Projection makes perception, the witness to your state of mind, the outside picture of an inward condition. As consistently as possible, we need to see another's interests as our own, exchanging the judgments that differentiate for the 'vision' that unites us in the spirit of shared purpose. Our principal means of adjustment to a guilt driven world is the special relationship where we seek to assuage our loneliness by joining with other bodies. This ego ploy reinforces our sense of separation for ' minds are joined, bodies are not .' [Link] (ACIM Text-18. VI. 3:1)

"...T-17.IV.4. In a sense, the special relationship was the ego's answer to the creation of the Holy Spirit, Who was God's Answer to the separation. 2 For although the ego did not understand what had been created, it was aware of threat. 3 The whole defense system the ego evolved to protect the separation from the Holy Spirit was in response to the gift with which God blessed it, and by His blessing enabled it to be healed. 4 This blessing holds within itself the truth about everything. 5 And the truth is that the Holy Spirit is in close relationship with you, because in Him is your relationship with God restored to you. 6 The relationship with Him has never been broken, because the Holy Spirit has not been separate from anyone since the separation. 7 And through Him have all your holy relationships been carefully preserved, to serve God's purpose for you... " -ACIM Chapter 17 – IV. 'The Two Pictures' [Link]
.

Since the body is all we know for our minds are blinded by the ego, we have no recourse but to salvage some measly crumbs of existence that barely sustain our perceived frail and fragile selves.

It is not true that despite perception's lies, the world and mind are equal. They are not. The mind is the cause of the world, which is its effect, like a puppet that sees and hears what has been decided for it to see and hear. What else but the mind could need healing when there is no world outside its separated and separating source? Healing the separation in the mind is accepting the Atonement that shows there is no separation between minds and our Creator through forgiveness.

To say that perception is a choice and not a fact is another way of saying perception is interpretive. What we see we wish to see, based on the self-concept we choose to uphold. Simply stated, all perception comes from the mind's decision for the ego or the Holy Spirit.

We are free to believe what we choose, but belief cannot make the unreal real or the real unreal. We can be as insane as we wish, believing in our worthlessness and victimized innocence (or omnipotence), but this has no effect on our reality as Christ.

The mind is the cause of the world

Isn't that simply the inversion of the materialists' view, which is that the world causes mind?

I liked ACIM, but it's been over 20 years since I studied it. Now, reading the passages quoted leaves me wanting - weak sauce for me. Not that it's wrong, per se, just incomplete. I think it was likely inspired writing, but with a purpose to re-introduce mystical Christianity which has been suppressed by the Church (the emergence of mystical Christianity may even the casus belli for the Church). Gotta start somewhere, of course.

The mind 'makes' the body, or breaks it.

SK🙃

It's over by Russell Brand [Link]

I hope the "Spiritual War" comes to an end soon. Spiritual Wars are so draining for everybody and frankly I don't think anybody ever wins spiritually in a war.

This whole discussion(great comments here ) reminded me of the song '21 Guns' by Green Day: [Link]

Do you know what's worth fighting for

When it's not worth dying for?

Does it take your breath away

And you feel yourself suffocating?

Does the pain weigh out the pride?

And you look for a place to hide?

Did someone break your heart inside?

You're in ruins

One, twenty one guns

Lay down your arms

Give up the fight

One, twenty one guns

Throw up your arms into the sky,

You and I

When you're at the end of the road

And you lost all sense of control

And your thoughts have taken their toll

When your mind breaks the spirit of your soul

Your faith walks on broken glass

And the hangover doesn't pass

Nothing's ever built to last

You're in ruins

One, twenty one guns

Lay down your arms

Give up the fight

One, twenty one guns

Throw up your arms into the sky,

You and I

Did you try to live on your own

When you burned down the house and home?

Did you stand too close to the fire?

Like a liar looking for forgiveness from a stone

When it's time to live and let die

And you can't get another try

Something inside this heart has died

You're in ruins

One, twenty one guns

Lay down your arms

Give up the fight

One, twenty one guns

Throw up your arms into the sky,

One, twenty one guns

Lay down your arms

Give up the fight

One, twenty one guns

Throw up your arms into the sky,

You and I