A Course in Miracles is Not a Theology

A Course in Miracles is a grand symphony of ideas that presents a a course in miracles profoundly new perspective on reality and the path to happiness. But it is not a theology and it does not claim to be one.

It is best read at a slow pace, a chapter a week or a section each day.

The Text

The Course in Miracles is a radical new perspective on reality and the human experience. Its grand symphony of ideas can be overwhelming and confusing. When Helen Schuckett began studying the Course in Miracles, she was a self-professed militant atheist and had little interest in spirituality. She soon began experiencing a series of inner visions, heightened dreams, and psychic experiences, culminating in an intervention in which she heard an inner voice say “This is a course in miracles, take notes.”

The result was A Course in Miracles, a spiritual classic that has since sold more than three million copies, gained the status of a modern scriptural classic, and garnered a worldwide following. A Course in Miracles presents a revolutionary and transformative thought system that offers a path to healing and peace.

This first part of the Course, The Text, lays the groundwork for the entire thought system of the course and explains its basic ideas. The Course in Miracles teaches that nothing exists outside of God, and that love is our natural inheritance and the key to happiness. It aims to teach us that our problems, fears, and worries are simply the result of the mistaken belief that something other than love is true.

A Course in Miracles is a self-study program that includes the Text, The Workbook, and The Manual for Teachers (not to be confused with 'formal' or 'approved' teachers of the course - there are none). You may choose to read these three books at a pace that feels right to you – perhaps a chapter or section a day, or maybe even a few pages each week.

The Workbook

As you read the Course, you will be asked to do a series of daily exercises designed to train your mind. These lessons can be a bit difficult to understand, especially if you’re not used to spiritual self-study. Jennifer Feiereisel offers ACIM classes that are structured to focus on total comprehension of the teachings. She breaks down passages and clues from all three parts of the Course (Text, Workbook Lessons, and Manual for Teachers) to help students gain clarity and understanding.

The Course is a profoundly unique perspective on reality, human behavior, and the path to happiness. It is often described as a grand symphony of ideas that can feel challenging and uncompromising to many people, who may find themselves having to face long-held beliefs about themselves or their world.

When Helen experienced the first of a series of inner visions and heightened dreams that would culminate in the writing of A Course in Miracles, she was a self-proclaimed “militant atheist.” Yet in the years since the publication of this modern spiritual classic, it has become the text of choice for millions who have given it near-scriptural status in their lives.

It is important to remember that the structure of the Course, as intentionally and carefully laid out by its authors, is not intended to lead to a new theology or any specific religious system. In fact, as the Course points out repeatedly, "A universal theology is impossible; a universal experience is not only possible but necessary."

The Manual for Teachers

If you've been looking for a new way to approach healing and the experience of God, you've probably come across A Course in Miracles. This three-volume set of books was received through inner dictation and written by Helen Schucman during a ten-year period in the 1960s and 1970s. It's been embraced by countless people from every walk of life and from all major world religions. The principles it offers have the power to heal everything that seems to be ailing the human family, including the problems of alienation, victimhood, death and guilt.

The Course is a spiritual teaching, rather than a religion. It is ecumenical, and while it uses Christian terminology, it doesn't attempt to convert anyone to Christianity or any other faith. It does, however, call for a universal experience of God. "A universal theology is impossible," it states, "but a universal experience is not only possible but necessary."

A Course in Miracles is designed to be an educational course. Its three volumes are modeled after the format of a college course, with a textbook, which describes the theoretical foundation on which its thought system is based, a workbook that contains 365 daily lessons designed to train one's mind along the lines set forth by the Text, and a manual for teachers, which addresses how to teach the Course to others.

Interestingly, the Course's Manual for Teachers is intended for those who have finished reading the Text and Workbook and are ready to extend its principles to others. This extension is envisioned as taking two different forms, both of which are somewhat reminiscent of Christian Science. The first form involves the teacher acting as a mentor or guide to his pupils. He is expected to offer them verbal teaching that will reflect the Course's principles (Manual, p. 57; M-24.3).

The second form of extending the Course's thought system is for the teacher to act as a healer. He is expected to go to individuals with health issues and shine the light of forgiveness upon them. Again, the Course's principles are reflected in his approach, and he should not sympathize with magic beliefs like reincarnation, although he may advise them against it if it is counterproductive to their advance in the Course (Manual, p. 58; M-24.5:5).

The Song of Prayer

The Course’s teachings can seem very uncompromising and “not of this world,” especially for those who have experienced emotional trauma. Nevertheless, the principles of the Course lead inevitably to an experience that is beyond words. This is why it is important to follow the intentional and careful structure that the Course lays out.

While many people consider A Course in Miracles to be a difficult book, it is actually one of the easiest books to read and understand once you make the commitment to do so. You can buy a copy of the book online, or find it in bookstores and libraries, but many people prefer to have an actual book. In addition, it is helpful to have a workbook along with the book to help with understanding and practical applications of the principles.

Once you have committed to reading the Course, it is important to read it at a pace that feels comfortable to you. Some people may decide to take a few weeks or months to read the text, while others may choose to read it over the course of a year. Some may even read the entire book in a few days! There is no right or wrong way to do it – just do whatever works best for you.

In addition to A Course in Miracles, Helen Schucman also scribed two other books of Jesus’ teachings called Psychotherapy and the Song of Prayer. These three books comprise what is known as the Supplements to the Course.

The first of these, the Psychotherapy Pamphlet, was completed in 1975. Many Course students, whether or not they are psychotherapists, have found this pamphlet to be incredibly valuable in their understanding of the whole course.

The second of the Supplements to the Course, the Song of Prayer, was finished in 1977. This booklet discusses the meaning of true prayer, forgiveness, and healing. It contrasts these concepts with their opposites and explains the process of healing. This pamphlet is a must-read for all Course students!