A Course in Miracles Review
A Course in Miracles is a profound spiritual thought system that offers a radical new way of thinking about life. Its ultimate goal is to help you find happiness.
It uses Christian terminology but evokes universal, non-dual spiritual themes. It consists of three books: The Text lays out the concepts which make up its thought system; The Workbook teaches through daily lessons; and the Manual for Teachers provides answers to questions about its teachings.
The Text
A Course in Miracles, sometimes referred to as ACIM or the Course, is a self-study spiritual thought system that uses forgiveness as its central theme. It is not a religion, but rather a means for undoing the ego's beliefs in separation from God.
Scriptural teachings are presented in an accessible, nonjudgmental manner. It encourages the use of all spiritual paths and has no specific belief system. It uses Christian terms as symbols because they are familiar to western culture, but its underlying message is universal and nondual.
Although it has a very spiritual and philosophical basis, the Course is also very practical. Its daily Workbook lessons provide a step-by-step approach to applying its teachings in our lives. This series consists of 32 two-hour classes by Kenneth Wapnick on each chapter of the Text. Unlike other Acim courses that offer line-by-line exegesis, Journey through the Text is arranged symphonically by theme, with passages chosen to illustrate each major idea.
The Workbook
The workbook provides a daily practice to apply the teachings of ACIM to your life. Its 365 lessons do not require much time or long practice periods but it does demand that you question your current beliefs and open your mind to new possibilities.
The goal of the Course is to free your mind from fear and experience true love. The first step is forgiveness. Then you will experience the greatest miracle of all, a full awareness of God’s love in your own life.
The Course uses Christian terminology and ideas, but emphasizes that it is a universal spiritual thought system. It is not a religion, but it does teach that all paths lead to God in the end. Using ACIM’s mind healing principles, you can experience happiness based on the release of guilt and the recognition that everyone is truly your brother. Jim Stewart narrates the first three volumes of the workbook, and Brad Cahill narrates the fourth volume.
The Manual for Teachers
As every student of ACIM knows, the Course consists of three volumes: the Text, the Workbook for Students, and the Manual for Teachers. The first two are meant to be read and practiced, while the third is primarily for assisting the teacher of God in guiding his pupils.
Several sections of the Manual depict the teacher of God as essentially a healer of faith, or as I would say more specifically, a forgiveness healer (Manual, p. 113; M-2.2:1-3). These same sections also contain a teaching about healing that seems to incorporate Course principles (Manual, p. 55; M-21.4:1-2).
Another theme in these sections is the idea that a teacher of God will teach his pupils a new way of seeing and thinking, so that their fear will be replaced with trust. This is an important aspect of the teacher’s job that will be emphasized throughout the rest of the Manual for Teachers. These themes, and others like them, will be explored in this class.
The Teachings
A Course in Miracles is a spiritual teaching that calls for forgiveness as the path to peace. It teaches that the world you see is an illusion, and that reality exists only in God's mind. The Course's thought system is intellectually sophisticated, and it combines spiritual inspiration with deep psychological understanding of phenomena such as belief systems, defense mechanisms, and perception.
The Course was scribed by Helen Schucman, a Columbia University psychologist. It was received during a seven-year period of inner dictation that she credits to an inner voice she has come to know as Jesus. The Workbook contains 365 daily lessons that are designed to train the mind of the student to accept the teachings of the Text and Practice the principles of the Course.
The Course is not a religion. It uses Christian terminology, but it has no church, no formal establishment to rule and dictate and no priests or hierarchy of any kind.
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