T-2 Section V – The Atonement as Defense

February 18, 2021

In this section, Atonement is categorized as a defense just as the other psychological defenses outlined in the previous section. Unlike those other defenses, the Atonement “cannot be used destructively” (1:1). Also unlike the other defenses, which were “generated by humanity,” (1:2), it was not made in this world. Atonement, like love itself, comes from outside this world.

Recall how I’ve said in previous commentaries that the term demonstrate (and cognates) are references to Jesus’ 1st century resurrection. Here, too, the term act is similarly referring to the resurrection (1:4). So just in this first paragraph we have the Atonement as a principle and an act. In paragraph 2, it is referred to as a plan. All the tricks and gimmicks of human-generated defenses “were not enough to save it” (2:2).

“It was therefore decided that you needed a defense which was so splendid that you could not misuse it, although you could refuse it. Your will could not turn it into a weapon of attack, which is the inherent characteristic of all other defenses. The Atonement thus became the only defense which was not a two-edged sword” (2:3-5).

Paragraph 3 is an intriguing piece of human history. For me it draws to mind some warring ancient civilizations: “Many souls offered their efforts on behalf of the separated ones. But they could not withstand the strength of the attack and had to be brought back. Angels came, too, but their protection was not enough…” (3:2-4).

It sounds like a story out of the book of Joshua. God’s chariots of “many souls” and angels descended into this bloody world of man-against-man, but they had to retreat. This is what has been going on since the separation. I could imagine hearing this in a Joseph Campbell interview discussing ancient human myth. We introduced “divisions, levels, cleavages, dispersion, and splits” of all kinds. Systems of caste, even in this country, are still witness to this truth. The Atonement was a “split-proof device which could be used only to heal, if it was used at all” (3:9).

So how does the plan of Atonement work? How does this job of returning us to Heaven get done? Through our actions and behaviors. Accepting and applying the Atonement is by “directing the creative force to learning, because changed behavior has become mandatory” (4:7). Our prayers and practice are not enough. We need to be directed behaviorally in our plans, situations, and relationships.

The Course also has practical explanations for understanding the progress of humanity. We move forward one step at a time: [You] “proceed from one degree to the next…You correct your previous missteps by stepping forward” (6:1-2). Simple enough, no sense in making it more complicated.

We have a new dimension of Atonement in paragraph six. It is a principle (love), an act (resurrection), a plan, and now a device for releasing the past (6:4). It also saves time, and is like the miracle in this respect, which we know can be used to control time (T-1.48.1:1). In Miracle Principle 24 we were told that the Atonement was also a process – a process of forgiveness.

A picture forms: miracles are expressions of love (the principle). The expressions are acts, they demonstrate love, like the resurrection did. The miracles extend forgiveness (the process) and thus moves us forward (device) for healing the past and controlling time. It is both a plan with phases (7:4) and degrees (6:1), as well as a destination (7:4). In its entirety it is quite magnificent.

Yet there is one thing more, it is a defense. “A two-way defense is inherently weak; precisely because it has two edges it can turn against the self very unexpectedly” (8:8). The Atonement cannot do this, it “cannot attack” (8:4). Unlike withdrawal, dissociation, detachment, distantiation, regression, flight, it only goes in one direction.

“The miracle turns the defense of Atonement to the protection of the inner self, which, as it becomes more and more secure, assumes its natural talent of protecting others. The inner self knows itself as both a brother and a Son.”

The Atonement is the ultimate denial of all error. It is a device of the mind for healing. We can experience its grace by meditating on its meaning.

This section is important for understanding the whole Course. This often difficult term – Atonement – is given flesh in this section. We see its many dimensions working for us and moving us forward. We know that the way our minds work – the way we wired them to work in the separation – is to use defenses. Not only can we turn those psychological defenses around and have them work in our favor, as we learned in the preceding section, but we can also adopt the Atonement as a defense.

I mentioned last week in class that Bill and Helen were both research psychologists. Bill and Helen were experts in the field of personality assessment. In an article published in Dec. 1968, (research that would have very likely been conducted around the time as this current dictation in 1965). Bill and Helen shared the results of their research on “Personality patterns in migraine and ulcerative colitis patients.” The article was still being cited as recently as 1996 by personality researchers and health scientists. Two researchers, citing the work of Drs. Thetford and Schucman, concluded:

“Personality reflects in part the individual’s psychological defense system, thus including a set of characteristics that are customarily employed to maintain psychic stability. In response to psychosocial stress, psychological coping techniques or defense mechanisms are activated… where such mechanisms are inadequate, a breakdown of human adaptation occurs… [arising in physical illness, like colitis]” (“Personality Characteristics in Psychosomatic Illness,” Lyketsos and Lyketsos, 1996).

This research into personality traits and illness – built on the findings of Helen and Bill – demonstrates the same principles of wellness and defense mechanisms as is being taught in the Course dictation. The researchers quoted above are discussing the healing of psychosomatic illness, whereas Jesus is discussing healing the separation from God (as well as illness). The Atonement applies to both situations (and all situations between). The Atonement is a defense mechanism, a “split-proof device which could be used only to heal” (3:9).

From the Course’s perspective, all illness is psychosomatic. When we misuse our defense mechanisms, when we bury our hurt into our body by not correcting our misperception (or by accepting the misperception of others), then we create illness.

Bill and Helen’s professional research led to similar findings. By measuring the hostile, internalized traits of personality, they found correlation with increased physical illness. “Manifestations of hostility” one research called it. Whether you frame the problem as Jesus does in the Course, or in the context of the scribes’ professional work, the answer is the same: defenses are being misused. We must first recognize this for healing to come about.

We can see Course concepts imbedded in the work Bill and Helen are doing in real life. We can take this as encouragement for healing our own physical illnesses. I realize that any illness in my body is psychosomatic, produced by the mind. Why would I withhold the healing balm of Atonement from my illnesses of mind and body? Of course, I would not withhold that; that is the point. These illnesses are the product of my own misuse of defenses. Our meditations on Atonement have the power to heal our minds, and thus our bodies if we take this message to heart.

Exercise:

Spend some time today with the concept of Atonement. Consider how it is a plan, process, device, defense, principle, and an act. See it working itself out in your own life, delivering grace and healing. Do not forget in your reflection to consider the world around you – the “differences, divisions, cleavages, dispersions and splits” that are healed in humanity when we use a defense that only goes one way – it heals, never attacks. What kind of world is created then?

Suggested practice:

The Atonement principle is love. It protects me from all harm. From me, it extends healing to all my brothers and all the world.

All quotations (except when otherwise noted) are from the Complete and Annotated Edition of ‘A Course in Miracles’