Described as the "esoteric bible that has gone mainstream," A Course in Miracles is a spiritual self-study curriculum with a wide following. It's a key influence on the so-called "spiritual but not religious" movement.
Its ecumenical approach blends Christian terminology with Eastern mysticism and perennial philosophy and modern psychological insights. Its chief theme is forgiveness.
The Text
Described by the New York Times as "an esoteric bible that has gone mainstream," A Course in Miracles is widely regarded as a major influence on those who say they are spiritual but not religious. This book, first published in 1976, is actually a self-study spiritual thought system that offers forgiveness as the way to inner peace and the remembrance of our truth.
It is taught that the truth is what all religions have in common -- the basic teachings of love, compassion and forgiveness. The Course says that it can't teach what is beyond love, but it does help remove the blocks to our awareness of it. It also teaches that forgiveness is the path to God.
A Course in Miracles consists of a three-volume set of channeled literature: the Text, the Workbook for Students and the Manual for Teachers. The workbook consists of 365 lessons, one for each day of the year. It is suggested that the student read a lesson each day and apply it to his or her own life experience. Often, it takes a while for the student to understand and accept a lesson. The student should always seek the guidance of his or her internal teacher.
The Course is claimed to have been written by a psychologist named Helen Schucman, who claims that the text was received through a process of inner dictation. She claims that the voice she heard was Jesus's. After her death, the Foundation for Inner Peace was established to hold the copyright.
Many people have been skeptical of the Course, and some have even considered it a form of deception. However, the majority of those who have studied it say it is a revelation from God and has changed their lives forever. The Book of A Course in Miracles is a must-read for anyone interested in exploring the spiritual world. Its messages are profound and thought-provoking, addressing such issues as the ego-self, the holy relationship and living in an illusory world. Miller's book is a thorough and comprehensive study of ACIM, including an evaluation of the Course by various spiritual writers, assessments of its Christianity, and critiques of it by secular critics.
The Workbook
In the workbook, ACIM offers a series of spiritual exercises that are meant to help students remove their blocks to love and experience peace. These exercises take the form of daily readings, forgiveness practices, and meditations. These are designed to help the student learn how to recognize and dispel fear, guilt and attack, and to see that they are part of a larger universal mind and have a natural inheritance of peace.
While the text of the course can be read by anyone, the workbook is primarily written to those who are already students of the course. The workbook contains a one-year mind training program that is intended to help the student move from their ego-based thought system of fear, time and space, and duality to the thought system of love, forgiveness, and inner peace.
It is important to remember that although the course uses Christian terminology, it is not a religious teaching and is in fact quite the opposite of Christianity as it is commonly practiced. It does not have an established church, no priesthood, and no hierarchy. It simply provides a path to the awareness of love that is naturally present within all people.
When the Course was first published in 1976, it immediately became a phenomenon. It has sold more than three million copies, without any paid advertising, and has become a modern spiritual classic. It is read by men and women of every faith and all walks of life. It is a combination of spiritual AND psychological teachings and is therefore very appealing to many of those who consider themselves to be “spiritual but not religious.”
The author of the Course, Helen Schucman, had an early background in New Thought metaphysics and the occult, but she would not allow this to be known until after her death. She had a firm belief that the work was not hers, but rather a gift from God. The course was scribed through a process of inner dictation beginning in 1965, and was completed seven years later. It is credited to “the voice” that dictated it, which is identified as Jesus.
The Manual
Although the Course is not a religion, it has gained a following among those who are considered spiritual but not religious. It is a self-study curriculum that consists of three books: The Text, which lays out the principles which make up its thought system; The Workbook for Students, which emphasizes experience rather than belief in its theology; and The Manual for Teachers, which provides answers to questions that may arise.
While anyone at all can benefit from ACIM, it is written on a very high intellectual level and contains sophisticated metaphysical, theological and psychological concepts. As such, a person without an intellectual background might find the Workbook and the Text to be overwhelming. However, the idea behind the teachings is that they should be understood over time, so that they can become easier to grasp.
The course states that it was scribed by Helen Schucman between 1965 and 1972 through a process of inner dictation. She was a research psychologist and had no religious background, but claimed that the voice in her head identified itself as Jesus. After her death in 1981, the Foundation for A Course in Miracles was founded to hold the copyright.
A number of people have attempted to explain the teachings, and some have made claims that it is a form of Eastern advaita or nondualism. Ken Wapnick, the author of Understanding A Course in Miracles, has stated that there is no need to interpret the teachings in terms of any specific faith or religious tradition. However, it should be noted that the course is heavily influenced by Christian thought and language.
The text teaches that the teacher has "pupils" and the healer has "patients." These terms are somewhat different from those used in Western medicine, though they are not entirely dissimilar. The healer is expected to provide verbal teaching and healing to his patients, which should reflect the principles of the Course (Manual, p. 3; M-1.4:1). The teacher is instructed to give his pupils a "living demonstration of forgiveness" by referring them to the Bible and other spiritual texts, as well as offering them practical applications of its principles in their lives.
The Teachings
A Course in Miracles is an influential work that has influenced a broad cross section of spiritual seekers, ranging from secular New Age believers to Christian fundamentalists. Its curriculum emphasizes forgiveness as the means of healing and liberation from the illusion that we are separate entities living in an illusory world. It is a system of learning that is both profound and challenging. Unlike many other spiritual teachings, ACIM does not claim to be the only way to God. Its curriculum is intended to be self-study, although most students join a study group or one of the few churches inspired by ACIM.
The curriculum is divided into three books: the Text lays out the ideas that form its thought system, the Workbook for Students contains 365 daily lessons, and the Manual offers answers to questions about how to practice the teachings. Its purpose is not to teach any particular religion, although it uses Christian terminology and evokes themes familiar to western culture. The curriculum stresses the importance of experience over belief in a theology, and it makes clear that other paths also lead to God.
While the Course uses Western symbols, it is actually a nondual spiritual thought system, blending elements of Eastern metaphysics and human potential psychology with Christian teachings. It is a masterpiece of spiritual strategy, and it is carefully designed to appeal to the pride of the individual, while indoctrinating them against the Christian faith and into New Age occultism.
As a result, ACIM has attracted a variety of critics. Some of these are based on theological concerns, such as the idea that it denigrates Christ and other religious figures. Others are concerned about the influence of esoteric occult beliefs, including channeling and lucid dreaming. Still others have simply found the philosophy difficult to understand.
Miller's book provides a concise and useful overview of the teachings, discussing such key topics as forgiveness as the only path to God, the illusory nature of the ego-self, and the holy relationship. He also discusses evaluations of ACIM by spiritual writers, assessments of its role in the SBNR (spiritual but not religious) movement, and critiques by secular authors. The book is highly recommended for anyone interested in ACIM.