Chapter 2. II. The Cause of the Separation
February 15, 2021
In this section we continue to learn more about the misuse of knowledge and how it contributed to the separation or fall of man.
To understand the separation we need to understand our creation story.
In our creation, God used the natural mechanism of projection “(verb): to extend forward or out.” (2:4) This ability to project self outward is a “fundamental attribute of God, which He also gave His Son.” (5:1) The idea is that God’s essence was willfully projected “out of Himself and toward the Sons whom He created.” This means that we are also in possession of His qualities. That we have been created and are perfect. There is no empty space in us that God forgot to fill with Himself. We are creative because He is. We cannot lose this ability because it is a fundamental component of what we are. In our creation we were in a “mental state of complete need-lack.” (4:2)
In this state we use projection appropriately and continue in the creative process as does God. We have been given freewill to project our fullness forward, creating in our likeness, projecting outward that which is the same as us and God, toward our own creations. “All loving creation is freely given.” (12:2)
We also need to understand the mechanics of the Fall or the Separation
Somehow, we accepted the idea that we could become something different from what God created, and therefore, hurl that forward into something. “Lucifer literally projected himself from Heaven.” (3:2) Presumably this was forward, or out from himself into the world. This is the inappropriate use of projection. This thought is likened to “the lies of the serpent, [and] they were called lies because they were not true.” (13:1)
There are assumptions we needed to make that to take the place of truth. To believe that we could be other than what God created, these assumptions became the “knowledge” that we relied on.
· “What God has created can be changed by your own mind.”
· “What is perfect can be rendered imperfect or wanting.”
· “You can distort the creations of God, including yourself.”
· “Since you can create yourself, the direction of your own creation is up to you.” (7-10)
All of these make up the belief that “you have the ability to usurp the power of God.” (16:1) This, Jesus tells us, is the basis of all fear.
The fall has been translated by Mary Baker Eddy (founder of Christian Science) to say “a deep sleep fell upon Adam. [and she emphasized] that nowhere is there any reference made to his waking up.” (14:1,2) Jesus reminds us that “the history of humanity in the world as you see it has not been characterized by any genuine or comprehensive reawakening or rebirth.” (15:1)
While Adam sleeps conditions are ripe for nightmares. This alludes to our experience in this world, likening it to a nightmare. This is because we have proverbially eaten of the tree of knowledge which just means that, like Titania, we have succumbed to the belief that we are no longer as we were created nor do we perceive properly.
Lastly, we need to understand the right use of knowledge.
Just because we are asleep it does follow logically our perceptive ability is not available. “It still remains within you to project as God projected His Own Spirit to you.” (15:3) We have a light, in the form of this Course, that is shining into the dream. It is essentially calling to us as Oberon called Titania, saying
“Be as thou wast wont to be; (Be as you used to be)
Be as thou wast wont to see.” (See as you used to see)
At first this light is just part of our dream but as we become more and more aware of the light and its message, the light “is correctly perceived as the release from the dream.” (17:3) The light, which is the truth, replaces nightmares with reality. This is Atonement. We understand “[our] own errors never really occurred.” (16:4) The Atonement, the correction of this error in belief, “release(s) [us] from the dream (that we usurped the power of God) which is no longer accorded reality.” (17:3)
Once we have been released by the light, Jesus tells us to, “Go and do thou likewise.” (17:4) We are now to shine the light of our understanding that we have no lack into the dreams of error of others so that they can also be released.
The Course is the light shining into our dream, telling us “the knowledge that illuminates rather than obscures is the knowledge which not only makes you free, but also shows you clearly that you are free.”
Suggested practice:
Today I will only to accept the light of truth that releases me from the dream of lies.