Chapter 2 Section IV – The Reinterpretation of Defenses

February 17, 2021

In this section we look at a number of defense mechanisms that Freud identified. Jesus acknowledges that these defense mechanisms are creative in that they “produce your perception, both of yourself and your surroundings.” (1:2) This means that, when we use them, they colour our understanding of reality.

He wants us to look at these mechanisms not just in their negative connotations as in compulsive, neurotic tendencies, but to see them in the same way he taught us to use denial in the last section. He says Freud “saw only how the mechanisms worked in the mentally ill… [and denied] the mechanism of the Atonement.” (1:5-6) In other words he denied that they could also be useful in the correction of the distortions that cause mental illness and therefore could be used to strengthen mental health.

We then go through a list of defense mechanisms that are familiar to those in fields having to do with psychology but many are also familiar to all of us. In this list we find the usual use of these mechanisms changed to more positive ones so that instead of promoting fragmenting or separation they are promoting wholeness and completion.

“Denial should be directed only to error, and projection should be limited to truth.” This is a complete turn around from our use of denial of our true nature as creations of God and our use of the natural process of projection to “hurl something you do not want, and regard as dangerous and frightening, to someone else.” (T-1.35.3:1)

As we go through the list, we find ways to use every one of the mechanisms to correct our distortions of the miracle and revelation impulses.

Thought experiment:

As you go through the list of defense mechanisms see which one stands out as your usual way of dealing with fear. Really look at what Jesus is teaching about using it for truth. See if you can use this mechanism today to go toward truth instead of error. For example maybe you have a habit of dissociating when you are confronted with something that is upsetting. You go off in your head and just float away from whatever is disturbing your peace. In this place your feelings are dull, not so raw, and you can pretend you are untouched by what is going on. But just the need to escape in this way is evidence that you feel the need to protect yourself.

Jesus wants us to learn to use this habit to instead “split off from the error (of thinking we could ever have changed God’s creation into something that is split from Him) but only in defense of integration (of the whole of creation).” (5:2) When we see that we are using our defense mechanisms to perpetuate the splitting off from creation, we have a way of thinking through them to use them to offer us a new perspective. This will likely not change the way we operate instantaneously but it will open our minds to using these defense mechanisms for correction of errors in our thinking.

Remember that “if you are afraid, you are valuing wrongly.” (T-2.III.3) In other words you are placing value or sense of reality in something that is not true. The peace of God is our reality; this is what we should value or treasure. Jesus wants us to use true denial as a “very powerful protective device (for the peace of God).” (T-2.III.2:4)

The big thing to remember in this section is that “the main point to be understood from these notes is that you can defend truth as well as error, and in fact much better.” (11:3) We want to learn to use our defenses to leave the desert (this world) and consolidate back into the one Mind. (4)

Jesus has spent a lot of time describing the goal of the new use of defenses because when we see value in the goal, which is the peace of God, we will be more inclined to employ the means he will be setting out throughout the Course in order to achieve the goal. When we learn to treasure this goal as our own, we will learn to defend it.

Suggested Practice:

Take a moment and ask yourself and ponder:

What is my treasure?

How much do I treasure it?

Help me to use all of my defense mechanisms in defense of my true treasure today.