Part Two in a series on A Course in Miracles

 by Dana Taylor

My intention in this series is to merely introduce ACIM to people who have only vaguely heard about it. I don’t consider myself an ACIM guru. While I have read and studied the course, I feel I have achieved only the most rudimentary understanding of the wisdom imparted. Yet, it has enriched my life and so, I am passing on something I consider to be a good thing.

Who wrote A Course in Miracles?

ACIM is “channeled” material. In other words, the person who physically wrote the book feels that she was a scribe for thoughts and ideas that came from a spiritual entity. Nowadays, there is a lot of channeled material floating around the Internet. Much of it is fascinating, but disjointed. Various personalities claim responsibility for the information they impart through a human translator. The most well known is probably Esther Hicks and her channeling the group called Abraham the Law of Attraction (Ask and It is Given) material in the past twenty years.

The preface written in 1977 to ACIM came from Helen Schucman as she briefly describes how the book came into existence. She and William Thetford were Professors of Medical Psychology at Columbia University’s College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York City. In her words

Psychologist, educator, conservative in theory and atheistic in belief, I was working in a prestigious and highly academic setting. And then something happened that triggered a chain of events I could never have predicted. The head of my department unexpectedly announced that he was tired of the angry and aggressive feelings our attitudes reflected, and concluded that “there must be another way.” As if on cue, I agreed to help him find it. Apparently, this Course is the other way….

Three startling months preceded the actual writing, during which time Bill suggested that I write down the highly symbolic dreams and descriptions of the strange images that were coming to me. Although I had grown more accustomed to the unexpected by that time, I was still surprised when I wrote, “This is a course in miracles.” That was my introduction to the Voice.

That began a seven year period of Helen Schucman taking down the words of The Voice in short hand and William Thetford typing them up. The material has been minimally edited and is mostly intact from the first transcriptions. There is no officially credited author. As the material unfolds, it appears to be dictated by the “Christ Mind.”

2015 marks the 50th anniversary of the Course. The Foundation for Inner Peace has been offering highlights about the original people involved with its conception. Here is a slide show of historical photos

Bill and Helen 1967

The vocabulary blends psychological terms, such as “ego,” with Biblical references to Christ, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, God, and sin. The goal is to impart inner peace.

For those of you still reading, I don’t recommend just jumping into ACIM. It may seem fairly incomprehensible at first glance. In the next blog, I’ll introduce a couple of ACIM pre-reading recommendations. If the thought of channeled material seems strange, the premise of The Disappearance of the Universe by Gary Renard will really raise your eyebrows. Until next time!

Part Three: How A Course in Miracles Changed Me

Blessings to all–

Dana

Part One: A Course in Miracles: What is it?

For more info about ACIM visit Foundation for Inner Peace

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 post by Dana Taylor

The time feels right to tackle the daunting task of blogging about A COURSE IN MIRACLES. To those well-versed in ACIM, I apologize now for any clumsy moments. The next few posts will merely serve as an appetizer for the spiritually hungry. To get full, you’ll have to swallow the full meal by purchasing your own copy of ACIM and take it one bite at a time.

Here you’ll simply get an idea of what the Course is and isn’t and decide for yourself if you want to investigate it further. Okay, here goes:

1. What is A Course in Miracles?

Simply put, it’s a book of channeled material, written in the 1970’s. From ACIM.org:

About the Scribes

Helen Schucman, Ph.D., was a clinical and research psychologist, who held the tenured position of Associate Professor of Medical Psychology at the College of Physicians and Surgeons at the Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center in New York City. A Course in Miracles was “scribed” by Dr. Schucman between 1965 and 1972 through a process of inner dictation. She experienced the process as one of a distinct and clear dictation from an inner voice, which earlier had identified itself to her as Jesus. Helen Schucman’s scribing of A Course in Miracles began with these words: “This is a course in miracles, please take notes.”

William Thetford, Ph.D., was a tenured Professor of Medical Psychology at Columbia University’s College of Physicians and Surgeons, and Director of the Psychology Department at the Presbyterian Hospital in New York City for whom Dr. Schucman worked. As her trusted friend and colleague also, Dr. Thetford assisted and supported Dr. Schucman throughout the Course’s scribing, including the events that led up to it. A vital participant, Dr. Thetford acted as transcriber throughout the entire process by typing the material from the scribed notes that Dr. Schucman had taken down and would dictate to him almost daily.

A Course in Miracles is not a new religion, although it is being incorporated into many people’s spiritual beliefs. There are many teachers, although the book itself can be studied independently. ACIM is divided into five parts: Preface, Text, Workbook for Students, Manual for Teachers, Clarification of Terms.

Think of it like a graduate course with Jesus Christ as the prof.

That’s right, the material is credited to Jesus Christ himself as the source. The terminology will feel familiar to those with Christian backgrounds. Phrases like “Holy Spirit,” “Atonement,” “Son of God,” are used liberally.

The message can be summed up in one word: Forgiveness.

Of course, your understanding of what forgiveness actually means will be challenged, expanded, and explored as you wade through the pages.

ACIM is not a quick, easy read. It’s not The Secret.

The Course is about changing how you look at the world and perceive “reality.” In fact, it totally challenges your concept of reality and might just obliterate it.

What began as a photo copied manuscript a few decades ago has now been translated into 22 languages by the The Foundation for Inner Peace. They foster study groups around the globe. Celebrating 50 years since the course was scribed, the Foundation for Inner Peace has been sharing moments with the original receivers of the information, Dr. Helen Schucman and Dr. William Thetford. Enjoy this moment when Bill shares the ACIM version of The Lord’s Prayer. CLICK HERE

ACIM is a philosophy. It can be a revelation, a game changer, a new way of living. It can be a path to the peace of God.

Next: The Voice Speaks

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   “A book not just to read, but experience” Tampa Bay Examiner

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