Series 1 - Lesson 6 - Annotation 8
Explain where the Adversary gets its power.
8. The "Adversary" derives its seeming power from man. Through a belief in a power opposed to God, man has in ignorance given power to the Evil One by incorporating thoughts of fear, hate, envy, injustice, and lack in his subconscious phase of mind or feeling nature. These have formed specters that appear to him to have power to harm and destroy. Working in an ignorant, selfish way instead of a universal way, man defeats the very freedom and mastery for which he strives.
"Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion" (Gen. 1:26).
"Thou hast made him but little lower than God, and hast crownest him with glory and honor. Thou makest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; Thou hast put all things under his feet ... Whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas" (Psalms 8:5,6,8). "The paths of the seas" represent the thought currents in the ocean of mind. In reality, man has power and authority not only over manifested creation but also over the thoughts, beliefs, and images that pass through the paths of his mind. Every thought, belief, and word of man has mental power within it to produce according to its kind. Through mind action man also has the capacity to sustain all thoughts, beliefs, and concepts, whether they are good or whether they are contrary to God's standard of Absolute Good.
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Preceding Entry: What is the meaning of "the Devil"? What other names are given to him? Is there a personal devil?
Following Entry: How may one overcome adverse states of consciousness called "the Devil," "the Adversary," or the Accuser?
