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Second hardbound edition of A Course in Miracles, as published by Foundation for Inner Peace.A Course in Miracles (sometimes referred to as ACIM or simply The Course) is a self-study book of "spiritual psychotherapy" or spiritual transformation. The author of the book Dr. Helen Schucman, asserts that she "scribed" the book with the assistance of Dr. William Thetford under divine inspiration. According to its publisher, FIP, it was first published in 1975 and over the last 30 years over 1.5 million copies have sold worldwide in 15 different languages. [1] It is written in Christian terminology, but some of the teachings of The Course are inconsistent with commonly-accepted Christian beliefs (see below). Forgiveness is its central teaching. The great majority of the book is now in the public domain.[citation needed] 2 Doctrinal Highlights of ACIM 2.1 Unique Aspects of ACIM's Spiritual Belief System 4 Comparisons of ACIM to other spiritual belief systems 4.1 Comparison of ACIM and Christianity The book was published and distributed between 1995 and 2000 by Penguin Books, but this appears to have ended with the dispute over copyright. The 1975 asserted copyright was finally voided in 2003 on the grounds of general distribution prior to obtaining copyright, thus placing it in the public domain. The previously registered Trademark on the acronymn, "ACIM" was cancelled by the US Trademark Office on 10/25/2005 and the previously registered Servicemark on the book title, "A Course in Miracles" was canceled by the US Trademark Office on 8/10/2005.[citation needed] Over 1.5 million copies of ACIM are said to have have been distributed since its release. It is not associated with any one centralized church or body, but a groups and organizations have emerged that study ACIM or are centered on or significantly influenced by it. Those may meet in person or have an Internet presence. Some derivative works have been written, notably by the books by Marianne Williamson.[citation needed] Doctrinal Highlights of ACIM Unique Aspects of ACIM's Spiritual Belief System ACIM professes respect for various other spiritual methods and paths that may be used to reach the same goals it pursues. ACIM describes its main benefit as saving time toward the eventual remembering of the unity of the seemingly separated parts of Christ, and cites interpersonal relationships as its special mode for doing so. The theology of ACIM is decidedly Monistic in its orientation.[citation needed] One striking feature of the methodology laid out in ACIM is the great attention paid to the nature of the faulty belief system of the ego. ACIM goes to great length to evaluate the psychological underpinnings and dynamics that support this belief system, attempting to shift one.s focus away from seeming external causes to awareness of internal states, claiming that everything we see "outside" of us actually has an internal mental cause. Accordingly, our state of peace and happiness (or lack thereof) is not caused by the state of things around us, but by our mental reactions, evaluations and judgments about things. It then describes what must be accomplished in order for one to achieve release from, and afterwards to continue to avoid a return to this belief system. Such subjects as the root causes of anger, guilt, shame, projection, denial, and dishonesty are thoroughly addressed in ACIM, as well as the best methodologies that one can use to overcome such perceptual limitations. It also spends considerable time discussing the special relationships of the ego (special as in... "I don.t have what another person has" and so it.s OK not to love them or, conversely, "Another person doesn.t have what I have" and so again it.s OK not to love them), and the Holy Spirit's equivalent transformative equivalent to this, the holy relationship.[citation needed] In the Course's cosmology, God the Father and Christ the Son are united in a single purpose, for God is understood as creating perfectly like Himself, sharing his whole Self with Creation, eternally and changelessly. Heaven is said to be omnipresent, but this cannot be realized without letting go of all misperception and judgement. Such cannot do the Son justice, for, according to ACIM, to give is to receive, and who condemns another, seeing him as less than a Son of God Who creates only like Himself, is not spared the effect of the guilt. Who believes he can see another as capable of separating or distancing himself from God, must believe that he himself can likewise separate himself from God. Since sin and evil go against God, and going against God is impossible, the Course argues sin and evil must have never been possible. However, so long as we do not see that there are no orders or differences in sins or evils, we will will not look at our mistakes and ignorance, fearing they have separated us. If this were true, such mistakes would be unforgiveable, blameworthy, and not mere mistakes at all, but sins. Separation would render us as contradictions, according to the Course, for what goes against God is eternally at war and will never find peace. But, the Course emphasizes, contradictions are nothing at all, and none exist.[citation needed] According to ACIM, Atonement is realized in the instant we allow sin to be forgiven, for such a thought at last recognizes the true sinless nature of the Son, at last doing him justice, seeing him truly. Again, to give is to receive. Atonement is the means by which the entire "reality" of sin is undone, for we see that we had never anything to fear, and we are left only with what must be true.[citation needed] One point of note regarding ACIM standard phraseology is its nearly exclusive use of masculine pronouns. Nowhere in ACIM is the existence of gender treated as anything more than one of the many different temporary aspects of what ACIM refers to as 'The Separation'. On at least one occasion Schucman was known to have expressed some concern about this choice of pronoun phraseology within ACIM.[citation needed] The preface of ACIM advises that: "(ACIM) is not intended to become the basis for another cult. Its only purpose is to provide a way in which some people will be able to find their own Internal Teacher." The book states that religion is best when it is practiced at the internal, personal level, as an act directly between a person and God, or another person. Accordingly, no central organization or authority exists within ACIM that is fully analogous to the central authority structure found in most other spiritual belief systems. Neither does any system of formalized membership, or membership tracking exist amongst the majority of the students of ACIM. [citation needed] The teachings make no attempt to codify or structuralize any system of earthly spiritual authority. Instead the material stresses that true authority comes from within the individual who has come to see God truly. ACIM teaches that setting up a spiritual authority from one person over another is inherently unnatural, and temporary at best. ACIM's teachings state that: The teachings of ACIM also make it clear that anyone who would 'teach' ACIM must also be able to 'learn' from each person he or she meets, because teaching and learning are understood as synonymous.[2] This egalitarian type of teaching is found consistently throughout the material and appears to contrast sharply with most contemporary interpretations of the Christian Bible. Compared to most other young spiritual movements, the teachings of ACIM are relatively uncontroversial. ACIM material also advises that formality in religion is only useful if it has a clear, practical purpose. The truest type of church or formal institution for ACIM is more of an inner habit of reverence for the presence of God, seen in everyone, rather than any kind of sanctified external physical building or human organization. [citation needed] ACIM places no specific limits on the methods by which it may be learned or taught, emphasizing that all spiritual and non-spiritual paths alike must eventually lead to the same awakening. However, according to ACIM, some paths will take far longer than others, and the purpose of the Course is to minimize the time this takes. Accordingly, ACIM students are free to seek out whichever learning-teaching format works best for them. [citation needed] Currently, the majority of the students of ACIM appear to prefer to study ACIM in an informal setting, ranging from the individual ACIM student who may make no effort to contact any other students of ACIM, to the informal ACIM study group member, who may join a small local study group that may meet on a weekly basis.[citation needed] Regardless of the fact that, to date, these ACIM church-like organizations appear to attract only a minority of ACIM students, their impact on the larger body of ACIM students has often been disproportionate to their size. These organizations often serve as a means by which the students of ACIM might gather together with one another, where this wouldn't otherwise be practical.[citation needed] At least two organizations are known to present the teachings of ACIM in an environment that appears to be similar in some ways to a more traditional Christian church setting. These organizations provide traditional style gathering places for weekly Sunday morning services, a pastoral staff, ordained ministers, seminary training, and many of the other institutional systems and practices that are normally associated with more traditional Christian churches. These are the Community Miracles Center, situated in the Castro district of San Francisco, California, and the Pathways of Light Center in Kiel, Wisconsin. For more information regarding these organizations, please refer to the external links section below. Comparisons of ACIM to other spiritual belief systems Comparison of ACIM and Christianity For some, the teachings of ACIM are believed to clarify many of these types of apparent Biblical inconsistencies and shortcomings. Teachings regarding the exact mechanics of the spiritual principle of forgiveness are central to the ACIM teachings. Regarding forgiveness, ACIM goes into far greater detail, providing far more instruction regarding the logic of, the purpose for, and the practical application of this principle, than does the Christian Bible. Many students of ACIM who are (or have been) involved in traditional Christian churches, and who have faithfully studied ACIM for a significant length of time, report their sense that the teachings of ACIM on forgiveness have finally clarified for them, in very practical ways, how forgiveness can now be fully realized in their daily lives.[citation needed] The teachings of ACIM place little importance on theology, stating that "a universal theology is impossible, but a universal experience is not only possible but necessary." Still, a very definite, consistent, and unique theology can be derived from the teachings of ACIM. The theology of ACIM provides a radically different perspective regarding many common concepts.[citation needed] Because of ACIM's perspective on reality, separation, and forgiveness, ACIM does not accept sin, death, or sacrifice as being real. ACIM rejects the definition of sin as an evil act having unalterable consequences and necessarily deserving of punishment by God or by others. This is because under its cosmology sin exists only as an illusion or a mistake, and therefore the most logical response to it is to simply correct the mistake, rather than to give it more weight via punishment. ACIM defines mistakes as mental misconceptions having no real (eternal) consequences beyond the need for correction. Accordingly, all acts of others are to be interpreted either as expressions of love, or as calls for love, and nothing more. [citation needed] Death is both illusory and ultimately meaningless for ACIM, because of its position that only by salvation, and not by death, do separated minds cease to believe in the illusory world of separation and return to unity in the Sonship. Sacrifice is similarly impossible for ACIM because of the eternal wholeness of the Sonship. ACIM thus rejects the more traditional Christian belief that Jesus's crucifixion was meant as a sacrificial proxy in payment for the sins of mankind. Instead ACIM explains the crucifixion as a necessary part of the lesson of the resurrection. As such it is a part of an amazing demonstration of the invulnerability of the spirit and of love.[citation needed] The Holy Trinity of most Christian denominations is present in ACIM, but the definitions that ACIM uses for the Son, and for the Holy Spirit are somewhat different from most traditional Christian definitions. The Son, or Christ, is the unity of all of God.s creation, rather than being synonymous with Jesus only, and thus encompasses all of God's children. The Holy Spirit is the Voice for God and the means given to the seemingly separated (yet in reality, united) minds of God's Sonship to first remember and then to return to their natural inheritance of unity with God. The Holy Spirit is the aspect of God the Creator that understands the world we live in. The Holy Spirit is aware of the perceptions of people, and is simultaneously aware of the knowledge of God (Heaven's version of perception). The Holy Spirit is the aspect of God which leads us back home to Heaven, as it sees clearly the way back home, which is where God would have us be.[citation needed] The teachings of ACIM about how the world will one day end (or the eschatology of ACIM) differ significantly from most traditional Christian eschatologies. ACIM makes only one prediction regarding the future. ACIM predicts that the Atonement (when all seemingly separated minds have recognized their unity as Christ) will require millions of years to complete. In ACIM's counterpart to the Biblical prediction of the Apocalypse as expressed in the book of Revelation, ACIM teaches that the illusory material world will not be tumultuously destroyed by fire, famine, and pestilence, but instead that it .will simply cease to seem to be,. once it has fulfilled its true purpose of enabling the Atonement. It will then be gently replaced in our awareness by the real world of God's eternal love. Should one interpret the apocalyptic symbolism of the 'lamb' ruling over the 'beast' as portrayed in the book of Revelation, as the power of peace, gentleness and innocence, reigning over the powers of war, brutality, and sin, then this particular symbolism might be considered to be consistent with the teachings of ACIM. [citation needed] Regarding the question of reincarnation, although ACIM does contain passages that would seem to imply the likelihood of the existence of reincarnation, nowhere does it unequivocally state it as fact. In comparison to Biblical statements about reincarnation, this is actually a less firm endorsement of it than some of those who adhere to a belief in reincarnation would claim can be found the Bible. These adherents to this belief in reincarnation point to the Biblical description of the origins of John the Baptist as found in the Gospel of Matthew, which states that "John is Elijah". These adherents to this belief assert that if this Biblical assertion is to be taken literally, then it can only mean that John the Baptist was the reincarnation of Elijah. (Most Christians do not accept this interpretation of this verse.) ACIM neither directly supports, nor does it directly deny the possibility of reincarnation. Instead it attempts to focus one's energies on gaining a fuller awareness of the present moment, to the exclusion of concerns for the past or for the future.[citation needed] Another big difference between The Course and The Bible is that The Course teaches that Jesus is not the only savior. According to The Course, "We don't need a savior. Salvation is nothing more than right-mindedness."We do not need a savior. Salvation is nothing more than right mindedness. We are the source of our own salvation." This belief obviously strays greatly from what Christianity teaches.."[3][4] ACIM does radically reinterpret the crucifixion and the resurrection to be an example of how the power and example of Christ's forgiveness was so great that ultimately even the greatest of physical assaults could not hold or affect him [5]. Still, nowhere does ACIM teach that a 'Savior' is unnecessary for salvation. In fact, the need for a 'Savior' is stressed consistently throughout ACIM. According to ACIM, only full recognition of the exceptionless presence of the sinlessness of Christ, the 'Savior', in the Sonship is required for salvation [6]. A great deal of controversy has arisen regarding ACIM's teaching that, .Strictly speaking.. (it) is impossible (for) the Word (to be made flesh)...[7], in reference to the Biblical quote from the book of John [8] about the relationship between God and the Christ. Some have taken this quote out of context to imply that ACIM teaches that the historical Jesus was never fully human in the same sense as all other humans are. ACIM does teach specifically that, .Jesus is the name of one who was a man [9]", however ACIM also teaches that all humans are not truly the bodies that they seem to be, but that all bodies are essentially illusory. This includes Jesus. body as well. Thus, the manner in which ACIM differs sharply from traditional Christianity in its interpretation of all of the material world as being fundamentally illusory, is cause for some theological debate on the question of the nature of Jesus. incarnation. While ACIM does not specifically state whether or not Jesus suffered during the crucifixion, it does consistently teach that the knowledge and awareness of God.s love is capable of removing all pain and suffering in every psychological and/ or physical circumstance. From this teaching it can be inferred that according to the teachings of ACIM, one with the awareness that ACIM claims that Jesus had, would not have truly suffered, even as he was rejected and crucified. This apparent teaching of ACIM is in marked contrast to the Biblical teaching found primarily in the Epistles of the New Testament, that Jesus did indeed suffer greatly during the crucifixion, and that his suffering in this was somehow necessary in order to prevent God from justly punishing the rest of mankind, being some form of a substitutionary punishment.[citation needed] ACIM displays a strong orientation toward the concepts of mentalistic monism (see also philosophical monism), particularly Attributive Monism, philosophical idealism), and responsibility assumption, in its prescription that the mind and its thoughts are causally responsible for the everything in the physical world. ACIM shares this outlook with the New Thought Movement, including Religious Science and Christian Science. In contrast to these belief systems, ACIM focuses heavily on inner healing, as opposed to outer, physical healing, which is a consequence of ACIM's complete disassociation of self-identity and limited physical bodies. Focus on outer healing over inner healing first would be similar to taking an aspirin to remove the symptoms of a far more serious problem underneath.[citation needed] Some observers have noted the fact that ACIM teachings have many things in common with the teachings of Christian Science, including the metaphysical appeal to a perfect, absolute, divine reality of which material existence is a distorted perception, or unhealed thought; the Idealist idea of healing or resurrection through improved thought and understanding; the subordination of imperfection as illusory; the reformulation of the Atonement; the reformulation of the Trinity; and the emphasis on God's love and forgiveness rather than eternal damnation.[citation needed] One Urtext passage that was not included in the published version calls Christian Science "clearly incomplete," but praises one of the observations of Christian Science founder Mary Baker Eddy. This is Eddy's observation that while the Bible describes how Adam, while in the Garden of Eden was put into a deep sleep, nowhere does the Bible ever describe that Adam was awakened from that sleep. This same observation about Adam is also made within the pages of ACIM.[citation needed] Some conservative Christian reviewers have expressed concerns that the doctrines of ACIM may incorporate some cultic tendencies. Citing the theological and philosophical differences between ACIM and traditional Christian theology and philosophy, such apologists have sometimes labeled ACIM as heretical, counterfeit, and as possibly even demonically inspired. [10] Some skeptical groups look askance at the material's origins in (so-called) channeling, allegedly emanating from Jesus. Some such reviewers hold that ACIM's doctrines are subversive to the proper functioning of a rational society, as nowhere does ACIM encourage its students to actively attempt to improve or change the world for the better, and instead ACIM teaches that the material world is merely an illusion.[citation needed] In The Guru Papers: Masks of Authoritarian Power, Joel Kramer and Diana Alstad argue that ACIM is not a path to liberation but an authoritarian cult. Popular commentators such as Oprah Winfrey and Marianne Williamson have praised the teachings of ACIM as beneficial and helpful. In response to claims that ACIM is a defeatist or disengaged philosophy preaching nonparticipation in the world, students of ACIM point out that nowhere does ACIM advise that one should drop out from society or alter one.s daily routines in any way. Admittedly ACIM places primary emphasis on the development of one.s inner awareness first, before the development of any one particular external goal or cause. Still, the philosophy of ACIM also stresses that by first securing a solid foundation in one.s life and a unified purpose, one is thereby enabled to then achieve far greater rewards in one's life. ACIM teaches that such an inner foundation enables one to fulfill all of one.s spiritual and material needs with ease.[citation needed] Headquarters and primary teaching facility of FACIM, located in Temecula, California.The Foundation for A Course In Miracles (or FACIM) is the oldest A Course In Miracles (or ACIM) educational organization as well as the copyright holder of the Second Edition of ACIM, all of the foreign language translations of ACIM, as well as all other writings of ACIM scribe Helen Schucman. FACIM was founded in 1983 by Dr. Kenneth Wapnick, the sole living individual of the three persons involved in the transcription and compilation of the now standardized A Course In Miracles (or .ACIM.), the other two being the now deceased Helen Schucman and William Thetford. The organization is also staffed by Gloria Wapnick, Kenneth's wife, who is also a member of its Board of Directors. [citation needed] In addition to teaching classes based on A Course In Miracles, FACIM oversees the translation of A Course In Miracles into other languages. To date, FACIM has overseen more than a dozen foreign language translations, which they claim has made A Course In Miracles available to more than 93% of the world's population [1]. In the late 1990s, FACIM was sued by Endeavor Academy over the copyright of ACIM, with the latter claiming that one cannot hold a copyright to a book channeled or scribed from a disembodied entity. As a result of the ruling, the first edition of ACIM is now in the public domain, though FACIM retains the copyright of the numbering system of the Second Edition of ACIM, as well as the entire ACIM section called "Clarification of Terms", and all foreign language translations of ACIM.[citation needed] At the time of its foundation in 1983, FACIM was originally chartered and located in New York state, and was first established as a residential-teaching-school.[citation needed] In response to a growing interest in its work in the California area, FACIM opened what was originally referred to as its West Coast Branch in La Jolla (near San Diego) in southern California, in 1997. In 2001, FACIM also moved its headquarters from New York to its current location in Temecula, California, approximately 50 miles north of the La Jolla location. The branch located in La Jolla (now referred to as the La Jolla branch) continues to provide regular lectures, workshops and other study programs to ACIM students in the San Diego area.[citation needed] Since its initial inception in 1983, the teaching structure of FACIM has evolved into its current format in which daytime lectures are provided, which may last from 90 minute presentations, on up to five consecutive days. Living accommodations for students during these longer presentations are no longer provided by FACIM, as the residential aspect of the format is no longer a part of the presentation format. FACIM also provides an online Electronic Outreach program, which includes an online question and answer service.[citation needed] The primary goal of FACIM is to assist students of the ACIM spiritual belief system to enhance and strengthen their understanding and experience of these teachings in their daily lives.[citation needed] In the year 2000, the organization was a party to a multimillion dollar lawsuit over the copyright to ACIM. The organization was the losing party in the lawsuit, and as a result, the first edition of ACIM is now in the public domain.[citation needed] Miller, D. Patrick (1997). The Complete Story of the Course: The History, the People, and the Contoversies Behind A Course in Miracles. Berkeley: Fearless Books. ISBN 0-9656809-0-8. Discusses the post-publication history of ACIM and various pertinent groups. Skutch, Robert (1996). Journey Without Distance: The Story Behind A Course in Miracles. Mill Valley: Foundation for Inner Peace. ISBN 1-883360-02-1. Discusses the pre-publication history of ACIM. Wapnick, Kenneth (1999). Absence from Felicity: The Story of Helen Schucman and Her Scribing of A Course in Miracles (2d ed.). New York: Foundation for A Course in Miracles. ISBN 0-933291-08-6. Discusses Helen Schucman and the pre-publication history of ACIM. Williamson, Marianne (1996). A Return to Love: Reflections on the Principles of A Course in Miracles. New York: HarperCollins. ISBN 0060927488. Widely-read adaptation of ACIM principles. ^ There is no one from whom a teacher of God cannot learn... ACIM Manual, 3 1:3. ^ The only message of the crucifixion is that... ACIM Text, 4 Intro, 3:8. ^ When brothers join in purpose .. (recognizing the Christ in one another)... they quickly reach the gate of Heaven itself. ACIM Text, 30-V, 7:1 through 8:2. ^ .The Bible says, "The Word (or thought) was made flesh.... ACIM Text, 8-VII, 7:1 through 7:2. ^ .The name of Jesus is the name of one who was a man.... ACIM C. of Terms, 5, 2:1. ACIM 2nd edition text online ACIM Files Distribution Centre and Library Project Searchable ACIM 2nd edition text online talk.religion.course-miracle - An ACIM Usernet Newsgroup A Course in Miracles Community An ACIM Internet Discussion Forum. The FACIM website ACIM in Skeptic's Dictionary University of Virginia's profile of ACIM