A Course in Miracles Book Review

A Course in Miracles (ACIM) is a spiritual masterpiece a course in miracles bookstore that has transformed the lives of millions. This new Complete and Annotated edition includes Helen Schucman’s original handwritten notes for the book, along with extensive footnotes that clarify challenging passages and an appendix of 33 cameo essays that outline ways to apply these teachings in daily life.

What is a Course in Miracles?

The Course in Miracles is a modern spiritual classic that has touched millions of lives. It is a self-study curriculum that guides people to undo the illusion of separation. It does this through a process of forgiveness, which is taught as the key to freedom. It also provides a radical new view of reality, the human condition and the path to happiness.

The book was originally written in the late 1960s by Columbia University psychologists Helen Schucman and Bill Thetford. They were seeking to find a way to overcome the anger and division they saw in their world. In a period of three years, the entire textbook was dictated to them word for word through a process called “inner dictation.” The authors never claimed that they were the writers of the text; rather, they called themselves the Scribes and gave all credit to “the voice” that they heard speaking through Helen. That voice is said to be the voice of Jesus.

Since its publication in 1976, the Course has become a worldwide phenomenon. It has been embraced by both religious and secular circles, and it has achieved almost scriptural status in the minds of many. It has spawned a wide variety of groups and study courses, and it continues to grow in popularity each year.

Although the language of A Course in Miracles is poetic and written in blank verse, it has an intellectually sophisticated thought system that combines spiritual inspiration with deep psychological understanding of such phenomena as belief and defense systems. It has been described as a blend of Christian theology with Eastern mysticism, and its underlying ontology is similar to that of Hinduism.

What is the Course about?

When Helen Schucman heard an inner voice in 1965, the message was simple: "This is a course in miracles. Please take notes." So she did, and the result was a modern spiritual classic that has transformed the lives of millions. A Course in Miracles also known as ACIM is a self-study curriculum designed to lead its students into a deeper understanding of the nature of reality and bring them into a consistent state of peace. This Complete and Annotated edition presents the wisdom of this teaching exactly as Helen Schucman scribed it, including extensive footnotes that clarify challenging passages and an appendix of 33 cameo essays that offer ways to apply the Course's teachings in everyday life. It is the most authoritative version of this beloved work ever published.

Why is the Course so important?

In a world where many religions claim to be the only way to God, the clear message of A Course in Miracles is that all paths lead to him. This is especially true for people whose religious beliefs are based on an intellectual and/or psychological approach to spirituality. For such individuals, a combination of spiritual and psychological teachings and practices is most beneficial, as A Course in Miracles provides.

While it is obvious that A Course in Miracles was written on a very high intellectual level (with sophisticated metaphysical, theological and psychological concepts integrated into its teaching throughout the three books), this does not mean that the book is unreadable for people who are not intellectually inclined. A person who is able to read and think abstractly would have no problem with most of the text, but there are some parts that require more than an intellect to understand, as for example the use of blank verse.

Also, there are numerous footnotes that clarify challenging passages in the book, so that even an intellectually challenged person could eventually find his/her way to a deeper understanding of the material. In addition, the Appendix of 33 cameo essays lays out ways that students can apply these teachings to their everyday lives.

A Course in Miracles has been translated into 27 languages and sold over 3 million copies worldwide. Its influence continues to grow. The Foundation for A Course in Miracles believes that it will continue to do so as people come to realize that its message is truly universal and applicable to all faiths, philosophies, and traditions.

Unlike many spiritual teachings, A Course in Miracles does not make the authors of the book public, so that the book can stand on its own without being influenced by individual interpretations or biases. The Book is credited to both Helen Schucman and Bill Thetford, but the authors credit “the voice” that dictated the book to them. This is the voice that is referred to as Jesus in the book.

What is the purpose of the Course?

A Course in Miracles (ACIM) is a modern spiritual classic that offers a simple and practical method for transforming our worldly view. It is a self-study educational program for retraining the mind, and although it uses Christian terminology, its underlying ontology is remarkably universal and unifying, expressing themes found throughout the world's most sacred traditions.

In 1965, Helen Schucman sat down to write what she would later call A Course in Miracles, or ACIM. Originally published in 1976, the Course has since become one of the world's most widely read books, reaching millions of people in 25 languages.

The Complete and Annotated Edition, or CE, of the Course contains all of Schucman's original handwritten notes for the entire book, in addition to extensive footnotes clarifying challenging passages and an appendix with 33 cameo essays offering ways to apply the teachings. This is the first time that the source material for this ancient text has been made available in its entirety, making it possible to experience the profound wisdom of this beloved book as originally intended by the author.

What is the meaning of the Course?

A Course in Miracles is a modern spiritual classic that has profoundly changed the lives of millions of people throughout the world. It was written in 1965 by Helen Schucman, a Columbia University Medical Psychology professor, following an inner voice that instructed her to “Take notes.” Originally published in 1976, the Course has since become one of the most widely read books on religion in history. Now, for the first time ever, the Complete and Annotated Edition of A Course in Miracles (the source material from which the Original Edition was drawn) is available to all students.

A Course in Miracles is a self study educational program for retraining the mind. Its message is nondenominational and reflects the teachings of Jesus Christ in universal language that appeals to many faiths. Though the Course uses Christian terminology, its underlying ontology is reminiscent of ancient refrains from the world’s most honored traditions. The Course is both a scientific textbook on mind retraining and a practical manual for transforming the world. It has taught and healed millions of readers worldwide.