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How can ACIM be summed up simply?
- Nothing real can be threatened: God, Truth, infinite, eternal, oneness are real
- Nothing unreal exists: all that is perceived is the son of man - temporal, relative and illusory.
- Herein lies the peace of God.
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What is the definition of miracles? (4)
- In the spiritual realm, and as referred to in ACIM, miracles are expressions of love that repair, re-integrate, and re-member that which is Holy (Whole) but has been put asunder by our individual and collective degenerated consciousness.
- A miracle is a correction of error-thinking, misperceptions and illusions.
- In the physical realm, miracles are manifest phenomena that seemingly contradict scientific laws of cause and effect.
- In the mental realm, miracles are spontaneous flashes of enlightenment, independent of rational formulation.
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What is the definition of Atonement? (6)
- Exemplification of man's oneness with God.
- At-one-ment
- State or condition of oneness
- All is recognized (known) as one.
- Allness is neither this nor that, it is This and That and infinitely more. It is unmodifiable, indefinable, ineffable, all-inclusive Isness. To know that, really know that, is Atonement.
- Atonement is the noun form of the verb atone meaning to reconcile, to amend.
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What is the definition of Separation? (6)
- Our distorted perception put asunder what God created as one.
- The moment our consciousness chose to know relativity rather than absolute singularity and we chose to discern "good" and "evil," "then" and "when," "here" and "there," "this" and "that" we experienced falsehood.
- Adam (human consciousness) freely chose to take that which was whole and perfect and perceived its contrasting elements.
- Separation is the antithesis of atonement.
- Separation is not real.
- Whatever separation you sense is merely an illusion that you (we) perceive. This is an error of consciousness that we aspire to correct.
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What are two consequences of a belief in separation?
- Fear is a by-product
- Causes conflict
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What are the Origins of Separation? (4)
- The process of separation involves using your creativeness inappropriately when you believe that some emptiness or lack exists in you, and that you can fill it with your own ideas instead of truth. Specifically, this process involves the following 4 beliefs:
- What God created can be changed by your mind.
- What is perfect can be rendered imperfect or lacking.
- You can distort the creations of God, including yourself.
- You can create yourself, and that the direction of your own creation is up to you.
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What is the difference between True Denial and Denial?
- Whenever we harbor an identity or value or belief that misrepresents the truth of our self, we are enjoinded to bring enlightenment to the falsehood.
- True denial is used to correct error and also expresses an affirmation. (e.g. "I have behaved as an alcoholic, but I am not an alcoholic. I am a child of God, perfectly created, an expression of love, and I will from now on behave as such.")
- True denial is a powerful protective device.
- Denial is used to hide error when we are shameful, fearful of critical judgment/punishment or believe the error portrays the essence of us.
- Guilt is the belief that we behaved wrongly whereas shame is a belief that we were poorly made.
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What are the causes of creating or mis-creating in our earthly realm? (4)
- God is first cause - the intelligent, energetic substance which is the Source of all that exists.
- Human consciousness is second cause - human thought renders information to give specific definition to infinite formless energy.
- Physical effort is third cause - using the body as a tool, substance is given form as imagined.
- Devotion is the fourth cause - commitment and discipline to maintain and sustain.
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What is the meaning of the Last Judgment?
- The Last Judgment is generally thought of as a procedure undertaken by God. Actually it will be undertaken by my brothers with my help. It is a final healing rather than a meting out of punishment.
- Punishment is a concept totally opposed to right-mindedness, and the aim of the Last Judgment is to restore right-mindedness to you.
- The Last Judgment will occur when each of us, all of us, collectively realize that the only concept worthy of our consciousness is a knowing of our Oneness with each other and our Oneness with all that is. When we know that we will know God Mind.
- In knowing God Mind we will know nothing that is in opposition, because God is all there is.
- In God Mind, there is nothing wrong to be judged, hence, the Last Judgment must have occurred.
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What are some of the descriptions of healing in ACIM? (6)
- To heal is to lessen the dis-ease one experiences when one struggles with the critical, judgmental perceptions of this and that, good and evil, should's and should not's.
- To heal is to promote well-being - peaceful presence, loving radiance.
- To heal is to posit and nurture seeds of Truth.
- To heal is an act of love.
- Healing must always begin with self healing.
- The healer's prayer is "Let me know my brother as I know myself."
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What are the milestones in our journey or return to knowing Perfect, Holy Consciousness that precede marital healing? (4)
- First Milestone: the Cruxifixion (crossing out) or Baptism (cleansing) of erroneous thoughts held in our consciousness, and the affirmation of true ideas about our true nature (our christening).
- Second Milestone: we come to a place of consciousness when we are able to discern our ego self from our divine Self although we may not have the discipline to consistently obey the Divine.
- Third Milestone: we come to a place in consciousness where we have brought into communion divine knowledge (substance) and compassion (spirit). It is a place in consciousness where we experience the integration of our divine faculties. Here we know wisdom. We recognize our capacity to exercise wise dominion of our life.
- Fourth Milestone: a place in consciousness where we experience a confirmation or unwavering realization of our divine Self, in spite of contrary external evidence. When we recognize this wholeness, we seek not to find our missing or better half, we seek to multiply. As one whole person multiplying with another whole person, we realize a greater wholeness. 1X1=1. This is a one that is greater than the separate individual ones. This is the invitation of the Holy Spirit to heal by virtue of relationship (to again experience an elated or joyful consciousness by coming together, repairing).
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What is the function of the Holy Spirit?
- The Holy Spirit is a guide to salvation.
- The Holy Spirit is the mediator between interpretations of the ego and knowledge of the Spirit.His ability to deal with symbols enables Him to work with the ego's belief in its own language. His ability to look beyond symbols into eternity enables Him to understand the Laws of God, for which He speaks. He can therefore perform the function of reinterpreting what the ego makes, not by destruction but by understanding. Understanding is light, and the light leads to knowledge.
- The Holy Spirit knows the Truth that stands beneath our personal expression of self. It knows the divine essence, Christ-self or common denominator of us. As the Grace of God, the Holy Spirit helps us re-integrate. Knowing our common denominator, It enables us to add together, reunify the fragmented thoughts and perceptions made by the ego, so that we can again know the "Wholiness" of God Mind, which is True Knowledge.
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What is the definition of Faith?
The virtue of believing in your divinity although there is no perceivable evidence.
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What is the definition of Hope?
The recognition of your inherent resourcefulness, your divine powers, your Christ Self.
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What are some descriptors of the Innocent Perception?
- pure
- child-like
- observational and wondering
- A perception predicated upon a belief system that is benevolent in nature.
- A mind set that desires to foster the well-being of all humanity.
- Helps us journey toward Atonement ("Heavenliness")
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What is the definition of Projection? (3)
- The unconscious process of ascribing to others our own ideas, beliefs and impulses.
- To unknowingly ascribe to another thoughts, feelings, beliefs and attitues that are present in oneself.
- Projection presumes that there are others, rather than a knowing that there is only God.
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What are the distinctions between Perception versus Knowledge?
- All perception varies - that is why it is not knowledge.
- Perception can and must be stabilized, but knowledge is stable.
- True perception is the basis for knowledge, but knowing is the affirmation of truth and beyond all perception.
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What is the definition of Illusion?
- A false idea or conception.
- Belief or opinion not in accord with the facts (Truth)
- An unreal, deceptive or misleading appearance or image.
- A false perception, conception or interpretation of what one sees.
- Of the ego.
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What are the four major categories of fear?
- Fear of Unworthiness (shame)
- Fear of Alienation (abandonment)
- Fear of Powerlessness (impotence)
- Fear of Obliteration (non-existence)
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What are some ways ACIM discusses Ego?
- The ego is the symbol of separation.
- The ego is the part of the mind that believes your existence is defined by separation.
- It is the name given to that which perceives the illusionary realm we call reality.
- Ego is that which gives you a sense of individualism rather than a knowing of your indivisibleness with all that Is.
- It is the mind set that perceives evidence of separation and blinds us to the true reality of Atonement and Holiness.
- The ego is against communication (recreating unity in body, mind and Spirit).
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What is the definition of Will?
- The controlling, directing, executive faculty of consciousness.
- As the CEO of an organization,will calls the person to action.
- Personal will gives orders based upon personal interest.
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What are the three experiences of Love?
- Feeling: based upon a subjective, sensory assessment of a person, place or thing. "I love New York because of its exciting sights and sounds."
- Emotion: a desire to gain a better knowledge and understanding of another; developing an enhanced mutual respect, regard and appreciation; a desire to more fully share one's self authentically; creating a closer and closer sense of togetherness and increased intimacy.
- Condition: state of oneness; a knowing of one's indivisible state of communion with another, others or all.
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