A Course in Miracles Review

 

A Course in Miracles is a spiritual text that presents an alternate vision of reality. It focuses on forgiveness as the means of changing our perception and releasing ourselves from fear and the illusion that we live in an unreal world. Those who read the Course often experience dramatic changes in their lives and have reported healing of physical ailments, financial prosperity, and relationship renewal. Although the text uses Christian terminology, it is ecumenical in nature and makes no claim to being the only way. It is simply a restatement of the core wisdom of every major world religion and provides an opportunity for individuals to experience freedom from self-limited beliefs, thoughts and behaviors.

Helen Schucman, a clinical and research psychologist, received the material for A Course in Miracles through a process of inner dictation that she identified as coming from Jesus. She worked with a colleague, Dr. William Thetford, to transcribe her shorthand notes and produce the Course's text (a 669-page Text, a 466-page Workbook, and a 92-page Manual).

After the Course was published in 1976, it quickly gained an international following. Within a decade it was being studied in thousands of study circles throughout the United States and many other countries as a spiritual psychotherapy self-study course. The Course is a unique book, combining spiritual inspiration with a sophisticated understanding of thought systems and human motivations and defense mechanisms. Its poetic language has led some to compare its intellectually challenging thought system with some of the world's great literature.

The popularity of the Course has given rise to a large number of ancillary materials, which have helped to spread the Acim videos teachings of the Course more widely. This includes audiotapes of classes on attitudinal healing, workshops and retreats devoted to the study of the Course, as well as a wide variety of books written by people who have experienced transformation in their lives through the application of its principles.

This volume, edited by Robert Miller, is the first to gather together many of these different sources in a single work. In addition to an introduction and overview of the Course, it contains excerpts from ACIM's Manual for Teachers, a question-and-answer section that addresses the most frequent questions that arise from its study.

A Course in Miracles has become one of the fastest-growing spiritual movements of our time. Its emergence has been accelerated by the exploding interest in attitudinal healing and the bestselling works of Marianne Williamson, Iyanla Vanzant, and other authors. Its teachings are also gaining acceptance in mainstream churches, as demonstrated by the plethora of Christian authors who have attested to its positive effect on their lives. This book offers a substantive and illuminating overview of this movement, its key themes, and its impact on the world. A must-read for anyone interested in this extraordinary work. - Judith Levy, Ph.D., is a professor of psychology and the director of the Program in Transpersonal Studies at John F. Kennedy University in Virginia Beach, VA.