This page is for anyone who is interested in ACIM and has little or no connection with religious beliefs. It is designed for those who have trouble with the language and Christianity of the Course, but enjoy the metaphysics and psychology. I will occasionally insert articles that I feel are on-topic and hopefully of interest to those who visit this page. I will also attempt to answer all questions; privately via email and phone, or openly on Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/groups/acim4atheism/
“ACIM and Atheism”
Introduction
Although “A Course In Miracles” is entrenched in theistic language (Christian), it lends itself quite nicely to atheistic thought. A casual reader who picks a page out of the book might think that the material is for born-again Christians, for the language often belies the strict non-dualistic metaphysics, which is anything but “Christian”.
Breaking out of the Christianity mold is only part of the problem that atheists may encounter. There are constant reminders with words like “God, Jesus, Holy Spirit”, and more that suggest that theism is mandatory. It is important to try and remember the quote from the Course that tells us “…words are but symbols of symbols, and thus twice removed from reality.”
In order for an atheist to truly “get” the Course, it is important to intellectually comprehend the metaphysics and the underlying non-dualism. With this intellectual underpinning, it becomes much easier to put aside definitional boundaries and limitations; traps that atheists often encounter.
Is the Course theistic? And if so, does it matter? The answer to the first question is yes and no. It depends on the definitions of theism. The number one definition reads: “…a belief that one God created and rules humans and the world, not necessarily accompanied by belief in divine revelation such as through the Bible”, which clearly translates into something other than ACIM. The second question of “Does it matter?” is far more profound. If an atheist has gone so far as to be curious about ACIM, there must be something in it that is attracting. In an effort to assist atheists find what that is, this article presents itself.
The Metaphysics
What is/are metaphysics? If physics is defined as the study of everything in the known universe, then would metaphysics be the study of everything else? This riddle summarizes the issue of atheism as it attempts to deal with the sciences honestly. For what is science if not a set of beliefs and suppositions based on our senses? The “scientific method”, the basis of all modern science, begins with observation. From our observations, we are asked to make hypotheses, which are tested. The purpose of this is to determine what is fact and separate it from belief. One problem with this is observation. Physicists are now learning that our observations cannot be trusted. Even mechanical observers affect what is being observed. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DfPeprQ7oGc . For this article, metaphysics is defined as the picture of reality, as presented by ACIM. Using the languages of metaphor, allegory, and mythology, we will attempt to go beyond the limitations of empirical and four-dimensional thinking into the realm of the abstract. And we are going to do this with intellect.
The Mythology
In the beginning all was one. Time, space, and matter did not exist. All that did exist was (for the lack of a better term) Perfect Love, which always expanded. This is what Lau Tzu called “The ten-thousand lights”. One reason I like this phrase is the idea of “ten-thousand” and the light within being one and expanding. Even though we use the plural term “lights”, it is singular. If it were grammatically correct, we would say “The ten-thousand light”. There is only one light source and only one light. This Oneness was composed of “The ten-thousand light” and the light carries within it the awareness of the Whole, as there was no separation between the Whole and what extended from it. In this environment of perfection, there was total freedom of creativity; and within the oneness, a thought popped up, “What if I was my own entity, separate from the whole?” Of course such a thought is quite silly, considering that in this state of perfection there are no needs or wants. Normally, such a thought would be laughed off and forgotten, but one time, “…the son forgot to laugh.” The “Son” in the Course can be likened to the radiated light. When this happened, (forgetting to laugh), a series of thoughts unfolded within the light. Keep in mind that nothing has changed, everything is perfection and the light is part of the whole. A thought is like a dream in that it has no effect in or on reality. The chain of thought went something like this: If I am my own boss, how am I to get away from the big light? To do this I must hide, for surely I will be punished for leaving. I know that I am one with the whole, but I have the power to choose who my boss is, don’t I? At this point, the story begins to sound a bit theistic, but try to remember that it’s just a story, nothing more. What it suggests is the beginning of dualistic thought.
The point of the tale is to give us a feeling that we are not what we think we are…that our perceptions of ourselves are not accurate. As atheists, we generally like to think that we are logical and quite capable of critical thinking. The story goes on to describe a series of splits the independent thought goes through and each one takes it further away from its source. Eventually, the thought forgets where it came from and enters a state that we can call sleep, and what we are in could be likened to dreaming. Sleep and dreaming as metaphors are often used because when we are dreaming, there is typically no awareness that it is not real until we awaken. What the Course is telling us is exactly that, what we think is real is not, it’s all made up, as in a dream. Is it conceivable that it’s telling us the truth? Is it plausible? If it is true, does it mean that we were wrong about theism? Yes, perhaps, and no. These are logical answers and it wouldn’t take much debate to prove. The Course uses terms like God, Christ Mind, Heaven, and Jesus to describe an unsleeping mind to a mind that is dreaming. Is there a greater consciousness? Not really, if we are It. Using theistic terms may be helpful for many people who where brought up in and feel a kinship to some religions, but for atheists, it’s merely a step to skip. We can go directly to the heart of the mythology and its purpose, which is for us to challenge our beliefs about what we think we are.
Our Beliefs
As atheists, we may think that we have no beliefs. Our rational minds look upon a physical universe that offers us empirical evidence, which proves events and systems, lending credence to the reality we see. But is what we see reliable? Can our senses be trusted? If not, what can we rely upon? As a beginning, let us try logic.
When early astronomers looked at the evening sky, it was widely believed that the universe rotated around the earth. Many religions embraced the view that we (Earthlings) were at the center of everything. This was supported by simple observation. However, when more careful observation came into play, things didn’t add up. Planets do not track the same as stars. The invention of optics opened astronomers’ eyes, as it became more and more apparent that the official position of geocentrism was false. Scientists were telling the church that we couldn’t trust our observations because instruments were proving them wrong. The subtext of what they were saying was, “Your view of the universe is not fact, it is belief, and the belief is wrong.” Nobody likes hearing that they are wrong, and religious institutions are no exceptions. Slowly, with a lot of resistance, the current idea that the earth is a tiny blip in a vast universe took hold. This led to the theory that the universe is expanding from a “Big Bang”, and will eventually contract and begin the process again. The theory does not answer all questions about time and space, and actually (no pun intended) leaves huge holes. The official position is we need to gather more information to fill these holes. Astronomers are now looking at physics in an attempt to answer questions like, “Where did matter come from?” and “When we get to the end of the universe, what lies beyond?” or “What is the relationship between time and matter/energy?” As these questions are pondered, and solutions are tested, answers generally fall into two categories: the “we still don’t understand’s” and the “perhaps we are not asking the right questions’.”
Much like the early astronomers, the test results are pointing to a view of the universe that is shaking the foundations of a belief system of who we are. At the very least, we now know that our linear perceptions of time, space, and matter are incorrect. With this in mind, we can openly listen to new ideas without bias to old notions. With our logic firmly in place, we now know that we cannot fully trust our senses and must look to something else for grounding. What the Course tells us, as well as other non-dualistic thought systems, is that our center is found within us—not on the outside. Again, this is logical. For if we cannot trust what is perceived outside of us, maybe what’s inside is more trustworthy.
Life on the Inside
What do people mean when they say, “look within”? Or “the answer lies within”? To many, this simply means not looking for the cause of our upsets outside of our selves. In other words, I can no longer blame you or the world for my feelings and think that I can get away with it. It is ownership of one’s feelings. This is not to suggest that I must blame myself for my misery, for that is equally non-productive.
In the world of modern psychology, the trend is to bring trauma customers (patients) into the present and look at the pain as it is now and less towards looking at the past for causation, (unless there are blockages of memories present). The reason for this is that it seems people recover from traumas faster when they don’t try to hold onto the past, where the pain lives. When it’s realized that the pain itself is only a memory, the question must be asked as to why is it being held on to. This is the beginning of ownership and the basis for the psychological understanding of the Course. Ownership means that looking upon our selves as victims is dropped. Whether the world perceives us as victims or not is not the concern, because seeing ourselves within the narrow confines of victimhood does not help us heal. Instead, it merely justifies our anger and hatred, giving us righteous indignation and the building of defenses. This may feel good at first, but again, it does not lead to healing. Healing is the process of letting go of defenses, which allow the closing of old wounds and hatreds, leading to a lasting peaceful existence.
So what’s all this finding peace business? The Course tells us is that we are at war, fighting a losing battle against an enemy that doesn’t exist. It says that we are following a leader that doesn’t have our best interests at heart. This leader wants to keep us sleeping and it uses fear as its weapon of choice. Sound familiar? If it does, it is not a coincidence. The pictures we see on the outside merely reflect what is going on inside. What ACIM is suggesting is that we would be more effective chanting “No more war” to ourselves than to the pentagon. We are conditioned to believe that our world is real and we are victims of all the horrible things that happen. Wars, hurricanes, earthquakes, and all forms of cruelty need to be defended against. The past tells us we are in constant danger, and we therefore must invest to protect our future. Even as atheists, we have a clear belief system. Not only do we believe in it, we are heavily invested in it. “We have put all our money on one horse. And as bad as that may sound, it’s a losing horse. And if that’s not bad enough, the horse was dead at the starting gate.” The name of this dead horse is Hope. It is our hope that our investments will pay us dividends of happiness. This is what our leader is telling us, and we believe.
One thing that is difficult for atheists to understand is the yoga of the Course—relationships and forgiveness. This is not Christian forgiveness of turning the other cheek. The Course is perhaps the only study system in the world that uses the idea of using our relationships as vehicles to finding peace. Forgiveness is the process of getting to the core of what is upsetting to us. It is the exposure of a secret belief and bringing it to consciousness and then learning how to assess its costs. It is the realization that dealing with our hurts in the old way does not work, or if it does work, it won’t last. Peace comes from dealing with the problem by honestly looking at it. Most importantly, peace comes from not listening to our leader’s solutions, and instead listening to another voice.
The Memory Within
When duality became our apparent reality, it was not completely successful, according to the Course. With it came the memory of our true reality. Some people call it ‘the quiet voice’ or ‘the little light’. The diminutive terms suggest a softness or gentleness that does not blast its message all over our consciousness, and that is correct. However, it is always ready to speak if we are willing to listen. It often brings a great deal of fear to the surface when listening to ‘the little voice’, for it may suggest something that contradicts our most treasured beliefs on how to think and behave. Many people spend their entire lives working diligently at keeping that voice mute. What the Course asks us to do is quite simple: When we are upset, instead of dealing with it in our usual manner, try something different. How much would it cost to try? Nothing is asked of us. We needn’t become clerics or martyrs or give up our jobs and relationships. Sacrifice, we are told, is one of the many icons that promise happiness but the promise is hollow. We are asked merely to ask ourselves if there might be a better way, and listen…nothing more.
The Choice
Perhaps the most appealing aspect of the teachings in ACIM to atheists is the recognition of an element of choice in our day-to-day lives. In other non-dualistic systems, it is often said that we are bound by a destiny that cannot be changed. This can easily be interpreted as a form of fatalism and lead to a “why bother” attitude. The Course says that a choice is always available to reinterpret what we perceive, and this choice is made in the mind. The implication of the following quote, which suggests that we are normally out of our minds, is not altogether false.
The mind's choice to return to its true Identity is reflected in the process of learning the Course's important teaching that we are dreaming a dream of separation, from which we can awake: “ Nothing at all has happened but that you have put yourself to sleep, and dreamed a dream in which you were an alien to yourself, and but a part of someone else's dream” (T.28.II.4:1). Through the practice of forgiveness, we attribute our experience in the dream to the power of the mind, not to anything external to it. In so doing, we gradually learn to identify with the mind rather than with the figure in the dream. This returns to our awareness the power of the mind to choose differently and ultimately to awaken from the dream. Paragraph is from www.facim.org Q and A service.
"They must, however, be willing to overlook controversy, recognizing that it is a defense against truth in the form of a delaying maneuver. 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."
Introduction
Although “A Course In Miracles” is entrenched in theistic language (Christian), it lends itself quite nicely to atheistic thought. A casual reader who picks a page out of the book might think that the material is for born-again Christians, for the language often belies the strict non-dualistic metaphysics, which is anything but “Christian”.
Breaking out of the Christianity mold is only part of the problem that atheists may encounter. There are constant reminders with words like “God, Jesus, Holy Spirit”, and more that suggest that theism is mandatory. It is important to try and remember the quote from the Course that tells us “…words are but symbols of symbols, and thus twice removed from reality.”
In order for an atheist to truly “get” the Course, it is important to intellectually comprehend the metaphysics and the underlying non-dualism. With this intellectual underpinning, it becomes much easier to put aside definitional boundaries and limitations; traps that atheists often encounter.
Is the Course theistic? And if so, does it matter? The answer to the first question is yes and no. It depends on the definitions of theism. The number one definition reads: “…a belief that one God created and rules humans and the world, not necessarily accompanied by belief in divine revelation such as through the Bible”, which clearly translates into something other than ACIM. The second question of “Does it matter?” is far more profound. If an atheist has gone so far as to be curious about ACIM, there must be something in it that is attracting. In an effort to assist atheists find what that is, this article presents itself.
The Metaphysics
What is/are metaphysics? If physics is defined as the study of everything in the known universe, then would metaphysics be the study of everything else? This riddle summarizes the issue of atheism as it attempts to deal with the sciences honestly. For what is science if not a set of beliefs and suppositions based on our senses? The “scientific method”, the basis of all modern science, begins with observation. From our observations, we are asked to make hypotheses, which are tested. The purpose of this is to determine what is fact and separate it from belief. One problem with this is observation. Physicists are now learning that our observations cannot be trusted. Even mechanical observers affect what is being observed. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DfPeprQ7oGc . For this article, metaphysics is defined as the picture of reality, as presented by ACIM. Using the languages of metaphor, allegory, and mythology, we will attempt to go beyond the limitations of empirical and four-dimensional thinking into the realm of the abstract. And we are going to do this with intellect.
The Mythology
In the beginning all was one. Time, space, and matter did not exist. All that did exist was (for the lack of a better term) Perfect Love, which always expanded. This is what Lau Tzu called “The ten-thousand lights”. One reason I like this phrase is the idea of “ten-thousand” and the light within being one and expanding. Even though we use the plural term “lights”, it is singular. If it were grammatically correct, we would say “The ten-thousand light”. There is only one light source and only one light. This Oneness was composed of “The ten-thousand light” and the light carries within it the awareness of the Whole, as there was no separation between the Whole and what extended from it. In this environment of perfection, there was total freedom of creativity; and within the oneness, a thought popped up, “What if I was my own entity, separate from the whole?” Of course such a thought is quite silly, considering that in this state of perfection there are no needs or wants. Normally, such a thought would be laughed off and forgotten, but one time, “…the son forgot to laugh.” The “Son” in the Course can be likened to the radiated light. When this happened, (forgetting to laugh), a series of thoughts unfolded within the light. Keep in mind that nothing has changed, everything is perfection and the light is part of the whole. A thought is like a dream in that it has no effect in or on reality. The chain of thought went something like this: If I am my own boss, how am I to get away from the big light? To do this I must hide, for surely I will be punished for leaving. I know that I am one with the whole, but I have the power to choose who my boss is, don’t I? At this point, the story begins to sound a bit theistic, but try to remember that it’s just a story, nothing more. What it suggests is the beginning of dualistic thought.
The point of the tale is to give us a feeling that we are not what we think we are…that our perceptions of ourselves are not accurate. As atheists, we generally like to think that we are logical and quite capable of critical thinking. The story goes on to describe a series of splits the independent thought goes through and each one takes it further away from its source. Eventually, the thought forgets where it came from and enters a state that we can call sleep, and what we are in could be likened to dreaming. Sleep and dreaming as metaphors are often used because when we are dreaming, there is typically no awareness that it is not real until we awaken. What the Course is telling us is exactly that, what we think is real is not, it’s all made up, as in a dream. Is it conceivable that it’s telling us the truth? Is it plausible? If it is true, does it mean that we were wrong about theism? Yes, perhaps, and no. These are logical answers and it wouldn’t take much debate to prove. The Course uses terms like God, Christ Mind, Heaven, and Jesus to describe an unsleeping mind to a mind that is dreaming. Is there a greater consciousness? Not really, if we are It. Using theistic terms may be helpful for many people who where brought up in and feel a kinship to some religions, but for atheists, it’s merely a step to skip. We can go directly to the heart of the mythology and its purpose, which is for us to challenge our beliefs about what we think we are.
Our Beliefs
As atheists, we may think that we have no beliefs. Our rational minds look upon a physical universe that offers us empirical evidence, which proves events and systems, lending credence to the reality we see. But is what we see reliable? Can our senses be trusted? If not, what can we rely upon? As a beginning, let us try logic.
When early astronomers looked at the evening sky, it was widely believed that the universe rotated around the earth. Many religions embraced the view that we (Earthlings) were at the center of everything. This was supported by simple observation. However, when more careful observation came into play, things didn’t add up. Planets do not track the same as stars. The invention of optics opened astronomers’ eyes, as it became more and more apparent that the official position of geocentrism was false. Scientists were telling the church that we couldn’t trust our observations because instruments were proving them wrong. The subtext of what they were saying was, “Your view of the universe is not fact, it is belief, and the belief is wrong.” Nobody likes hearing that they are wrong, and religious institutions are no exceptions. Slowly, with a lot of resistance, the current idea that the earth is a tiny blip in a vast universe took hold. This led to the theory that the universe is expanding from a “Big Bang”, and will eventually contract and begin the process again. The theory does not answer all questions about time and space, and actually (no pun intended) leaves huge holes. The official position is we need to gather more information to fill these holes. Astronomers are now looking at physics in an attempt to answer questions like, “Where did matter come from?” and “When we get to the end of the universe, what lies beyond?” or “What is the relationship between time and matter/energy?” As these questions are pondered, and solutions are tested, answers generally fall into two categories: the “we still don’t understand’s” and the “perhaps we are not asking the right questions’.”
Much like the early astronomers, the test results are pointing to a view of the universe that is shaking the foundations of a belief system of who we are. At the very least, we now know that our linear perceptions of time, space, and matter are incorrect. With this in mind, we can openly listen to new ideas without bias to old notions. With our logic firmly in place, we now know that we cannot fully trust our senses and must look to something else for grounding. What the Course tells us, as well as other non-dualistic thought systems, is that our center is found within us—not on the outside. Again, this is logical. For if we cannot trust what is perceived outside of us, maybe what’s inside is more trustworthy.
Life on the Inside
What do people mean when they say, “look within”? Or “the answer lies within”? To many, this simply means not looking for the cause of our upsets outside of our selves. In other words, I can no longer blame you or the world for my feelings and think that I can get away with it. It is ownership of one’s feelings. This is not to suggest that I must blame myself for my misery, for that is equally non-productive.
In the world of modern psychology, the trend is to bring trauma customers (patients) into the present and look at the pain as it is now and less towards looking at the past for causation, (unless there are blockages of memories present). The reason for this is that it seems people recover from traumas faster when they don’t try to hold onto the past, where the pain lives. When it’s realized that the pain itself is only a memory, the question must be asked as to why is it being held on to. This is the beginning of ownership and the basis for the psychological understanding of the Course. Ownership means that looking upon our selves as victims is dropped. Whether the world perceives us as victims or not is not the concern, because seeing ourselves within the narrow confines of victimhood does not help us heal. Instead, it merely justifies our anger and hatred, giving us righteous indignation and the building of defenses. This may feel good at first, but again, it does not lead to healing. Healing is the process of letting go of defenses, which allow the closing of old wounds and hatreds, leading to a lasting peaceful existence.
So what’s all this finding peace business? The Course tells us is that we are at war, fighting a losing battle against an enemy that doesn’t exist. It says that we are following a leader that doesn’t have our best interests at heart. This leader wants to keep us sleeping and it uses fear as its weapon of choice. Sound familiar? If it does, it is not a coincidence. The pictures we see on the outside merely reflect what is going on inside. What ACIM is suggesting is that we would be more effective chanting “No more war” to ourselves than to the pentagon. We are conditioned to believe that our world is real and we are victims of all the horrible things that happen. Wars, hurricanes, earthquakes, and all forms of cruelty need to be defended against. The past tells us we are in constant danger, and we therefore must invest to protect our future. Even as atheists, we have a clear belief system. Not only do we believe in it, we are heavily invested in it. “We have put all our money on one horse. And as bad as that may sound, it’s a losing horse. And if that’s not bad enough, the horse was dead at the starting gate.” The name of this dead horse is Hope. It is our hope that our investments will pay us dividends of happiness. This is what our leader is telling us, and we believe.
One thing that is difficult for atheists to understand is the yoga of the Course—relationships and forgiveness. This is not Christian forgiveness of turning the other cheek. The Course is perhaps the only study system in the world that uses the idea of using our relationships as vehicles to finding peace. Forgiveness is the process of getting to the core of what is upsetting to us. It is the exposure of a secret belief and bringing it to consciousness and then learning how to assess its costs. It is the realization that dealing with our hurts in the old way does not work, or if it does work, it won’t last. Peace comes from dealing with the problem by honestly looking at it. Most importantly, peace comes from not listening to our leader’s solutions, and instead listening to another voice.
The Memory Within
When duality became our apparent reality, it was not completely successful, according to the Course. With it came the memory of our true reality. Some people call it ‘the quiet voice’ or ‘the little light’. The diminutive terms suggest a softness or gentleness that does not blast its message all over our consciousness, and that is correct. However, it is always ready to speak if we are willing to listen. It often brings a great deal of fear to the surface when listening to ‘the little voice’, for it may suggest something that contradicts our most treasured beliefs on how to think and behave. Many people spend their entire lives working diligently at keeping that voice mute. What the Course asks us to do is quite simple: When we are upset, instead of dealing with it in our usual manner, try something different. How much would it cost to try? Nothing is asked of us. We needn’t become clerics or martyrs or give up our jobs and relationships. Sacrifice, we are told, is one of the many icons that promise happiness but the promise is hollow. We are asked merely to ask ourselves if there might be a better way, and listen…nothing more.
The Choice
Perhaps the most appealing aspect of the teachings in ACIM to atheists is the recognition of an element of choice in our day-to-day lives. In other non-dualistic systems, it is often said that we are bound by a destiny that cannot be changed. This can easily be interpreted as a form of fatalism and lead to a “why bother” attitude. The Course says that a choice is always available to reinterpret what we perceive, and this choice is made in the mind. The implication of the following quote, which suggests that we are normally out of our minds, is not altogether false.
The mind's choice to return to its true Identity is reflected in the process of learning the Course's important teaching that we are dreaming a dream of separation, from which we can awake: “ Nothing at all has happened but that you have put yourself to sleep, and dreamed a dream in which you were an alien to yourself, and but a part of someone else's dream” (T.28.II.4:1). Through the practice of forgiveness, we attribute our experience in the dream to the power of the mind, not to anything external to it. In so doing, we gradually learn to identify with the mind rather than with the figure in the dream. This returns to our awareness the power of the mind to choose differently and ultimately to awaken from the dream. Paragraph is from www.facim.org Q and A service.
"They must, however, be willing to overlook controversy, recognizing that it is a defense against truth in the form of a delaying maneuver. 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."