Appearance versus Reality [AUDIOSTR]

Kenneth Wapnick, Ph.D.

Plato can be said to be the first philosopher to have explored the relationship between appearance and reality, what A Course in Miracles calls illusion and truth. In our everyday lives, this contrast takes the form of distinguishing between the ego’s illusion of attack and defense, and Jesus’ truth of our expressing love or calling for it. Thus in this class, the Course’s metaphysical foundation—appearance versus reality—is the backdrop for the discussion of forgiveness as the means of undoing the ego’s thought system of specialness by our learning to correct the ego’s misperceptions.

Forgive, and you will see this differently. These are the words the Holy Spirit speaks … which end the dream of sin, and rid the mind of fear. These are the words by which salvation comes to all the world.