A Course in Miracles teaches that special relationships can be transformed into holy relationships. This doesn’t mean that students should stay in a relationship with someone who is not a student of the Course.
But it does mean that they should understand how the ego’s definition of specialness is a threat to their own happiness.
What is a special relationship?
The term 'Special Relationship' first emerged publicly after Winston Churchill's 'Iron Curtain' speech in 1946, and it has since come to describe the supposedly unique and dominant alliance between the US and Britain. The phrase itself is socially constructed, meaning that it has been imbued with a significance based on shared language, values, history and experience (Dumbrell, 65:2009). As 'language imbues events with meaning' (Goddard & Krebs, 71:2018), the mutual uptake of the term has helped to shape a reality of dominance. un cours en miracles
However, it is important to recognise that the US-UK relationship is merely rhetorical and does not necessarily dictate the priority of other Transatlantic alliances. This is evidenced by the fact that the two powers have often prioritised other partnerships when circumstance and self-interest has necessitated it. For example, the UK-France defence agreement of 2010 attests to the fact that, at times, the 'Special Relationship' can be relegated to a secondary status in order to forge key institutionalised partnerships with other nations.
To illustrate the special relationship, consider a picture frame. This massive frame depicts all the things we hope to get from a special relationship, but it also holds a picture of death in the centre. The picture frame is designed to hide the truth of the special relationship, and this is why it is so imposing and deceptive.
The special relationship is the ego's primary weapon in its assault against God and His plan for peace. It is an incredible weapon because it allows the ego to substitute its version of love for the real thing. God created love, but the ego makes death. The ego wants to keep its version of love and life by hiding it behind an imposing and deceptive frame of the special relationship.
The special relationship is the ego's version of what it believes it needs in order to survive. It is an incredibly powerful tool because it convinces us to believe that what we need in order to be happy, healthy and safe is outside of ourselves, when in fact it is right here within us.
What is the purpose of a special relationship?
The term “special relationship” refers to a unique bond between the United States and the United Kingdom. This is particularly true in the governmental realms of foreign, defense, security and intelligence policy, but it also extends to non-governmental areas of public and private life. The Special Relationship emerged over time from the actions of politicians and ideas that went beyond formal politics. It has also evolved as a result of social and economic pressures.
The importance of this special relationship is underscored by the fact that the US and UK are the world’s two largest trading partners. The US-UK trade imbalance is largely the result of the vast differences in the size of each country’s economy. The ’Special Relationship’ is also reinforced by the fact that the UK depends heavily on the US for defense and intelligence services, and the U.S. is a major source of investment in the UK.
This special relationship can be seen as a form of identity that has become powerfully embedded in the political fabric of both nations. It has created a sense of superiority that gives the UK-US alliance a position of dominance over other relationships. The power of this identity can be seen in the way that the 'Special Relationship' is used to justify military and trade policies.
However, it is important to note that the 'Special Relationship' itself is only as powerful as the people who construct and promote it. The meaning and significance of this relationship is socially constructed, and it can therefore be challenged by those who oppose it.
Those who attack those involved in the ‘Special Relationship’ are missing the point. They are denying the perceptual reality of the ego-based world that they have constructed, and in doing so are preventing themselves from learning the lessons of forgiveness.
The fact that the 'Special Relationship' can be challenged by those who have different intentions and interests demonstrates its relative instability. This is also reflected in the fact that both America and the UK will often prioritise other relationships over the 'Special Relationship' when they see fit, as evidenced by the US-French defence agreement of 2010. As such, the 'Special Relationship' does not automatically dominate every aspect of Transatlantic relations, but rather plays a supplementary role.
What is the purpose of a holy relationship?
Students of A Course in Miracles are universally attracted to the idea of holy relationships, and the Course extols them as essential to its path. But what exactly are they? A holy relationship is a special relationship that has been joined to a truly shared purpose by the Holy Spirit. It can be in any form, and it need not involve a romantic partner. A holy relationship can be a teacher-student relationship, a peer relationship, a psychotherapist-patient relationship, a business partnership or any other kind of working relationship. The goal of a holy relationship is to help its partners realize their own holiness.
The way this happens varies from relationship to relationship. For some, like Helen and Bill, there may be a clear point at which they joined in their "better way." But for others, it will take more time, and it will probably involve periods of conflict and even loss. Ultimately, though, the Holy Spirit's involvement in the process will eventually bring it to fruition.
When the Holy Spirit becomes involved in a special relationship, it takes over the structure of the relationship and replaces it with a new goal. This can be uncomfortable for both partners, especially if they had originally entered into the relationship with their own goals in mind. The new goal, however, is more life-affirming and more spiritually beneficial than the old ones. It is at this point that some holy relationships break apart.
But in the end, a holy relationship will be the most fulfilling relationship a person can have. It will give him the experience of being joined to God, and of receiving love that has no conditions, restraints or guilt attached to it. It will be a relationship of peace, a relationship that seeks union and is lead ahead by the Holy Spirit rather than by the ego's need for separation and conflict.
The key to recognizing the holy relationship is remembering that it is the relationship between minds, not bodies. The body is temporary, but the mind is eternal. So when the Holy Spirit enters a special relationship, it is replacing a structure that was based on bodies with a structure that is based on the mind of God.
What is the purpose of a relationship with God?
For many people, a relationship with God seems like an impossible goal. They may believe that it requires a lifetime of devotion, a life of celibacy, and the abandonment of all worldly activities. However, A Course in Miracles teaches that you can have a close relationship with God by allowing him into your heart and mind. All that is required is a sincere desire to forgive and an open mind to the guidance of his Holy Spirit. As you open your mind to his Word, and practice the daily Workbook lessons, your relationship with God will grow stronger each day.
A major purpose of the special relationship is to teach you that love is a form, not a content. It is the ego’s way of enforcing a hierarchy that places form over content. You attempt to sacrifice the self you made for another self, and this inevitably involves a great deal of pain. Anxiety, fear, attack and guilt all enter into the equation.
The ego also fosters the belief that you are not complete without the other. This inevitably leads to feelings of scarcity and fear. The ego is an incredible weapon for attacking the mind and teaching you that you cannot have what you want.
This is the premise behind a great deal of the Course. It is a spiritual text written in poetic language, and its thought system has been compared to the best of world literature. However, the Course is also a very practical book. The daily lessons provide a step-by-step approach that anyone can follow.
As you work through the Course, your understanding of forgiveness will grow deeper. You will begin to realize that the underlying principle of all relationships is the same. You can either choose to see them as relationships that offer you a chance to learn how to give and receive love, or you can view them as an obstacle to your peace. Ultimately, a relationship with God is the only path to true happiness. So make a choice to see it as such, and you will find that happiness is within your reach.