ACIM Foundation For Inner Peace

As a psychological discipline, ACIM teaches that everyone has the potential for true happiness. As a metaphysics, the Course challenges significant elements of a course in miracles 

Christianity, while also embracing ideas from Eastern mysticism such as the notion that the physical world is a mass illusion.

The Foundation for Inner Peace (FIP) is the corporation that assumed primary publishing responsibility for A Course in Miracles when Helen Schucman turned over her copyright interest in the book to FIP in 1978.

What is ACIM?

A Course in Miracles is a three volume set of spiritual teachings that has changed the lives of millions of people. First published in 1976, this unique curriculum offers profound spiritual wisdom and far-reaching psychological insight. Its unique approach, based on forgiveness as the way to healing and peace, sets it apart from other spiritual teachings.

In the past, ACIM was primarily a spiritual self-study curriculum with many students committing to studying the Course’s 365 daily lessons and applying its teachings in their everyday lives. Today, the Foundation has expanded its publishing program to include two additional works channeled by Helen Schucman, Psychotherapy: Purpose, Process and Practice and The Song of Prayer, as well as a number of audio recordings and other materials related to the Course.

The Foundation’s Standard edition of the Course is available in 26 languages, and has been an underground bestseller since its initial publication, despite a challenge to its copyright that led to its revocation. While several alternate editions have been developed, none of them has reached the same level of popularity as the standard Course.

Although the Course is based on Christian language and metaphysics, it also draws on Eastern philosophy, and has an entirely different view of God and the universe than mainstream Christianity. It asserts that the human mind is an illusion and that there is a universal spiritual reality beyond physical perception. As a result, it challenges significant elements of contemporary Christianity, including the concept that Jesus died to atone for the sins of humanity.

The Course emphasizes forgiveness as the key to changing one’s perception of the world and its relationship to itself, and encourages a life centered on love. While other spiritual paths and practices encourage forgiveness, the Course is distinctive in its emphasis on forgiveness as a moment-by-moment discipline that transforms attitudes and behaviors.

How does ACIM work?

Forgiveness is a key principle of ACIM. As a psychotherapy and spiritual training, it urges us to change our distorted perception of the world by accepting spirit as the only reality and the physical realm as a mass illusion (similar to the Buddhist and Hindu notions of samsara and maya). It also emphasizes transforming negative emotions such as fear and anger into love, compassion, and forgiveness. As such, it can be helpful to those seeking greater peace and happiness in their lives.

Its main flaw, however, is its admonition to abandon the material world in order to realize truth, which can leave a significant number of followers feeling helpless and detached from society and even life itself. Moreover, its pretentious theology posits a "qualified non-dualist" view of the universe, which sounds distinctly dualistic or at best duo-monist in comparison to the lofty and gracious teachings of Indian Advaita, namely that all of this world is a manifestation of Divine playfulness or lila, and that it all serves to awaken our awareness to our true Self, the Infinite Spirit or Brahman.

As a result of its dualist and authoritarian stances, ACIM has often been accused of brainwashing and mind control techniques. This claim is particularly valid given Thetford's major editing role in the work, his extensive background and later involvement with CIA mind-control research, and its overt aim, as stated in the Course's "Teachings," to have us unlearn everything we think we know and be subject to its reeducation.

Nonetheless, for those who find themselves drawn to the Course, its message is clear and compelling: a shift in our focus from fear to love and forgiveness can bring us closer to the true goal of life, which is peace, joy, and fulfillment. The most important thing to remember is that this is an inside job, and only the seeker knows what is right for him or her.

For this reason, ACIM is sometimes described as being like relearning to speak your native tongue - in this case the language of Love, which we all know but have forgotten how to use.

What are the benefits of ACIM?

ACIM helps heal the mind-body-emotional system by teaching a new way of thinking about God, self and others. This enables us to lower stress and bring more love into our lives, which in turn improves health and well-being. ACIM is an antidote to fear-based emotions such as rage, hatred, greed and jealousy, which are the cause of much disease and unhappiness in our world. This unique spiritual thought system can be helpful for everyone regardless of religion or belief, since it is not a path to any particular religion.

Its combination of reinterpreted Christian language, modern psychological thought and Eastern metaphysics makes it a very different kind of spiritual teaching than the world has ever known before. The Course is not for the faint of heart – it is a demanding curriculum that requires a rigorous application of its lessons. But for those who are willing to apply themselves diligently to its study and practice, it can offer a profound shift in perception.

The most significant change that comes from studying ACIM is a recognition of God’s love for all of creation, and the willingness to accept it for ourselves. It also provides a deep understanding of the meaning of forgiveness. While many other paths and therapies promote the use of forgiveness, the Course takes it to a whole new level by encouraging a moment-by-moment practice that transforms attitudes and behaviors. The Course encourages a complete reversal of ordinary perception, accepting that the spiritual world is real while the physical world is a mass illusion, similar to the Buddhist and Hindu notions of samsara and maya.

The Foundation for Inner Peace (FIP) was formed in New York City in 1978 and, in 1982, FIP established a translation program. Since then, the Course has been translated into twenty-seven languages. In addition to the standard edition of the Course, the Foundation for Inner Peace publishes two further books channeled by Schucman, Psychotherapy: Purpose, Process and Practice, and The Song of Prayer, as well as an extensive line of audiovisual products including tapes, CDs, and video courses.

What is the history of ACIM?

In 1975, Helen Schucman and William Tetford were working on a manuscript that they believed came to them through inner dictation. They told Judith Skutch, the publisher of a new spiritual book called A Course in Miracles, about their work and she became enthused by it. She decided to publish the manuscript, which consisted of a Text volume for students and two Workbooks for students and teachers.

Since then, ACIM has sold over three million copies—without paid advertising or any major support from the foundation—to people from every walk of life and from all the world’s major faiths. It has also been translated into 27 non-English languages.

The Course is different from most other spiritual teachings in that it calls for a radical shift in perception. It emphasizes forgiveness as a moment-by-moment practice that transforms attitudes and behavior, and it urges us to see the physical world as a mass illusion (similar to the Buddhist and Hindu notions of maya and samsara). Moreover, it challenges some significant elements of contemporary Christianity, including its doctrine of sin and Jesus Christ’s crucifixion.

Despite its apparent mystical nature, ACIM is also thoroughly grounded in modern psychological thought and Eastern metaphysics. As such, it could be described as an esoteric Bible for the growing number of people who consider themselves spiritual but not religious. Consequently, the Course has influenced the work of numerous other authors and teachers who do not identify themselves as part of the ACIM movement. These include Eckhart Tolle, Gabrielle Bernstein, and Wayne Dyer.