. While early roots of ACIM-like
spirituality are found in ancient Israel, their esoteric teachings seem to
have had a rather limited appeal.
Did the ancient Israelites find salvation through their beliefs? The
appearance of the fiery apparitions of Moses and Elijah with Jesus during
His transfiguration (Matt 17:1; Mark 9:2; and Luke 9:28) suggests "yes".
Also in the
New Testament Jesus testified that He had not come to change the
Old Testament teachings (Matt 5:17).
Now read the
teachings of Jesus in ACIM. "This is not a course in
philosophical speculation, nor is it concerned with precise terminology. It
is concerned only with
Atonement, or the correction of perception. The means
of the Atonement is forgiveness.
.Theological considerations as such are necessarily controversial, since
they depend on belief and can therefore be accepted or rejected. A universal
theology is impossible, but a universal experience is not only possible but
necessary. It is this experience toward which the course is directed. Here
alone consistency becomes possible because here alone uncertainty ends."
(C-in.1&2)
"A universal theology is impossible, but a universal experience is not only
possible but necessary."
ACIM is a way to "purify" my perception, but is it the ONLY way to
salvation? I don't know. In the ACIM passage above Jesus seems to say "No"
rather emphatically; "A universal theology is impossible"; even ACIM.
But this I do believe. I believe that desire for salvation (the longing to
go Home) is the basis for salvation, not the words or practices of ANY
spirituality or religion. Desire is going to make me committed to whatever
practice I choose. Holy Spirit knows of my longing and yours. And I don't
know that my longing as an ACIM student is any more important or
spiritually- potent than the longing of my Catholic, Jewish, Buddhist,
Protestant, Muslim or atheist brothers and sisters.
ACIM tells me how to correct my perception corrupted by my exposure to the
teachings of fear throughout my "life" in the world. I try to practice what
ACIM teaches, but this does not mean that ACIM is the path for anyone else.
Can you imagine how sad it would make Jesus (were sadness possible for him)
for His beloved teaching to be used as a wedge to further separate the
Son
of God?
The Bible is chock full of beautiful stories and teachings witnessing to our
brother's and sisters' search for salvation. Each of us is given the freedom
to choose to believe none, any or all of what's between its covers.
If I find the Bible (or anything or anyone else) offensive in any way, it
becomes a convenient way to experience the offensive feelings, own them and
ask Spirit for correction. Thus the Bible (or anything or anyone else) can
be brought into my practice of ACIM. I have learned poisonous feelings and
the Bible becomes a dose of ipecac.
Love it or hate it, the Bible and its thousands and thousands of authors and
editors are, like you and me, the
One Son of God. And I can choose to make
it and them an important part of my own experiences or not.
"Love one another" "Teach only love for that is what you are." Mmmmmm.
I love you,
ken
