Creating Sons of God
In my recent post we established that the original “instant” where the separation occurred was a very long time ago, “an instant so ancient that it is beyond all memory, and past even the possibility of remembering.” That would have to be beyond the age of the universe which has a built-in memory of 13.8 billion years since its beginning. “Yet because it is an instant that is relived again and again and still again, it seems to be now.” M-2.3
Many students maintain that the separation was over in that ancient time and nothing is happening now for we are not even here. This text is often cited:
“We but undertake a journey that is over. Yet it seems to have a future still unknown to us…. For we but see the journey from the point at which it ended, looking back on it, imagining we make it once again; reviewing mentally what has gone by.” W-pI.158.3-4
This idea that the mad event passed long ago gives way to two strange interpretations that never made any sense to me, for if the event is passed then why are we experiencing it now?
Here are the two explanations:
[1] We are reviewing the event like people watching a movie, but just became so involved we think we are really in the movie. In this interpretation there is complete predestination. Every word you speak and action you take has already been filmed and all you are doing is exactly repeating the script. This would mean you have no free will, for every little detail of your life has been decided.
[2] If that idea is not strange enough interpretation two is even stranger which is: The separation is indeed over and you are not even here and nothing is happening or has happened. To one not familiar with ACIM this sounds like crazy talk, but for many students the declaration of “I am not here and nothing is happening” is praiseworthy insider lingo.
Neither one of these interpretations ever made any sense to me. If this world is such a nightmare, as the Course says, and we have free will, then why would we choose to relive the dream as if it is real? If you were burned alive in a particular life, would you choose to make it real again? I don’t think so.
And as for the nothing is happening idea – whether this is a dream or not we are definitely undergoing an experience in time as the Course itself verifies: The separation is a system of thought real enough in time, though not in eternity. All beliefs are real to the believer. T-3.VII.3
Since neither of the two orthodox interpretations make sense to many, the question arises as to whether there could be another one that does make sense that has just been overlooked.
To this I give a positive “yes,” but before we solve the mystery the student must understand that, according to ACIM, when the separation first occurred that not all the Sons of God participated. In fact, some tried to prevent it.
The parable of the Prodigal Son, referenced in the Course, relates that there were two sons. In fact the earliest references to it called it “The Story of the Two Sons.” In this account one son went into the world, but the other stayed home with the Father.
It is interesting that an account received by Helen Schucman corresponds to this:
“The Atonement actually began long before the crucifixion. 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 did not suffice because the separated ones were not interested in peace.” UR T 2 B 43
Many souls, or sons, along with angels, tried to bring back the separated ones but were unable to and had to be “brought back.”.
Understanding that only part of the Sonship separated is essential to seeing the full picture of the separation in a way that makes sense.
So how does this piece of knowledge help us understand the teaching that the separation instant “is relived again and again and still again”?
The answer is fascinating indeed.
The Course indicates a number of times that the returning sons are in heaven to stay and “there will be no Call to return.” T-5.I.5
So, what do the returning sons do in heaven along with the sons who never left?
We are told this: “He (God) created you (the Son) as part of Him.” T-24.VI.1 and “You were created only to create” T-14.I.4
As a Son you are to “accept your rightful place as co-creator of the universe.” W-pI.152.8 for “all His extensions are like Him” (the Father). T-12.IV.6
The Course clearly tells us that the Son of God (us) will have sons just as the Father had Sons.
“Without your Father you will not know your fatherhood. The Kingdom of God includes all His Sons AND THEIR CHILDREN, who are as like the Sons as they are like the Father.” T-7.XI.7
There you have it. The Sons of God will have “children, who are as like the Sons as they are like the Father.”
This idea is reinforced here:
“His joy lay in creating you, and He extends His Fatherhood to you so that you can extend yourself AS HE DID. You do not understand this because you do not understand Him.” T-8.VI.6
It is certainly true that many students do not understand the Father and Son concept, but it is further clarified here:
“the Son gives Fatherhood to his Creator, and receives the gift that he has given Him. It is because he is God’s Son that HE MUST ALSO BE A FATHER, WHO CREATES AS GOD CREATED HIM. The circle of creation has no end.” T-28.II.1
It is pretty clear then that eternity consists of an endless and ongoing creation process that creates additional Sons of God.
The returned Sons have satisfied their curiosity and would have no desire for further illusions, but what about the newly birthed Sons who have never known the separation? Does it not make sense that some of them would be curious about an experience so different than what they have in heaven? Would they not share some of the same ideas their fathers once had?
And when the parent warns the child of the perils of making a world separate from heaven, is it not true that the child does not listen? Concerning us as prodigal sons it is written:
“What has been learned and understood and long ago passed by is looked upon as a new thought, a fresh idea, a different approach.” M-2.4
So, even though the original separation has been over and done we thought that we could use “a new thought, a fresh idea, a different approach,” and revive the original instant and make a much better world than did our parents.
Isn’t that typical of children? They always want to do things differently, but often wind up making the same mistakes as their parents.
It is interesting though that there was only one separation in one eternal instant, but because all instants in heaven are eternal, they can be revisited, and this is obviously what we did as created Sons.
We are now living in that instant, called the “unholy instant” by ACIM and have taken on a lot more pain than we planned. Now the call is to enter the holy instant and return to heaven.
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