A Course in Miracles – Who is Jesus?

The Course in Miracles is often referred to as “the New Age Bible.” It has become very popular among the spiritual but not religious (SBNR) movement.

Psychologist Helen Schucman claimed to have received the book through inner dictation from a voice that identified itself as Jesus. This edition is based on the original 1972 manuscript that Schucman transcribed.
What is A Course in Miracles?

One of the most popular spiritual teachings of recent times, A Course in Miracles combines profound spiritual ideas with far-reaching psychological insights. Its three volumes were first published in 1976, and they have since become a modern spiritual classic. It has influenced thousands of people worldwide, including many in the so-called “spiritual but not religious” movement.

The Course was initially written by Columbia University psychologists Helen Schucman and William Thetford, who were disillusioned by the bitterness and division that dominated their world. They began an experiment in allowing love to replace fear as their primary motivation, and over the next seven years they received inner guidance which became A Course in Miracles. The book was received through a process of inner dictation, and it begins with the statement: “This is a course in miracles, please take notes.” It was completed over ten years after it began and was published by the Foundation for Inner Peace in 1976. The author is not named because it was revealed to her that the true author is Jesus Christ.

Although it uses Christian terminology and references, the Course is ecumenical in its spiritual themes, drawing upon Eastern mysticism as well. It is not a religion and does not claim to be the only way of salvation. Instead, it states that a universal theology is impossible, but that a universal experience is not only possible, but inevitable.

Those who read the Course often find themselves attracted to certain concepts and chapters, and find that they resonate with their life experience. They may decide to read the Text or the Workbook for Students, or a combination of both. The important thing is to make a commitment and to read the Course at a pace that feels right to you. Some choose to read a chapter or section a day, while others prefer to take a more leisurely approach.
Who wrote A Course in Miracles?

The question of who wrote A Course in Miracles has been a controversial and long-standing one. The Course is a spiritual teaching that claims to have been authored by Jesus through a human scribe, Helen Schucman. This claim has inspired a wide range of responses, from lifelong devotion and commitment to outright rejection and dismissal. The issue has also become central to a legal case that could decide the Course’s copyright ownership.

One side of the debate maintains that the Course is not a religion but a restatement of the core wisdom of all major world religious traditions. It uses Christian terminology but is ecumenical in nature, and emphasizes that the only path to truth is through love. The other side of the debate holds that the Course was authored by Jesus through an inner voice, which communicated with Schucman via a process called “inner dictation.” According to this view, the course is not a product of the mind but rather a direct communication from God.

Whether or not the Course is a product of the ego or the divine, it has helped thousands of people find meaning and fulfillment in their lives. The book is based on the idea that if we are willing to give up our identification with the ego and open ourselves to love, we can learn to experience true peace and joy. This is accomplished by shifting our perceptions from fear to love, and releasing the guilt that keeps us from experiencing this love.

For those who are curious about the story of the writing of A Course in Miracles, Kenneth Wapnick has written a biography of Helen Schucman titled Absence From Felicity. The book explores the process of scribing the Course, as well as Schucman’s relationship with William Thetford, her colleague at Columbia University in New York and the primary editor of the course. It also discusses the conflict between Schucman’s spiritual nature and her ego, which influenced her decision to transcribe the Course. The book is an invaluable resource for those interested in learning more about the course and the disputed question of authorship.
What is the purpose of A Course in Miracles?

While it may seem daunting, ACIM has an easy-to-follow structure. It is presented as a self-study spiritual thought system and consists of three books: the Text, the Workbook for Students, and the Manual for Teachers. The Course is not a religion, but it teaches that there are thousands of spiritual paths that all lead to God in the end.

A Course in Miracles describes a path of forgiveness that can help you to release the fear, anger, and guilt that hold you back from experiencing the true joy of life. It teaches that you can experience peace of mind by simply forgiving a course in miracles everyone and everything. Once you have forgiven, you can see the world differently and live happily in the knowledge that you are sinless and loved by God.

The Course was received by Helen Schucman, a Columbia University psychology professor, as an inner dictation. She had been a “militant atheist” until she began to have heightened dreams and visions. These culminated in the fall of 1965 when she heard an inner voice say to her, “This is a course in miracles, please take notes.” She agreed to do so. The Course was published in 1976. It is not signed, although Schucman claimed to have been the author.

Although the Course contains many references to Jesus, it is clear that it does not require a relationship with him. Indeed, it is not unusual to hear an advanced student of the Course say that he or she does not relate to Jesus in a personal way. However, it is also important to understand that the teachings of the Course are universal.

In the Course, Jesus appears as a man who demonstrates love for all people. He is also a model for the way that you can forgive all relationships in your life. It is through forgiveness that you can see the world differently and learn to recognize all people as brothers and sisters. When you are at peace in your own relationship, you can extend that same peace to the whole world. This is the goal of A Course in Miracles.
Who is Jesus?

The question of who Jesus is has likely been asked more than any other in human history. For many people, including Christians, this is a central question because Jesus was a man who did miracles and taught important spiritual lessons. He was also the unique Son of God who came to take away the sins of the world. Christians build their answer to this question on Sacred Scripture, prophecies of his coming that are found in the Old Testament, and doctrines laid out about Jesus Christ and His Church through the rest of the New Testament.

It is essential that people who are interested in ACIM understand that Helen Schucman did not write the book on her own. The text was dictated to her by an inner voice, and this voice identified itself as Jesus. Kenneth Wapnick, the author of Absence From Felicity: The Story of Helen Schucman and A Course in Miracles, has written that when the voice spoke, it was a shinning light of love, not darkness or fear. He describes the voice as calling itself “Jesus.”

Using Jesus as a reference point is important because it teaches that the only reality is love. The Course explains that everything else is illusion. The most significant example of this is that murder and rape are not real because they do not come from love. The Course also teaches that the only reason that death exists is to serve as a reminder of love. This idea is extremely offensive to Christians who believe that death is the consequence of sin and that only Jesus can forgive sins.

Another major problem with the Course is that it denies that Jesus died for our sins. It teaches that there is no need for a savior because we are all Christs. This view is in direct conflict with Sacred Scripture, which teaches that only Jesus can save us from the consequences of our wrong choices.

Despite its esoteric language and skewed teachings, A Course in Miracles has become a very popular book. It has been adopted by many different Christian denominations and is being used in Sunday schools, Bible studies, and special study groups within churches. In addition, the Course is being used by an increasing number of people who think of themselves as spiritual but not religious. This trend should be a major warning to anyone who is interested in the message of the Course, and it should be avoided by serious students of Sacred Scripture.