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− | There is no cruelty in God and none in me. | + | There is no [[cruelty]] in [[God]] and none in me. |
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− | 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.'' |
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− | 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. |