A Course in Miracles, also known as ACIM, was a set of books that received inner dictation over ten years and were published by the Foundation for Inner Peace in 1976. It has since sold more than three million copies worldwide.

Its central teaching is that the material world is a dream and that you can escape from it by changing your perception. Its ideas are rooted in ancient metaphysics and more recent New Age philosophies.
What is A Course in Miracles?

A Course in Miracles, also known as ACIM, is a spiritual teaching that describes a way to achieve inner peace. Its main concepts are love and forgiveness. Its thought system is non-dualistic and transcendent, with an emphasis on experiential rather than theoretical understanding. It draws on Christian symbolism but is not a religion.

It is a self-study curriculum in three books: the Text, which lays out the fundamental concepts; the Workbook for Students, which emphasizes application over faith; and the Manual for Teachers, which is intended to teach you how to lead others through the Course. Helen Schucman, the scribe of A Course in Miracles, claims that it was dictated to her word for word by an inner voice, identified as Jesus’s.

The main "miracle" in the Course is the change in perception that this world is a nightmare, and that you can awaken to a reality of joy and healing. According to the Course, if you believe this, your actions will demonstrate that belief, and good things will happen to you. It's like waking up from a nightmare and realizing that your favorite uncle is not trying to stab you with his spiked club.

A Course in Miracles could fairly be called the Bible of the “spiritual but not religious” movement, a shift in social and spiritual perspective that has gained momentum in recent years in America and Western Europe. Although no one tracks its "membership," the number of people influenced by it is estimated to be in the millions worldwide.

The Course is a metaphysical work, based on the concept that reality is made of energy and that everything that happens in this life is a result of your choices. It is not a religion; it has no founder, no church, and no formal organization. Its teachings are universal in nature and appeal to a broad spectrum of religious and spiritual beliefs, including those of Eastern spirituality. In fact, it makes a point of saying that there are many paths to God and that the Course is only one of them.
What is the Language of A Course in Miracles?

The language of a course in miracles is not what most people expect to see from a spiritual path. It uses Christian symbols and often gives them a different meaning than is commonly practiced. Nevertheless, it is not religious and does not teach that Jesus is the only way to God. Instead, it is a metaphysical, psychological and non-mystical path to love and peace.

It teaches that the material world exists only as an illusion and that we are not separate from the love of God. The course describes the ego mind as the cause of human suffering and offers a solution to return to love. The workbook lessons describe a process of awakening to the truth of our reality and releasing the fear that holds us back from fully experiencing love and happiness.

A Course in Miracles has been a modern spiritual classic since its first publication in 1976, selling over three million copies without any advertising or promotion. While many people have argued with its teachings, it has also inspired many to devote their lives to its study and application. It has acquired scriptural status among a growing group of believers who consider themselves "spiritual but not religious."

The central message of A Course in Miracles is that everything is a miracle. It is a profound statement that challenges our traditional ideas about the world and our place in it. It is not easy to understand and requires a willingness to question all our values and beliefs. In addition, the course is primarily a metaphysical philosophy and not a system of practical applications. Nevertheless, there are some hints of this in the daily workbook lessons.

A Course in Miracles is one of the most influential philosophies to emerge in recent times and has attracted followers worldwide from diverse backgrounds. It is a spiritually significant movement that has gained ground in South Florida, where at least four groups are meeting to study the Course. One of these is led by psychotherapist Marilyn Fendelman in Coconut Grove. Another is held at the Unity of the Palm Beaches, where Steinberg speaks weekly.
What is the Thought System of A Course in Miracles?

Imagine you are in a nightmare, and your favorite uncle is chasing you with a spiked club. You want to escape, but you don’t know how. Then a voice says, “You can escape by changing your perception.” That’s the central message of A Course in Miracles (ACIM), one of the most popular and least well-known of the New Age philosophies. Its founder, Saul Steinberg, was a psychotherapist who died in 2009. His book has sold more than 3 million copies.

ACIM teaches that this world is a dream, and that everyone in it shares a common illusion. Its goal is to help people wake up from this nightmare and find true love, peace and joy. The philosophies underlying A Course in Miracles are similar to those of other metaphysical movements, including the 19th-century New Thought and Christian Science denominations and more recent "mind science" philosophies such as Lifespring and est. It also reflects the teachings of many Eastern spiritual traditions, including Buddhism and Hinduism.

A Course in Miracles was not written as a religion, but rather as a self-study spiritual thought system. It consists of three books: the Text, which lays out the concepts that make up its thought system; the Workbook for Students, comprised of 365 daily lessons that emphasize experience over belief in a theology; and the Manual for Teachers, which answers questions commonly asked by students. It is ecumenical in its approach, and makes it clear that it is not the only way to God.

Its intellectually sophisticated language combines spiritual inspiration with deep psychological understanding of such phenomena as the ego mind and defense systems. In addition, the workbook lessons are very practical. They do not require a lot of time or long practice periods, but they do demand that you question your own values and beliefs, and open your heart to new possibilities for living. Moreover, they are meant to be used as tools for transformation. They will only be effective if you apply them to your life, and are willing to look at your problems differently.
What is the Application of A Course in Miracles?

A Course in Miracles, sometimes called ACIM, is a spiritual self-study thought system that teaches forgiveness and compassion. It is not a religion but uses Christian terminology, emphasizes experience rather than belief in a theology, and evokes universal, non-dual spiritual themes. The Course consists of three books: the Text, which lays out the thought system; the Workbook for Students, with 365 daily lessons that provide mind training; and the Manual for Teachers, which offers guidance in teaching the curriculum.

Its central theme is that the material world does not exist on its own, but exists only as a perception of individuals separated from one another and from God. This is similar to the beliefs of many other 19th-century metaphysical movements, including New Thought, Christian Science and Unity churches, as well as more recent "mind science" philosophies like est, Lifespring, and Scientology.

The most important step in applying the Course is changing your ideas about reality and releasing fear. The ego mind's ideas are often self-serving and maintain the status quo, but they are also usually based on fear, which is why so many people find them frustrating and restrictive. The process of letting go of these ideas is what the Course calls healing.

Those who are seriously interested in the Course should read the Manual for Teachers, which is written to those who have completed the Text and Workbook. It provides instructions for extending the thought system of A Course in Miracles to other students, and describes two forms of this extension: one in which a more experienced student serves as a mentor to help others understand the concepts; and the other in which a teacher goes into the world to teach the principles of the Course to people with whom he or she has a connection.

The author of A Course in Miracles, Helen Schucman, died in 1981, but her Foundation for Inner Peace continues to publish the materials and hold copyrights. The organization does not decree interpretation or doctrine and does not sanction any particular group of Course teachers, but it does encourage people to start their own local groups.