Course Q & A
by Greg Mackie
A selection of Greg Mackie's Q & A's is available in book form. The book is entitled How Can We Forgive Murderers? And Other Answers to Questions about 'A Course in Miracles.'.
This is a place where you can submit questions you have about theory, interpretation, practice, and application of A Course in Miracles. You can also scan a list of previously answered questions, to see if your question has already been covered. Our goal is to create a growing database of answers to Course questions, which can be accessed by anyone at any time.
There are two types of Q & A's on this page. One type is "short Q & A's," which are "short and sweet" answers that are usually no more than a few paragraphs. The other type is "long Q & A's," which are longer essays answering Course questions in more detail. I have written all of these, and am not writing any new ones at present.
Click on the links below to go to the Q & A's
How it works:
- New short Q & As will be posted onto this page as we receive questions. Everyone who sends a question will get a brief, private answer via e-mail.
- For the sake of privacy, the name of the questioner will not be posted.
- For the sake of clarity, questions will be edited and consolidated as needed
- Questions will be limited to questions about Course theory, interpretation, practice, and application. Examples of such questions are questions about the meaning of difficult passages, the Course's thought system, how to do Workbook practice, how to apply the Course to daily life issues, etc.
- Not all questions will be answered on this page. Priority is given to questions that, in our estimation, speak to a broader interest--questions that many people would be interested in having an answer to.
Instructions for submitting a question:
1. Before you submit your question, check the database below to see if that question (or a variant of it) has already been answered. Also check the FAQ page and the Circle's sitemap page to see if there is previously written material that covers the topic of your question.
2. Make your question as clear, concise, and specific as possible.
3. Submit it by sending an e-mail message to me at greg@circleofa.org. If you do not use the link here (which takes you to an e-mail form in which the subject field has already been filled), please type the words "Course Q and A" in the subject field.
About Greg Mackie: Greg Mackie is the author of How Can We Forgive Murderers? And Other Answers to Questions about 'A Course in Miracles.' He has been a student of A Course in Miracles since 1991, and a teacher for the Circle of Atonement since 1999. In addition to writing this "Course Q & A" page, he writes regularly for the Circle's newsletter, A Better Way. He sees his primary function as helping to develop a tradition of Course scholarship.
(Sorted by general category)
- Problems and the ego by Greg Mackie. In my Course group, people seem to blame all of their problems on the ego—almost a "devil made me do it" kind of attitude. What attitude would the Course have us hold toward the ego?
- Negative emotions by Greg Mackie. What can I do when strong negative emotions seem to hinder my Course practice?
- Ego fights back by Greg Mackie. I find that when I get closer to God, my ego fights back, bringing painful experiences into my life. My fear of this has slowed my progress to God. How would the Course have us deal with this problem?
- Silence by Greg Mackie. What is the role of silence (stilling the mind) in the practice of A Course in Miracles?
- What should we do when we think someone else is coming from the ego? by Greg Mackie. I have a Course friend who frequently points it out when he thinks I am coming from my ego. Is this something the Course recommends? What would the Course have us do when it appears to us that someone else is coming from the ego?
- Judgments by Greg Mackie. Why are some judgments more difficult to give up than others? For example, why is it easy for me not to judge people for the color of their skin, but difficult not to judge their behavior or character?
- Learning to hear guidance by Greg Mackie. The Course advises us to turn to the Holy Spirit for guidance on every aspect of our lives. But how do we learn how to hear the Holy Spirit's guidance?
- Is Heaven boring? by Greg Mackie. I sometimes feel reluctant to give up the world, because the world seems exciting and interesting, while Heaven sounds boring and less than satisfying. How would the Course have us deal with the fear that giving up the world for God is a sacrifice?
- How did the separation occur? by Greg Mackie. This is probably the single most-frequently-asked question among Course students. In this article, Greg summarizes what the Course has to say about this question.
- What needs to be purified? by Greg Mackie. Does it mean we need to purify the body, as is done in certain yoga practices and alternative therapies? Does it mean we have to purify our souls, like a medieval monk doing penance? No, it means something else entirely, something that is vitally needed if we are to take up our function as miracle workers.
- Should we try to understand the ego? by Greg Mackie. In T-7.VI.11, we read that the whole world of the ego is nothing, so we shouldn't try to understand it. But don't we want to understand a situation so we can see that it is not real?
- How Does the Course Regard the Birth of a Child into this World? by Greg Mackie. How does the Course regard the birth of a child into this world? Since birth into this world represents birth into a world of illusion and separation, the implication seems to be that we shouldn't have children. Is this what the Course is suggesting?
- What is the nature of love on earth? by Greg Mackie. Is the word "love," as applied in the Course to our earthly lives, synonymous with forgiveness?
- What are our creations? by Greg Mackie. What are "our creations"? Why do they "wait for us"?
- Are all events predeterined? by Greg Mackie. The Course's stance on the age-old question of determinism versus free will is rooted in its ideas about the nature of time, which are mind-boggling to say the least. In this article, Greg sorts out this complex topic.
- What happens to the ego when we die? by Greg Mackie. What happens to the ego after the death of the body? Does the ego have less "reality" after bodily death?
- Saving time by Greg Mackie. Most Course students are familiar with the idea that the Course's purpose is to save time. But how exactly does it save time? This Q & A offers answers drawn from the Course itself.
- Are forgiveness and "karma" operating simultaneously? by Greg Mackie. The Course seems to imply a karmic law of cause and effect, in which everything that happens to us is the inevitable effect of our own choices. Yet it also teaches forgiveness, which emphasizes that nothing really occurred. So, are forgiveness and "karma" operating simultaneously?
- What does "mind" mean? by Greg Mackie. What is the "mind," as the Course uses the term? How is the mind related to the brain?
- Does the Holy Spirit do things? by Greg Mackie. Does the Holy Spirit actually DO things in the world? Ken Wapnick says He does not, and I would like to know your view.
- What does the Sonship consits of? by Greg Mackie. Does the Sonship consist only of human beings, or does it include other earthly entities like animals?
- Who is the Maker of the world? by Greg Mackie. T-25.III.4:1 says that there is "another Maker of the world." Does this mean that we and the Holy Spirit made the physical world together?
- Sin versus error. by Greg Mackie. According to the Course, what is the difference between a sin and an error?
- Laws of chaos by Greg Mackie. Workbook Lesson 76 says that we have made up the "laws" we think we live by, and we are really under no laws but God's. What are the "laws" we think we live by, what are God's laws, and how do we come to recognize God's laws?
- Unconditional love by Greg Mackie. How would the Course define "unconditional love"?
- Does behavior matter? by Greg Mackie. Robert summarizes the role of the therapist (a role all of us play in some way) as helping the patient shift his identification from the little self, through the inflated self, through the guilty self, to the true Self. Based on a close study of Psychotherapy: Purpose, Process and Practice.
- What is the Course's perspective on the idea of change? by Greg Mackie. In the Course's view, changelessness is a fundamental attribute of reality, yet the Course also speaks of how we made the illusion of change and how the Holy Spirit uses the illusion of change to restore our awareness of our changeless reality. Confused? Greg sorts it all out in this Q & A.
- Masculine terms by Greg Mackie. Why does the Course always use masculine terms when referring to God, the Holy Spirit, and the beings that God created?
- Repetition in the Course by Greg Mackie. Why is the Course so repetitive? Why can't it be simpler/shorter/edited?
- Great Rays by Greg Mackie. What exactly are the "Great Rays"?
- Correcting Error from the Bottom Up by Greg Mackie. What does the Course mean when it says that "correction must be introduced vertically from the bottom up" (T-1.VI.3:3)?
- Sins by Greg Mackie. If the sins we see in our brothers are really our own sins, then is forgiveness based on recognizing that the particular "sinful" character trait that I'm seeing in my brother is really my projection of a character trait that I'm seeing and not acknowledging in myself?
- Forgiveness by Greg Mackie. What is the difference between false forgiveness and true forgiveness?
- What is the difference between false joining and true joining? by Greg Mackie. The Course tells us frequently that much of the "joining" we do is not really joining. But it also tells us that truly joining with our brothers is essential to salvation. What, then, is the difference between false joining and true joining?
- Forgiving all people by Greg Mackie. How can we forgive people like murderers, rapists, and child molesters? How can we accept these people as loving children of God who perpetrate "bad" behaviors without judging the behavior?
- Will taking medicine reinforce the ego? by Greg Mackie. I have an illness, and am concerned about taking physical medicine. I know the Course does not forbid this, but since physical medicine is magic, won't taking it reinforce my ego?
- Political Involvement by Greg Mackie. How may a student of ACIM be involved in political issues and remain within the framework of the Course?
- Disasters by Greg Mackie. How would the Course have us approach a new year? In particular, how would it have us approach a potential disaster like the Y2K crisis?
- How does the Course view relations with people who have disabilities? by Greg Mackie. How does the Course view relations with people who have disabilities?
- Unlimited communication by Greg Mackie. The Course tells us that communication must be unlimited. Does this mean that we have to tell everyone all of our private thoughts? Is Jesus speaking here of something akin to the Christian idea of confession?
- Does the Course advocate total nonviolence? by Greg Mackie. Greg tackles this difficult question, saying that the Course does expect a healed mind to be extraordinarily nonviolent in behavior, but does not place a behavioral injunction of nonviolence on those with unhealed minds.
- Theological discussions by Greg Mackie. Should students of the Course get into theological discussions, especially with those who see the Course as "demonic" or a cult, and if so, how?
- Addictions by Greg Mackie. What about our addictions? How would the Course address addictions and ways that we can heal them?
- Material wealth by Greg Mackie. What is the Course's stance toward money and material wealth? Since the Course asserts that we are all equal and encourages sharing, would it advocate equal distribution of wealth?
- Pain and suffering by Greg Mackie. T-13.VII.2:1 says, "The world you see must be denied, for sight of it is costing you a different kind of vision." Does this mean that we should totally deny that there is pain and suffering in this world? How can we deny that people are in pain and need help?
- Depression by Greg Mackie. What does the Course have to say about depression? What causes it, and how can it be healed?
- Competition by Greg Mackie. What is the Course's stance on competition? Would it have us refrain from all forms of competition?
- Serving on a jury by Greg Mackie. May a Course student serve on a jury, and if so, how?
- Projections by Greg Mackie. In T-6.I.9:3, Jesus says that he was attacked and killed because of other people's projections onto him. But aren't attacks on us caused by our own projections, rather than someone else's?
- Resurrection by Greg Mackie. When Jesus was resurrected, were we resurrected with him? If so, then why do we still experience ourselves as living in a dream of separation?
- Forgiving Jesus? by Greg Mackie. Why does Jesus repeatedly ask us in the Course to forgive him? To me, he is the epitome of innocence and perfect love, so what do I need to forgive him for?
- Rolling the stone away by Greg Mackie. How does the Course material interpret the biblical image of the stone being rolled away from the entrance to Jesus' tomb?
- What are angels? by Greg Mackie. What are angels? If they are spirit beings, are they not then the Sons of God? What exactly is their purpose?
- Spiritualism by Greg Mackie. We're all familiar with the claims that certain people can communicate with the dead. Is this really possible? And if it is, is it desirable? Greg offers an answer based on Section 25 of the Manual.
- What is "formal religion," and what is the alternative to it? by Greg Mackie. The Psychotherapy supplement (P-2.II.2) speaks out strongly against formal religion. What specifically is it referring to when it mentions formal religion, how is formal religion an "ego attempt to reconcile the irreconcilable" (P-2.II.2:3), and what is the alternative to formal religion?
- Did we co-create the whole creation with God? by Greg Mackie. Question: In the Text, chapter 30, section II.3:5-6 it says: "What lies in you has joined with God Himself in all creation's birth. Remember Him Who has created you, and through your will created everything. Not one thing but gives you thanks, for it is by your will that it was born." This is the first time that I recall the Course saying that we created, with God, the whole creation. Perhaps you could clear this up for me.
- How Should We Respond to the Beauty in This Illusory World? by Greg Mackie. How does one live in the world where it appears that there is so much to appreciate, such as the beauty of the mountains, the warmth of friendship, the song of a bird, beautiful paintings, and beautiful music, while all the time knowing that it is an illusion? I was shocked to realize that, as a result of denying the reality of these things, I was also discounting, withdrawing, and separating myself, and (as strange as this may sound of a Course student) feeling that I shouldn't be appreciating the beauty of nature and the creative and loving actions of people. Rather than joining my brothers, as the Course asks of me, I was actually separating myself from them.
- Who Carries Out the Last Judgment? by Greg Mackie. I am confused about the definition of the Last Judgment in A Course in Miracles. In some places, it says the Last Judgment is carried out by the Sonship, while in others it says that the Last Judgment is carried out by God. Help!
- How Can Forgiveness Diminish the Pain of Being Attacked? by Greg Mackie. What can one do when being attacked? Certainly I understand forgiveness for and prayer for the attacker, but that does little if anything to diminish the pain of being attacked. Witness the many suicides that are precipitated by such events. What wisdom does A Course in Miracles have for this?
- More Questions About Animals by Greg Mackie. We get a lot of questions about animals — so many, in fact, that we already have two other Q & A's on the topic. We've received a few more questions that weren't directly covered in those previous pieces, so we thought it would be worthwhile to write one more piece on animals. In this piece, Greg addresses vegetarianism, the suffering of animals, and what happens when animals die.
- Is Calling the World an Illusion Really Helpful? by Greg Mackie. Is calling the world an illusion, as A Course in Miracles does, really helpful? It doesn't seem to do anyone any good to claim that this world is just an illusion when that claim doesn't do anything to alleviate the very real pain and suffering we experience while in this illusion. The Course also says that we can awaken any time. These seem to be just empty words since nobody, except maybe Jesus, has accomplished this.
- Is It a Sin to Have a Special Function? by Robert Perry. This article is in response to the comments of one of our members, who confessed to feeling guilty about the idea of having a special function, thinking, "It is sinful to be special." She asked for Robert's response.
- Do we actually choose all the specific events of our lives? by Greg Mackie. A Course in Miracles suggests that the events in our lives are our choice. But does this actually mean that all the specific events themselves are our choice? Or does it simply mean that all events are the indirect consequences of our choice to listen to the ego or the Holy Spirit, just as weight gain is the indirect consequence of our choice to eat a lot of food?
- Who Forgives? by Robert Perry. Who exactly is it who forgives? Is it you? Is it your intellect? Is it your ego? Is it the Holy Spirit? Robert attempts to answer what can be a vexing question for Course students.
- Should we regard hurtful and deceitful acts as good because good can come out of them? by Greg Mackie. It is a common tendency, especially in the spiritual arena, to justify hurtful or unethical behavior by pointing to the good that can come out of that behavior. What does the Course say about this? Does hurtful behavior become good simply because good may come out of it?
- How could perfect beings make the imperfect decision to separate? by Greg Mackie. I have some problems with A Course in Miracles. My biggest problem with the Course is this: It says God is perfect, and He created a perfect Son. However, we made a highly imperfect decision when we chose to separate. How could perfect beings have possibly made such an imperfect (and candidly quite stupid) decision? In fact, such a decision should have been, by definition, impossible.
- How would the Course look at the miracles of the historical Jesus? by Greg Mackie. How would A Course in Miracles look at the "miracles" that Jesus performed as reported in the New Testament: healing the sick, giving sight to the blind, raising the dead, etc.? My impression is that his ability to "perform miracles" was what drew many people to him.
- How does the Course view animals? by Robert Perry. We get asked this question, in one form or another, a lot. And the answer we usually give is that animals are included under the class of "all living things," which means that they are parts of the Sonship. Like us, they are formless, timeless creations of God who have fallen asleep and are dreaming that they are living in bodies—in this case, animal bodies (which, after all, aren't so different than human bodies).
- What is the Course's process for healing our minds? by Greg Mackie. What is the Course's process for healing our minds? What is our part and what is the Holy Spirit's part?
- Do all holy relationships start out as conflict-filled special relationships? by Robert Perry. I've heard that all holy relationships start out as special relationships. And from the descriptions in the Text, it sounds like the relationship that eventually becomes a holy relationship is a difficult, conflict-filled relationship with major forgiveness issues. Is it possible for a relationship to start out as a holy relationship?
- Do we really manifest all of our life events, as Lesson 152 seems to suggest? by Greg Mackie. I do not agree with the idea in A Course in Miracles that we totally manifest our lives through our thoughts. It just doesn't pass what Ken Wilbur calls the Auschwitz test. Is it really a part of the hardwire of the Universe that millions of Jews, because of their thoughts, were murdered in prison camps? Did all those children in China manifest the earthquake that took their lives? We are, to a very large extent, what we think. And we have the power to decide what we think. But we are also subject to the vagaries of the Universe. We can't change the weather with our thoughts but we sure can practice learning to enjoy it — rain or shine. Is that, then, what Lesson 152 is saying?
- How can my judgments be real if my mind is factually blank? by Robert Perry. I have been repeating the thought from Review IV: "My mind holds only what I think with God." It has reminded me that we are incapable of judging. When we think without God, the Course tells us our minds are blank and this is a fact of What we are. So is it really judging, if the mind itself is "blank"? How can illusory pollutants within our minds exist if factually our minds are blank?
- Should we be guided by the words of the Course or directly by the Holy Spirit? by Robert Perry. Should we try to graduate from studying the Course to getting what we need directly from the Holy Spirit? Or should we focus on the words of the Course and downplay receiving guidance from within? Robert offers his perspective on this pertinent and controversial issue.
- Does the Course recommend telling others "You made that"? by Greg Mackie. What is the Circle's take on the idea that there is "no one out there"—that we have created all the situations that present themselves to us? I find this very annoying, as I find I can't even state that I feel a group is not working because of scapegoating or whatever, without people jumping on me and saying I made that. I don't like the idea of being led to the slaughter by those who decide what A Course in Miracles says, and the rest of us have to agree or else we are being "negative" or choose to create disharmony or see things that aren't there. This really concerns me, particularly about the integrity of ACIM, if this stuff is considered okay.
- How do I apply the Course to parenting teens? by Robert Perry. I have been reading and studying the Course for about eight months now. I am receiving a lot of benefit from it in my life. I have one area of my life that I am still struggling with: parenting. How do I apply the teachings of the Course to parenting teens in a loving way?
- What exactly do we do in Heaven? by Greg Mackie. What exactly do we do in Heaven? Will we be able to interact with others? Wouldn't just basking in God's Love for eternity be boring?
- Does the Course tell us to be honest? by Robert Perry. It is almost axiomatic among Course students that the Course doesn't tell us to be honest in our speech. But the truth is the reverse. The Course, in the plainest language possible, encourages an extreme form of honesty that we might call ultra-integrity. Rather than not calling us up to the level of conventional honesty, it calls us far higher than conventional honesty.
- Should we follow the "Old Testament" letter or the "New Testament" spirit of the Course's practice instructions? by Greg Mackie. As a former fundamentalist Christian, I was required to put out lots of effort to be "accepted," but never quite attaining "good enough." Sometimes I get a flash of this old legalism when I read the Course, especially material about literally following the practice instructions. It seems to me that following those instructions literally is like trying to follow the Old Testament law—the Course's literal dictates are impossible to actually "keep." A more grace-based "New Testament" approach would be to get to the point where the spirit of the Course will ever be on one's mind, so one doesn't need to be following the letter of those instructions all the time. What is your view?
- Should we bring more children into the world? by Robert Perry. Should we be bringing more children into the world, given the state of the world, overpopulation, etc.? More generally, how does the Course view the whole issue of having children?
- What is the Course's view of entitlement? by Greg Mackie. I've been seeing a therapist, and one of the major obstacles that we have identified is that I have a sense of entitlement. I make claims on things without doing the hard work of putting forth effort in order to achieve them. I feel I deserve something or the world somehow owes me the fulfillment of my expectations. What would be the view of A Course in Miracles on "entitlement"?
- How do we uncover our guilt? by Robert Perry. Does the Course recommend that we uncover our inner, private, subconscious guilt passively or actively? By passively, I mean that when we forgive guilt we have projected onto others, the corresponding inner subconscious guilt is healed by the Holy Spirit without our participation. It seems to me, though, that the Course wants us to be more active and direct—to actively uncover our private subconscious guilt. Would you agree, and if so, by what methods does the Course recommend that we uncover it?
- Are all my thoughts really meaningless? by Greg Mackie. The early Workbook lessons tell us that "my thoughts do not mean anything" (W-pI.10.Heading) Is this really true of all of my thoughts? What about the thoughts I need to live in this world? What about my loving thoughts? What about Course-based thoughts, like the ones the Workbook wants me to repeat?
- Do I really need to repeat those boring early Workbook lessons? by Greg Mackie. I've recently been drawn again to A Course in Miracles. In the past, I've done Workbook Lessons 1-10 several times and am happy with my understanding (more or less). Do I have to start again at Lesson 1, or can I recap briefly and start again at Lesson 11? I must admit that starting again at Lesson 1 would bore me tremendously.
- Doesn't the Course say that we should "forget this course"? by Robert Perry. I feel that many Course students cling to the Course and make a crutch out of it. But doesn't the Course tell us to "forget this course"? Rather than focusing so much on the raft, to use an image from Buddhism, shouldn't we just cross the river, put the raft down, and move on?
- Does the Course imply that we have three selves? by Greg Mackie. Would it be fair to say that A Course in Miracles implies that we have three selves (only one of which is real): a) our true/Christ Self, b) the ego, and c) the part of us that is being asked to chose between a) over b)—the executive if you will? When I use the word "I" in this question, for instance, it strikes me that it could be c) talking.
- Does the Workbook expect too much from me? by Robert Perry. When I first started the Workbook it seemed to be easy for the first few weeks, until I got to Lesson 41. I believe the lessons are well planned and that this course is for all sorts of people, the saints and the very normal people like me! What does it mean, then, that already after only forty days of doing the lessons, he expects us to be able to find the quiet place in our mind and hear the Holy Spirit? It's very tempting to feel like a failure when we don't reach what he is expecting from us.
- Are dreams just wish fulfillment? by Greg Mackie. A Course in Miracles seems to suggest that dreams are just wish fulfillment, as Freud said. But I think that dreams are, in large part, a way for the subconscious, superconscious, or spirit to communicate constructively with the waking self. How do you reconcile this with that the Course says?
- Should I Take a Break from the Workbook by Robert Perry. I began the Workbook last November. I was going strong until I hit the last review of Part I and now I am having a tremendous problem focusing and doing the lessons correctly. I feel as if I have hit a brick wall and so, over the last few weeks, I have taken a break. Do you think we are sometimes led to rest from the Workbook or do you recommend to keep going and push through? I just feel like I need a break. Will I lose what I've gained over the past 200 or so lessons by taking a break?
- Are we accountable for our actions? by Greg Mackie. In religious traditions like Christianity and Judaism, we have an incentive to be good because God holds us accountable for all of our actions. But if the world is an illusion as A Course in Miracles says, it seems that there are no rules. What's to stop us from running amok? What incentive do we have to behave properly? Are we in any way accountable for what we do?
- Should We Forgive the Ego? by Greg Mackie. It seems to me that Course students are constantly condemning the ego and fighting against it. This seems to contradict the Course's teaching on forgiveness. Since the Course says we should forgive everyone, shouldn't we forgive the ego as well?
- Do we forgive because people are doing their best? by Robert Perry. The Course seems to provide elaborate reasons for forgiving another person, like the person is really a Son of God, or is really calling for help, or it's all a dream and so the offense never really happened. Can't we just do away with all this complexity and simply say that we forgive people because they are doing their best?
- Did Jesus really dictate A Course in Miracles to Helen? by Greg Mackie. In the last chapter of Ken Wapnick's Absence from Felicity, he says that A Course in Miracles didn't really come from Jesus dictating his words to Helen. Rather, it came from a part of Helen's own mind that was connected with the "abstract love" of Jesus. He just provided the content; she herself provided the specific words. What is your view?
- How Do I Know the Course Is True? by Greg Mackie. How do you know that what A Course in Miracles says is true? Is this a faith thing?
- Should We Read the Gospel of Thomas? by Robert Perry. Is there any reason one should or shouldn't study the new texts coming out from the Nag Hammadi Library—apocryphal gospels like Thomas?
- The Key to Communication by Greg Mackie. I am confused by the following passage: The guiltless and the guilty are totally incapable of understanding one another. Each perceives the other as like himself, making both unable to communicate, because each sees the other unlike the way he sees himself.(T-14.IV.10:1-2)
- Sex by Robert Perry. I have been for several years now struggling with the issue of sex in A Course in Miracles. It seems to me that the Course is telling us to give up sex and romantic relationships, along with physical pleasure. In your article on Mother Mary, there is the sentence "the only valid use of sex is procreation." Is this confirming what I have been suspecting? I am so confused about the topic. Should sex be given up according to the Course? Should it just take place to allow childbirth? If so, does that mean that once we are not having any more children, it should then be relinquished?
- I cannot be unfairly treated? by Greg Mackie. A Course in Miracles says, "You cannot be unfairly treated"(T-26.X.3:2). I'm in a situation where I feel like I'm being unfairly treated. How can I change my perception of this situation?
- Mother Mary by Robert Perry. Why does the Course never mention Jesus' mother?
- How do we reconcile our unique, individual "special function" with the Course's contention that there is no unique individuality? T-25.VI.5:8-10: by Greg Mackie. I'm confused by T-25.VI.5:8-10. It speaks of being a unique individual with a special function on which the entire plan of salvation depends. Is the Course saying that it's okay to see oneself as a unique individual, yet at the same time to try to incorporate the idea that there is no unique individuality, but rather only one Self that we share? That seems like an insane endeavor.
- What Are the Great Rays? by Robert Perry. I have found in A Course in Miracles quotes referring to the Rays and seven Rays (about eight times). Why did Jesus refer to this concept of metaphysics (the Rays) but did not comment on other aspects of form in the so-called physical world? Are not the Rays just as unreal as any other aspects of form, or is this just another metaphor?
- What is the relationship between fear and hate? by Robert Perry. The Course says that fear is the opposite of love, but I thought hate was the opposite of love. Also, what is the relationship between fear and hate? Do we hate because we're afraid or are we afraid because we hate?
- Is wanting a new romantic relationship okay? by Greg Mackie. I have been divorced for a long time, but now find myself wanting a partner. Yet I believe the Course is telling me that I think I want a "special" relationship because my ego needs a diversion, something else to keep me from focusing my attention on the truth about myself. I feel that by even entertaining the idea of a new relationship, I'm delaying my progress along the path that the Course sets forth. What do you think about this?
- If I see other people as making mistakes, am I judging? by Robert Perry. When I see other people's mistakes of any kind, when I think the way they are acting or talking is wrong or hurtful or selfish, am I judging them? Do I have to accept everybody's wrongdoings? In the last year my experience was that they even took advantage of my acceptance!!
- Will we all awaken once a critical number of individuals question their ego? by Greg Mackie. Will we all awaken once a critical number of individuals question their ego?
- Should we turn off the mind, as Eckhart Tolle says? by Robert Perry. Eckhart Tolle says that the mind is the greatest obstacle to awakening—that it's good to use my mind to deal with moving through this world, but that to awaken, I need to learn how to stop thinking. I think this is in harmony with the Course, but I'm not sure. What is your position?
- If Jesus already saved the world, what are we still doing here? by Greg Mackie. In the Manual for Teachers, it says, "One sin perfectly forgiven by one teacher of God can make salvation complete" (M-14.3:7). I know there are other Manual references to the idea that it takes only one Son of God to do this and save us all. Isn't that what Jesus did? If so, shouldn't we be free of all illusions now?
- Angels by Robert Perry. Are there really angels in Heaven? Wouldn't that mean levels? I personally believe there are no such divisions.
- Should I take care of my body? by Greg Mackie. I've been struggling with weight loss, and I'm wondering: Should I take care of my body? Should I start exercising and eating healthy? If so, why? What's the use? Why keep the body healthy, which would result in my staying in this insane illusory world longer?
- Karma by Robert Perry. I was wondering how the Course would address the issue of karma. I know, for example, that sickness is guilt made manifest, so guilt plays a unique part in what the East calls karma. Have you or someone else written an article about this topic?
- Could the Separation Happen Again? by Greg Mackie. Once we awaken at the end of the journey, is it possible that we could fall asleep and lose ourselves in the dream of separation again?
- How Can Illness Really Come from the Mind? by Robert Perry. How can illness really come from the mind? I read of a man who developed necrotizing fascilitis, a flesh eating bacterium, and died within twenty-four hours. How can such a thing be introduced by a fearful mind? Surely it is just the luck of the draw.
- How important is Course interpretation? by Greg Mackie. How important is it really to get the perfect interpretation of the Course? Isn't it more important to do the "work" of the Course?
- When Did Jesus Wake Up? by Robert Perry. When did Jesus wake up?
- What if I don't have a holy relationship? by Greg Mackie. The Course says that salvation comes through holy relationships. But what if I don't even know anyone who practices the Course, let alone someone to have a holy relationship with?
- Which volume of the Course should I start with? by Robert Perry. Which volume of the Course should I start with? Do I have to begin with the Text?
- Are all things really possible to God? by Greg Mackie. Are all things really possible to God? More specifically, if God had wanted to create an external world separate from Himself, could He have done so?
- The Celestial Speedup by Robert Perry. Does Jesus say anywhere in the Course why he came at this time? Does he say why Helen and why 1965? Does this have anything to do with the "celestial speedup," and have you written any commentary on that?
- The World an Illusion? by Greg Mackie. I'm really struggling with the concept that this world is only an illusion, a dream. Do you have any suggestions that would help my mind grasp this concept?
- Discerning the Holy Spirit's Guidance by Robert Perry. When we ask the Holy Spirit about something, how do we know it's not just our ego talking?
- Thought of Separation by Greg Mackie. If the thought of separation ran through the Sonship, why did it not run through the mind of our creations also? Wouldn't that thought have been shared?
- Is There Only One Ego? by Greg Mackie. Since there is only One Mind, then is there only One Ego, which we all share?
- What Is Atonement? by Robert Perry. What exactly is the Atonement? Is it an undoing of the separation? What steps can we take to achieve it? Is Atonement pronounced as usual, in the sense of making reparation for sins, or At-one-ment, like Unity?
- Alone Time by Greg Mackie. I really like to spend time alone, especially in quiet meditation. Yet it seems to me that the Course frowns on this, since it emphasizes joining with others. How can I reconcile my desire for alone time with the Course's emphasis on joining?
- Effort or Willingness? by Greg Mackie. Does it take effort to learn the Course, or just willingness?
- Does the Course's teaching about personal responsibility apply to children? by Greg Mackie. The Course tells us that we are responsible for all the circumstances of our lives, as well as for how we perceive those circumstances. Does this apply to children who are suffering from painful circumstances like sickness, starvation, and child abuse?
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