Coursian Creed (Part II)
The Last 5 Learnings to Awaken the Awareness of Love’s Presence
In part one of the Coursian Creed I covered the first six learnings, so it’s time to take a closer look at seven through eleven. But before I do that, let’s have a quick refresher.
We previously learned that in reality we are divine beings of light, life and love that exist in a changeless, eternal realm of pure Oneness where thought shapes reality. Given this understanding, the material universe and world in which we find ourselves must be an illusion, complete with separate bodies and lives that experience recurring cycles of creation and destruction.
This self-imposed prison creates a persistent sense of incompleteness that manifests as mental and physical distress accompanied by a deep-seated longing for unrealized powers. This in turn drives us to seek wholeness through the worship of material and conceptual idols that can never truly satisfy our nagging sense of lack.
Please refer back to part one if you need a more complete read. As promised, the last five are as follows:
Because the idols I make are precious to me, I establish boundaries and build walls to protect them and am willing to attack and destroy anything or anyone that I fear could threaten my self-crafted identity.
When we elevate our attachments to the level of worship we trigger the impulse to preserve and protect them at any cost. The greater the perceived importance, the more vehemently we seek to protect them, lest we lose the identity that we’ve so carefully constructed from them.
An example might begin with something as simple is a wooden fence that is built to set the boundary lines between you and your neighbor. A level up from there and we’re drawing imaginary lines on maps to separate the cities, counties and states in which we live. A short step up from there and we’re building even higher fences and walls–sometimes with razor-sharp bardedwire–to restrict the free passage of questionable individuals from one country to another.
From the fence in the yard to the border crossing, history has shown that we’re willing, and well-enoughed armed, to do whatever it takes to protect what we believe to be rightly ours. But it doesn’t have to be that way. We create all of the seeming obstacles that serve to separate us from others, so we also then have the ability to remove them.
“Standing before the veil, it still seems difficult. But hold out your hand, joined with your brother’s, and touch this heavy-seeming block, and you will learn how easily your fingers slip through its nothingness. It is no solid wall. And only an illusion stands between you and your brother, and the holy Self you share together.” ACIM T-22.4
Because I feel guilty about having chosen to distance myself from God by creating a new identity—and fearing His imagined wrath in reprisal—I project my guilt onto others by believing that they are the cause of all that I lack, thereby justifying my nefarious actions against them.
Guilt is the cornerstone of the ego’s thought system and the primary force that maintains our belief in separation. Having imagined a world where we are separate from God leads us to believe that we deserve to be punished for our actions. This results in our living in a constant state of fear.
We externalize this fear by interpreting the actions of others as the cause of our lost divinity, which justifies responding with attack instead of love. We maintain this posture by constantly judging others—and finding them lacking—so as to establish our own innocence by comparison.
The good news is that our sense of guilt and the defensive, attacking behaviors it generates are all part of a dream of separation that we can awaken from at any moment by choosing to remember our true identity as spirit.
“The world but demonstrates an ancient truth; you will believe that others do to you exactly what you think you did to them.” ACIM T-27.8.8
Because I see others as the enemy, I effectively block my awareness of the only means of escaping the illusion, which is to see others as a bridge to the Oneness we are in truth.
How we see and respond to those around us is the key to healing the separation. Our perception of others directly reflects our own state of mind because all minds are joined. So if we see guilt, attack, or unworthiness in others, it reinforces these same beliefs about ourselves. On the other hand, seeing innocence and holiness in others serves to awaken us to our own true nature as God created us. This is what it means to adopt a Spirit First approach to life.
The “others” we see every day aren’t obstacles to our salvation but rather the actual means by which it’s accomplished. Through forgiveness, recognition of shared identity, and the understanding that every encounter is a holy opportunity for healing, we learn that salvation is a collaborative effort. We can’t reach God alone because in truth, we’re not alone—we are eternally united in the Mind of God, and our awakening must include all of God’s creations.
“When you meet anyone, remember it is a holy encounter. As you see him you will see yourself. As you treat him you will treat yourself... Whenever two Sons of God meet, they are given another chance at salvation.” ACIM T-8.3.4
Because I have effectively blocked my awareness of the truth of my being, I require a guide from without the illusion to show me the way home.
Having come this far in the reading it should be obvious that we can’t accomplish this transformation through our efforts alone. In order to truly see others as a bridge to healing the separation, we need a guide to show us how to build the bridge and cross it daily. That guide is the Holy Spirit, created by God specifically to help us achieve personal atonement and ultimately the salvation of His collective creations.
“You cannot be your guide to miracles, for it is you who made them necessary. And because you did, the means on which you can depend for miracles has been provided for you.” ACIM T-14.11.7
Because I require a guide to show me a new way, I must first admit that I am lost and express a willingness to be led to a new vision of myself and the world.
When we express even a little willingness, the Holy Spirit will take it and multiply it a thousand-fold. Opening our hearts and minds to the presence of the Holy Spirit is the key to healing the separation. Thankfully, we don’t need to fully comprehend how it works, we just need to trust and have faith in God’s plan, which is revealed to us through A Course in Miracles.
“The Holy Spirit can use all that you give to Him for your salvation. But He cannot use what you withhold, for He cannot take it from you without your willingness.” ACIM T-25.8.1
So that completes the package: 11 core learnings that serve to guide my thoughts, beliefs and behaviors as I seek to practice the Spirit First, love-centered theology of Coursianity.
Coursianity serves as a medium to compose, contemplate and convey deeply-held beliefs about my own religious and spiritual identity. It’s not something you’ll ever be asked to join, other than electing to follow or share this account if you think it beneficial to your own or another’s search for deeper meaning in the midst of a confusing and chaotic world.
If this post resonates with you..or not, I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments. Your insights help to shape my future writings and aid in creating a community of awakening.
Questions for Reflection
What idols have you chosen to worship and how has that worked out for you?
Have you ever shifted blame to others for your own shortcomings?
What are some of the core learnings your own creed would include?
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