1. Is it not true you do not recognize some of the forms attack can take? 2If it is true attack in any form will hurt you, and will do so just as much as in another form that you do recognize, then it must follow that you do not always recognize the source of pain. 3Attack in any form is equally destructive. 4Its purpose does not change. 5Its sole intent is murder, and what form of murder serves to cover the massive guilt and frantic fear of punishment the murderer must feel? 6He may deny he is a murderer and justify his savagery with smiles as he attacks. 7Yet he will suffer, and will look on his intent in nightmares where the smiles are gone, and where the purpose rises to meet his horrified awareness and pursue him still. 8For no one thinks of murder and escapes the guilt the thought entails. 9If the intent is death, what matter the form it takes?
2. Is death in any form, however lovely and charitable it may seem to be, a blessing and a sign the Voice for God speaks through you to your brother? 2The wrapping does not make the gift you give. 3An empty box, however beautiful and gently given, still contains nothing. 4And neither the receiver nor the giver is long deceived. 5Withhold forgiveness from your brother and you attack him. 6You give him nothing, and receive of him but what you gave.
3. Salvation is no compromise of any kind. 2To compromise is to accept but part of what you want; to take a little and give up the rest. 3Salvation gives up nothing. 4It is complete for everyone. 5Let the idea of compromise but enter, and the awareness of salvation’s purpose is lost because it is not recognized. 6It is denied where compromise has been accepted, for compromise is the belief salvation is impossible. 7It would maintain you can attack a little, love a little, and know the difference. 8Thus it would teach a little of the same can still be different, and yet the same remain intact, as one. 9Does this make sense? 10Can it be understood?
4. This course is easy just because it makes no compromise. 2Yet it seems difficult to those who still believe that compromise is possible. 3They do not see that, if it is, salvation is attack. 4Yet it is certain the belief that salvation is impossible cannot uphold a quiet, calm assurance it has come. 5Forgiveness cannot be withheld a little. 6Nor is it possible to attack for this and love for that and understand forgiveness. 7Would you not want to recognize assault upon your peace in any form, if only thus does it become impossible that you lose sight of it? 8It can be kept shining before your vision, forever clear and never out of sight, if you defend it not.
5. Those who believe that peace can be defended, and that attack is justified on its behalf, cannot perceive it lies within them. 2How could they know? 3Could they accept forgiveness side by side with the belief that murder takes some forms by which their peace is saved? 4Would they be willing to accept the fact their savage purpose is directed against themselves? 5No one unites with enemies, nor is at one with them in purpose. 6And no one compromises with an enemy but hates him still, for what he kept from him.
6. Mistake not truce for peace, nor compromise for the escape from conflict. 2To be released from conflict means that it is over. 3The door is open; you have left the battleground. 4You have not lingered there in cowering hope that it will not return because the guns are stilled an instant, and the fear that haunts the place of death is not apparent. 5There is no safety in a battleground. 6You can look down on it in safety from above and not be touched. 7But from within it you can find no safety. 8Not one tree left still standing will shelter you. 9Not one illusion of protection stands against the faith in murder. 10Here stands the body, torn between the natural desire to communicate and the unnatural intent to murder and to die. 11Think you the form that murder takes can offer safety? 12Can guilt be absent from a battlefield?