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ACIM Workbook - Lesson 170 (view source)
Revision as of 21:31, 26 August 2015
, 21:31, 26 August 2015no edit summary
There is no cruelty in God and none in me.
There is no [[cruelty]] in [[God]] and none in me.
No one attacks without intent to hurt. This can have no exception. When
No one [[attacks]] without [[intent]] to hurt. This can have no exception. When
you think that you attack in self-defense, you mean that to be cruel is
you think that you attack in [[self-defense]], you mean that to be cruel is
protection; you are safe because of cruelty. You mean that you believe to
[[protection]]; you are safe because of cruelty. You mean that you [[believe]] to
hurt another brings you freedom. And you mean that to attack is to
hurt another brings you [[freedom]]. And you mean that to attack is to
exchange the state in which you are for something better, safer, more secure
exchange the state in which you are for something better, safer, more secure
from dangerous invasion and from fear.
from dangerous [[invasion]] and from [[fear]].
How thoroughly insane is the idea that to defend from fear is to attack! For
How thoroughly [[insane]] is the idea that to [[defend]] from fear is to [[attack]]! For
here is fear begot and fed with blood, to make it grow and swell and rage.
here is fear begot and fed with blood, to make it grow and swell and [[rage]].
And thus is fear protected, not escaped. Today we learn a lesson which can
And thus is fear protected, not [[escaped]]. Today we learn a lesson which can
save you more delay and needless misery than you can possibly imagine. It
save you more [[delay]] and needless misery than you can possibly [[imagine]]. It
is this:
is this:
You make what you defend against,
:''You make what you defend against,''
and by your own defense against it is it real and inescapable.
:''and by your own [[defense]] against it is it real and inescapable.''
Lay down your arms, and only then do you perceive it false.
:''Lay down your arms, and only then do you [[perceive]] it false.''
It seems to be the enemy without that you attack. Yet your defense sets up
It seems to be the [[enemy]] without that you attack. Yet your defense sets up
an enemy within; an alien thought at war with you, depriving you of peace,
an enemy within; an [[alien]] thought at [[war]] with you, depriving you of [[peace]],
splitting your mind into two camps which seem wholly irreconcilable. For
splitting [[your mind]] into two camps which seem wholly irreconcilable. For
love now has an "enemy," an opposite; and fear, the alien, now needs your
[[love]] now has an "enemy," an opposite; and fear, the alien, now needs your
defense against the threat of what you really are.
defense against the threat of what you really are.
If you consider carefully the means by which your fancied self-defense
If you consider carefully [[the means]] by which your fancied [[self-defense]]
proceeds on its imagined way, you will perceive the premises on which the
proceeds on its imagined way, you will perceive the [[premises]] on which the
idea stands. First, it is obvious ideas must leave their source, for it is you
idea stands. First, it is obvious ideas must leave their [[source]], for it is you
who make attack, and must have first conceived of it. Yet you attack outside
who make attack, and must have first [[conceived]] of it. Yet you attack outside
yourself, and separate your mind from him who is to be attacked, with
yourself, and [[separate]] your mind from him who is to be attacked, with
perfect faith the split you made is real.
perfect [[faith]] the split you made is real.
Next, are the attributes of love bestowed upon its "enemy." For fear
Next, are the [[attributes]] of [[love]] bestowed upon its "[[enemy]]." For [[fear]]
becomes your safety and protector of your peace, to which you turn for
becomes your [[safety]] and protector of your peace, to which you turn for
solace and escape from doubts about your strength, and hope of rest in
solace and [[escape]] from doubts about your [[strength]], and hope of [[rest]] in
dreamless quiet. And as love is shorn of what belongs to it and it alone, love
dreamless [[quiet]]. And as love is shorn of what belongs to it and it alone, love
is endowed with attributes of fear. For love would ask you lay down all
is endowed with attributes of fear. For love would ask you lay down all
defense as merely foolish. And your arms indeed would crumble into dust.
defense as merely [[foolish]]. And your arms indeed would crumble into dust.
For such they are.
For such they are.
With love as enemy, must cruelty become a god. And gods demand that
With [[love]] as [[enemy]], must [[cruelty]] become a god. And gods demand that
those who worship them obey their dictates, and refuse to question them.
those who [[worship]] them [[obey]] their dictates, and refuse to question them.
Harsh punishment is meted out relentlessly to those who ask if the demands
Harsh [[punishment]] is meted out relentlessly to those who ask if the demands
are sensible or even sane. It is their enemies who are unreasonable and
are sensible or even sane. It is their enemies who are unreasonable and
insane, while they are always merciful and just.
insane, while they are always [[merciful]] and just.
Today we look upon this cruel god dispassionately. And we note that
Today we look upon this cruel god [[dispassionately]]. And we note that
though his lips are smeared with blood, and fire seems to flame from him,
though his lips are smeared with blood, and [[fire]] seems to flame from him,
he is but made of stone. He can do nothing. We need not defy his power. He
he is but made of stone. He can do nothing. We need not defy his [[power]]. He
has none. And those who see in him their safety have no guardian, no
has none. And those who see in him their safety have no guardian, no
strength to call upon in danger, and no mighty warrior to fight for them.
[[strength]] to call upon in [[danger]], and no mighty [[warrior]] to fight for them.
This moment can be terrible. But it can also be the time of your release from
This [[moment]] can be terrible. But it can also be the time of your release from
abject slavery. You make a choice, standing before this idol, seeing him
abject [[slavery]]. You make a [[choice]], standing before this [[idol]], seeing him
exactly as he is. Will you restore to love what you have sought to wrest
exactly as he is. Will you restore to love what you have sought to wrest
from it and lay before this mindless piece of stone? Or will you make
from it and lay before this mindless piece of stone? Or will you make
another idol to replace it? For the god of cruelty takes many forms. Another
another idol to replace it? For the god of cruelty takes many [[forms]]. Another
can be found.
can be found.
Yet do not think that fear is the escape from fear. Let us remember what the
Yet do not think that [[fear]] is the [[escape]] from fear. Let us remember what [[ACIM|the
text has stressed about the obstacles to peace. The final one, the hardest to
text]] has stressed about the [[obstacles]] to [[peace]]. The final one, the hardest to
believe is nothing, and a seeming obstacle with the appearance of a solid
[[believe]] is nothing, and a seeming obstacle with the appearance of a solid
block, impenetrable, fearful and beyond surmounting, is the fear of God
block, impenetrable, fearful and beyond surmounting, is the [[fear of God]]
Himself. Here is the basic premise which enthrones the thought of fear as
Himself. Here is the basic premise which enthrones the [[thought]] of fear as
god. For fear is loved by those who worship it, and love appears to be
god. For fear is loved by those who [[worship]] it, and love appears to be
invested now with cruelty.
invested now with cruelty.
Where does the totally insane belief in gods of vengeance come from? Love
Where does the totally [[insane]] belief in gods of [[vengeance]] come from? [[Love]]
has not confused its attributes with those of fear. Yet must the worshippers
has not [[confused]] its attributes with those of fear. Yet must the worshippers
of fear perceive their own confusion in fear's "enemy"; its cruelty as now a
of fear [[perceive]] their own [[confusion]] in fear's "enemy"; its cruelty as now a
part of love. And what becomes more fearful than the Heart of Love Itself?
part of love. And what becomes more fearful than the [[Heart]] of Love Itself?
The blood appears to be upon His Lips; the fire comes from Him. And He is
The blood appears to be upon His Lips; the fire comes from Him. And He is
terrible above all else, cruel beyond conception, striking down all who
terrible above all else, cruel beyond conception, striking down all who
acknowledge Him to be their God.
acknowledge Him to be their God.
The choice you make today is certain. For you look for the last time upon
The [[choice]] you make today is certain. For you look for the last time upon
this bit of carven stone you made, and call it god no longer. You have
this bit of carven stone you made, and call it god no longer. You have
reached this place before, but you have chosen that this cruel god remain
reached this place before, but you have chosen that this [[cruel]] god remain
with you in still another form. And so the fear of God returned with you.
with you in still another form. And so the [[fear of God]] returned with you.
This time you leave it there. And you return to a new world, unburdened by
This time you leave it there. And you return to a new world, unburdened by
its weight; beheld not in its sightless eyes, but in the vision that your choice
its weight; beheld not in its sightless eyes, but in the [[vision]] that your choice
restored to you.
restored to you.
Now do your eyes belong to Christ, and He looks through them. Now your
Now do your eyes belong to [[Christ]], and He looks through them. Now your
voice belongs to God and echoes His. And now your heart remains at peace
[[voice]] belongs to God and [[echoes]] His. And now your heart remains at [[peace]]
forever. You have chosen Him in place of idols, and your attributes, given
forever. You have chosen Him in place of [[idols]], and your attributes, given
by your Creator, are restored to you at last. The Call for God is heard and
by your [[Creator]], are restored to you at last. [[The Call]] for God is heard and
answered. Now has fear made way for love, as God Himself replaces
answered. Now has fear made way for love, as God Himself replaces
cruelty.
cruelty.