Chapter 2.I The Real Meaning of Possession (Paragraphs 13 to 26)

February 12, 2021

Knowledge can also be misinterpreted as a means for possession. This is “the confusion of mind and brain.” (11:2) We see evidence of this in certain phrases such as “thirst for knowledge” (11:3) In the Bible “thirst” was used to convey a longing or desire to know God. When this desire for spirit is distorted it can show up as a desire for knowledge in the physical order. As with the first three distortions of the fear of the attraction to God this one results in errors of thinking. These can include the belief that we are only attractive because of our knowledge, that knowledge makes us invulnerable, or the sad thought that only knowledge makes us worthy.

Each of the four fallacies we have looked at cause us to fear our negative use of possession. Therefore, we have developed pseudo-corrections like denial.  Pseudo-corrections or pseudo-solutions are really pretend versions of something that is real. One example Jesus uses is of a person fearing the negative aspect of knowledge as a means of possessing another stating that she cannot read. This impairs the power or efficiency of the person but produces depression due to this weakening of the true state.

In type 1 the pseudo-correction is impotence, in type 2 it shows up in bankruptcy. Each of these is a sort of built-in safety mechanism that is introduced to keep the distortion of the attraction to God from harming others. Jesus has told us that this is the same mechanism in play when Helen forgot or mixed-up people’s names as a way to protect them from her hate.

We can see that this kind of thought distortion and pseudo-solution for the distortion’s effects are the makings for mental illness. Jesus tells us that denial of the power of these solutions cause depression and then the pseudo -solution to this depression is to tell ourselves that we are not of God.

“A child of God is efficient.

I am not efficient.

Therefore I am not a child of God.” (16:3-5)

This is a reversal of logic in that we should be using it to tell ourselves we are a child of God. “A child of God is efficient. I am efficient. Therefore I am a child of God.” The inefficiency was taken on erroneously in order to keep our fallacy from harming others. Our real state is one of efficiency and that should tell us we are a child of God. This mixed-up protection thinking only “leads to neurotic resignation,” (16:6) which just increases depression. In type 2 the pseudo-solution can lead to compulsive behaviours like compulsive gambling and or shopping with a possible added compulsive giving or throwing away of things.

The pseudo-correction for type 3, the means of “spirit” for possession can lead to paranoia in cases where the dominant characteristic is the wish to possess. This is because possessing others is a form of attacking others and therefore a safety mechanism would be to develop some way of controlling “spirit,” as the footnote suggests, through the use of witchcraft or magic. If the dominant characteristic is the wish to be possessed the safety mechanism would be to deal with this perceived psychic attack by becoming catatonic.

As we can see, these 4 types of distortion of the fear of the irresistible attraction for God lead to mental illness. Types 1,2 and 4 are of the more common neurotic kind while type 3 can lead to psychotic problems.

While understanding the mechanisms behind our “mental illness” is helpful they “have no effect at all on the miracle.” (21:1) The only thing that miracles concern themselves with is to “distinguish between truth on the one hand and all kinds of error on the other.” (21:3) This means that all of our distortions of this pull to God and their resulting mental illness can be placed in the other hand, the one with all kinds of error. They are all the same problem, the problem of level confusion, and can be dispelled with equal ease.

The only thing we need to know is that “the correction for all types of the possession fallacy is to redefine possession correctly.” (24:1) When we understand that it is our perversion of the attraction to God to the wrong level, that is, physical, mental, intellectual, it is another case of level confusion. “No one can be ‘taken over’ unless he wills to be.” (24:3) We do, however, have the free will to place our minds under the influence of “tyranny rather than true authority” (24:4) who is God. This makes us think that our free will imprisons us. We have learned that the need is for us to correct our level confusion. If we try to control our fears with possession fallacies and pseudo-solutions, they will work but only when “external conditions are peaceful.” (25:2) But, because external conditions are maintained by the thoughts of more than ours, we are at the mercy of other’s thoughts, we have given them authority over us.

The real correction then is to place our minds with the true authority and understand we are “perfectly unaffected by all expressions of lack of love.” (26:1)

Exercise:

Try to spend some time today open to the awareness of your choice to place your mind in the hands of tyranny and consciously decide to choose God as the true authority on you.

Suggested Practice:

Today, help me choose inner peace so I can remain unshaken by lack of love from without and capable, through my own miracles, of correcting the external conditions which proceed from lack of love in others.