Letting Go of the A*$Holes - ACIM - Song of Prayer

• Processing Anger and Judgment: Soo Kim wondered if their strong judgments during mass were an opportunity for personal growth or just reinforced their ego in believing others are wrong. Jevon Perra suggested that writing a personal sermon in their phone during mass, which often served as a "wonderful affirmation" for themself, was a helpful way to cope. Jevon Perra also stated that the corrections they had for the priest always applied to themself, revealing their own hidden judgment.
• Attending Mass Due to Family Obligations: Soo Kim explained that they attended the Catholic mass because of their parents, despite the emotional cost. When their parents offered money for the collection basket, Soo Kim ignored them to avoid confrontation, having previously told them they would not participate. Soo Kim’s mother appreciated their attendance, viewing it as a success for her own "fantasy life".
• Catholic Views on Salvation: Denise Darlene shared a story about a friend's father contemplating death and worrying about their son possibly going to purgatory for leaving the Church. Jevon Perra noted that purgatory is "gracious" because people can "earn their way out of that," in contrast to other Christian denominations. The conversation noted the mechanistic nature of Catholicism, where doing and saying the required things are more important than believing or meaning them.
• Definition of Prayer in A Course in Miracles: The group began reading from *A Course in Miracles*, defining prayer as a continuous state of being, not just words or actions. Prayer in its asking form stems from a sense of scarcity and lack, which involves feelings of weakness and inadequacy. The text suggests that without guilt, there is no scarcity, and "the sinless have no needs".
• Overcoming Judgment in Religious Settings: Soo Kim described how attending mass forces them to constantly filter out what they do not believe, making it difficult to maintain a peaceful state. Jevon Perra countered that they handle similar situations by remembering that their job is not to save people but to forgive, which means letting go of judgment. Jevon Perra concluded that they can choose to meditate or tune out the parts that do not interest them.
• Reframing Experience as a Witness: Denise Darlene advised Soo Kim to adopt the role of a witness rather than a participant to avoid emotional investment. They suggested viewing the church service from a "technical standpoint," like watching a movie with fascination, acknowledging that everyone is innocent in their current level of belief and ignorance. Denise Darlene emphasized that a miracle is simply changing one’s perspective from fear to love.
• Identifying the Root of Anger: Soo Kim expressed that the church made them impure and instilled guilt by literally teaching them to strike their heart and state that their faults were their great offense. Jevon Perra noted that being upset with the priests for judging them means Soo Kim is simultaneously judging the priests with the same judgment. Denise Darlene added that anger reveals pre-existing guilt and shame within Soo Kim, who would otherwise not be bothered.
• Forgiveness as Letting Go: Jevon Perra affirmed that offenders are a "gift" because they reveal personal judgments. They shared that letting go of the offense and the judgment is what forgiveness entails. Jevon Perra concluded that the negative experiences only remain real if one holds on to the offense, and that peace comes from letting go of judgments about how the world or people should be.
• The Choice of Perspective: Denise Darlene noted that anger arises from feeling powerless, and that awareness of the anger allows one to choose a different response. They reiterated that no one, including the priests, can act differently than they are doing right now because they do not have the same level of knowledge or awareness.
• Patterns, Conditions, and Awareness: Denise Darlene explained that individuals operate based on patterns and conditions established by what they have been taught and what is expected of them, such as going to church with their mother on Easter. They stressed that people cannot improve until they become aware of these conditions and are shown something different, suggesting the listener could be a catalyst for change. They noted that remaining angry limits one's experience on Earth, and encouraged the listener to choose differently without judgment, as judgment creates stagnation.
• Healing, Forgiveness, and Helping Others: Denise Darlene stated that the listener's experiences, including those from childhood, could serve a purpose, allowing them to help others once they heal, forgive, and understand how to navigate life. They emphasized that until a person moves past anger and finds clarity, they cannot effectively assist others. Jevon Perra affirmed these points, stating they receive this message.

The Role of Innocence and Grace: Denise Darlene concluded the discussion by linking the ability to see others' innocence to one's ability to see their own innocence. They explained that understanding oneself as a child navigating a large and often incomprehensible world is key, and that true understanding is often shown through grace, not through personal intellect. They encouraged extending grace to both oneself and others.