The Two Thought-Systems:
Their are two thought systems that are explained in the bible and in the course (ACIM). One is based on the will or sovereignty of God the other is based on fear. The thought system that is based on fear is called the ego (in the bible it's called 'the old man' or 'the flesh') and the thought system that is based on the will of God is knowledge or truth (under one law, the law of love or God. - ACIM).
The ego's thought system is formed in one of two ways, either, we model specific behaviors in our environment or we make decisions based on what we perceive to be emotional voids or personal attacks.
The symptomatic actions that derive from our mis-perceptions are products of a deep rooted belief system that is embedded in our subconscious mind. These actions are played out simply because we don't understand our "truth" or true nature in God.
What we discover later about these actions is that the emotion attached to them becomes an addiction that becomes self perpetuating. On this note St. Paul states: "The acts of the sinful nature (ego) are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God". - These become illusions to truth and freedom.
It's only when we stop looking outward for answers to life's challenges, that we may find our truth and freedom.
*I wrote "It's only when we stop looking outward for answers...” as to imply that the answers lie within us, even if we have not come into the knowledge of Christ:
In the book of Luke:
Once, having been asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, "The kingdom of God does not come with your careful observation, nor will people say, 'Here it is,' or 'there it is,' because the kingdom of God is within you."
Jesus spoke to the Pharisees directly letting them know that his kingdom was inside of them.
In the book of Acts:
Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: "Men of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious. For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. Now what you worship as something unknown I am going to proclaim to you.
"The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands. And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else. From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. 'For in him we live and move and have our being.' As some of your own poets have said, 'We are his offspring.'
Paul spoke to unbelievers, and described to them that they lived, moved and had their being in Christ.
There are two concepts at work here, the people in our environment are still our brothers and sister (whether saved or not) because they were created by the same Father...in the same way, being in Christ denotes a simple contributing factor of human existence.
It isn't until we are saved that we have the gift of realizing that all along He was with us, and all along we were in Him; we were guided by his hand. God is always within us and we inside of him it is what we call: 'OmniPresence'. There is nowhere we can go where God is not. - The Psalmist uttered: If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. *
So, it is here we must begin our journey, to understand the way out of what some have described as a dream or unreality. The ego is simply an extension of our projections, based on a legacy that was left behind by what the bible call the first Adam.
The Garden of Eden, or the pre-separation condition, was a state of mind in which nothing was needed. When Adam listened to the "lies of the serpent," all he heard was untruth. You do not have to continue to believe what is not true unless you choose to do so.
All that can literally disappear in the twinkling of an eye because it is merely a misperception. What is seen in dreams seems to be very real. Yet the Bible says that a deep sleep fell upon Adam, and nowhere is there reference to his waking up. The world has not yet experienced any comprehensive reawakening or rebirth. Such a rebirth is impossible as long as you continue to project or miscreate. It still remains within you, however, to extend as God extended his spirit to you. In reality this is your only choice, because your free will was given you for your joy in creating the perfect.
-ACIM Ch:2
*When the course speaks of our ability to 'create', this shouldn't be taken as heresy. In the science of quantum mechanics (the study of nature at an atomic level) it speaks about how we are a participant in every aspect of our lives or existence, as opposed to merely an observer. There are no constants in this equation only variables, meaning we can recreate or influence our life simply by the perception we hold to; in other words if our perception of a thing changes the very nature of that thing changes.
(Although there are many publications on this science one of the popular documents is: "The Dancing Wu Li Masters").
Also, when the Course speaks of free will it is not speaking from a separate will outside of God's. But, a will that is one with God's own. Paul speaks rhetorically: For who hath resisted his will? *
Santi Chacon has made his way across five industries. He has served as a facilitator and coach to executives on a national scale. Santi is a facilitator and marketing coach/consultant. He enjoys speaking and writing on topics such as positive psychology, emotional intelligence, spirituality, business innovation, sales, marketing, training and management. He has a proven track record for benchmarking and helping organizations understand growth potential and quality management which includes lending his expertise in: sales, training and development, client relations, operational management, communications, marketing strategies, program management, revenue growth, P/L responsibility, client retention and value.