My salvation comes from me and only from me. ~ A Course in Miracles
I grew up in the Roman Catholic Church. Back in those days we were taught we could find salvation only through faithfully following Rome’s rigid rules and regulations. And if you screwed up (that is, “sinned”) your only hope of salvation was being forgiven by a priest in the confessional.
You were not worthy to approach God directly for forgiveness — or for anything else. There was a part of the Catholic Mass service, just before the communion, where we always said “Lord, I am not worthy to receive you, but only say the word and I shall be healed.”
No wonder so many of us grew up with a lack of self-worth. After many years, I finally rid myself of that craziness. But I still see it in many adults — and not just those who belong to rigid religions.
That quotation above, “My salvation comes from me and only me,” is from Lesson 70 of A Course in Miracles.
Here’s a brief summary of that lesson:
- You see neither salvation nor guilt as being in your own mind, but that’s where they live.
- When you realize your mind has invented guilt, you know guilt and salvation must be in the same place.
- You’ve done nothing wrong, but the ego keeps you trapped in guilt.
- Don’t believe guilt, don’t believe you are your body, don’t believe your thoughts of fear or pain.
- The earth appears to be a place of loss. Death seems to be the greatest loss. But neither is real. There is no death.
- The body can give you pleasure or pain. Both only make the body and the ego seem real.
- You believe your thoughts have no influence or effect because you’re afraid of your thoughts.
- There are no idle thoughts. All thinking materializes at some level.
- Your belief in the problem is the problem.
- Embrace the victim and the victimizer. You are all one and the same.
- You do not believe you are children of God. But it’s impossible to be separated from him. You are one with God.
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Copyright © 2015 by John Cali
If you know someone who could benefit from this post, please forward it to them with a personal note.
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This video, titled Self Reliance, is a Buddhist song with beautiful music and images.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RMBq_vwMzvs
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Related posts:
The Prayer of God
God Is In Everything I See
The Light of God
When Was the Last Time You Saw God?
How Do You Express the Light of God?
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Have these concepts from A Course in Miracles shifted your perspective of who you really are? Please share your thoughts and comments with us below.
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What other subjects would you like us to talk about in these posts? Please email me.
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About John Cali
Writer and publisher John Cali talks to ghosts and dead people. He writes about these adventures at his blog and website, and in his upcoming book, Conversations with Spirit: Real Answers To Life’s Pesky Questions, Book 1.
He’s written 10 books, and numerous articles on aviation, the environment, business, real estate, and legal education for various publications, including The American Bar Association Journal, Aircraft Interiors, and National Neighborhood News.
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Cathy Houston
Hi John! Oh growing up Catholic! I sure have thought a lot about guilt and where I fit into this life. Your reminder that we are “That”- feels so good. It is so interesting that so many of us put so much into to our divided little computer minds that we totally forget who we are! It seems like our mechanical computers,like our physical computer(our brains) will keep us in a “virtual reality ” if we buy into all those positive and negative attachments that we think are going to get us to where we need to go.
Pretty interesting stuff! We just need to keep remembering who we really are. Thank you John for that reminder AGAIN!!
John Cali
Hi Cathy,
It always strikes a chord in folks when I talk about growing up Catholic. As you said, we put so much into our minds (or had it put there by the powers that be) that we forgot who we are. In my opinion, we weren’t taught about the real message of Jesus or the foundation of any true religion — love. I think it was Archbishop Tutu who said Christ wasn’t a Christian.
Thanks very much, Cathy, for sharing!
Christine
Hi John,
I wonder if this would apply to “Mercy,” also? Mercy from being punished? I was also raised catholic..Thank for this post!! Love, Christine
John Cali
Hi Christine,
Thanks for your question. I’m not sure exactly what you’re asking — could you expand a bit on the question?
Love,
John
Christine
Well, like salvation based on religious beliefs, would that mean the same for mercy, since it seems to be the opposite of punishment which was made up by man? I guess your post raised a question in me (as you always raise more questions within me haha!)if we are creators and co-creators in a world of energy and universal law, then what is the definition of MERCY? I completely understand what salvation means by what you have posted here and know that is truth.. 🙂
John Cali
Okay, thanks, Christine. Glad we always raise more questions in you. We do in me too. 🙂
I’ll give you my personal response to your question, not necessarily what my spirit guides would say.
I never thought of mercy in a religious, or even spiritual, context. To me it’s pretty much the same as compassion. Or, as Dr. Albert Schweitzer put it, reverence for all life. If we truly believe God is all that is, and we are all one, then we must revere all life.
Hope that helps.
Christine
Thanks John!
John Cali
You’re most welcome, Christine!
Ron B.
As I see it there is fundamentally nothing to be forgiven.
Actors strutting upon a stage as Wild Bill Shakespeare once said, well, paraphrased anyways.
All is very well indeed.
John Cali
Thanks, Ron.
As I see it, the only thing to be “forgiven” is that we’ve forgotten we are God.
All surely is well!
Karen Lee Samson
Dear John,
The truth, love, hope, and salvation each person seeks comes from within their own essence or self as your lovely article stated. As always your words touch the soul and our oneness with God. We need not go through any other source but our heart and soul to talk to God, as for help, love, or forgiveness…..we are all spirits having a human earthly experience.
Thank you for sharing such profound words of wisdom for all as a gentle reminder to always look within ourselves and ask God, he does reply in many ways.
Love,
Karen
John Cali
Hi Karen,
Thanks very much! I can’t take much credit for the article, as the ideas come from A Course in Miracles.
As you say, the only path to God is through our own hearts and souls. God does indeed reply every time we ask.
Love,
John
Conshana
Greetings, Brother John
This posting is so true. Yet, as you noted, even many adults and religious teachers, members of the sacerdotal fraternity, will reject most if not all of these points as being satanic. And in that fraternity, it’s all about CONTROL, of Body, Mind and Spirit.
Yet again, how senseless can that be? Your death is NOT my salvation, nor is my death yours. But to listen to some evangelists, one would think THEIR salvation depends on how many come forward at altar call~!
I have recently started an essay, “Ride The Thunder”. The main thrust of the idea is that religion is fine, to the point it butts up against the Altar of Spirituality. Then, the individual either cowers in fear, or leaps to the UNKNOWN. But religion will not advance into Spirituality. At least, not in any I have ever read about, studied, or been a member of~!
Blessings, My Friend,
I AM Conshana
John Cali
Thanks very much, Conshana! Greetings to you too.
Having spent many years as a Roman Catholic, I agree with your assessment of religious leaders. But it’s heartening today to see some of them waking up spiritually, just as many of the rest of us are.
I used to have a hard time with mainstream religion, especially just after I left the Catholic Church. But now I realize everyone needs to follow their own path. As my spirit guides often say, all paths lead home.
I wish you all the best with “Ride the Thunder.”
Many Blessings, Conshana,
John