Brett - I took this from the website. It was the article I was
referring to. I also have looked a lot of places. This is a very good
introduction to the principles of ACIM. I do not think they will be too
upset for me cutting it and pasting it here.
Overview of A Course in Miracles
A Course in Miracles is something of a phenomenon that has affected the
lives of many
thousands of people. This three-volume set of books was received through
a process of
inner dictation by a psychologist at Columbia University, beginning in
1965. After ten
years of preparation, the Course was first published in 1976 by the
Foundation for Inner
Peace. Since then, over 1,000,000 sets of these books have been sold
without the benefit
of any paid advertising, to men and women in every walk of life and
every major faith, in
all fifty states and nearly fifty foreign countries.
The Course consists of a 622-page Text, which describes the theoretical
foundation upon
which its thought system is based; a 478-page Workbook for Students,
containing 365
daily lessons that are designed to train the mind of the student along
the lines set forth by
the Text; and an 88 page Manual for Teachers, which answers some of the
questions
most likely to be asked by one studying the Course, and clarifies some
of the terms used
in the books. While the Course is primarily a self-study program, many
hundreds of study
groups have been established worldwide.
On one level A Course in Miracles is a restatement of the core of wisdom
found in every
major world religion. However, the Course is a spiritual teaching rather
than a religion.
While it uses Christian terminology, it is ecumenical in nature and
states that "a universal
theology is impossible, but a universal experience is not only possible
but necessary." The
Course makes no claim of being "the only way," but clearly states that
it is only one of
many thousands of forms of "the universal course" that can be used for
personal
transformation.
The language of A Course in Miracles is extraordinarily rich and
profound. Many
sections of the Text and Workbook are very poetic and written in blank
verse, and have
led some people to compare the Course with some of the world's great
literature. The
thought system of the Course is intellectually sophisticated, and
combines spiritual
inspiration with deep psychological understanding of such phenomena as
belief and
defense systems, perception and identity.
However, A Course in Miracles is also very practical. The daily Workbook
lessons
provide a systematic, step-by-step approach by which one can apply the
principles of the
Course. The lessons do not require a lot of time nor long practice
periods, but they do
require a willingness to question every value one holds as to what the
world is all about,
and the willingness to see things differently--through the eyes of God.
A Course in Miracles teaches that there are only two basic thought
systems, one of
perception and the other of knowledge. The thought system of perception
is inherently
illusory because it is based upon interpretation, not on fact. It is
founded on our belief in
our separation from God and from one another. From this flows a belief
in evil, sin, guilt,
fear, and scarcity. It is a world of appearances, of birth and death, of
time and constant
change. This thought system of perception is what the Course calls the
ego, which is
actually a set of beliefs that center around the body as our reality and
the limit of our
being.
The world of knowledge, on the other hand, is truth. The Course teaches
that the real
world, which reflects truth, can be seen only through spiritual vision,
and not through the
body's eyes. The world of knowledge is one of unity, love, sinlessness
and abundance.
The Course views reality as composed only of God's thoughts, which are
loving, constant,
timeless and eternal. Evil, sin and guilt are regarded as
misperceptions. Sin is regarded as
lack of love, or as a mistake calling for correction and love, rather
than for guilt and
punishment.
Once we are caught in the world of perception, or the ego's thought
system, it is as though
we were caught in a dream. In order to awaken to reality, it is
necessary to reverse our
thinking and correct our mistakes. We need help to awaken from the dream
because our
physical senses accept only that information which reinforces our belief
in the reality of the
dream. A Course in Miracles offers us an avenue of awakening by showing
us that our
usual perception and sense of identity are distorted. It offers us a way
of correcting these
distortions so that we can see ourselves and the world more clearly.
This change in
perception is what the Course means by a `miracle.'
Unlike some other thought systems, A Course in Miracles does not suggest
withdrawal
from the world. It teaches that our relationships offer us unique and
valuable opportunities
for learning, awakening and healing. The Course offers a variety of
approaches by which
relationships based on fear and lack can be healed. Forgiveness of
ourselves and others
provides the means by which we can use relationships to let go of the
past with its burden
of guilt and grievances. In the context of the Course, "forgiveness"
means recognizing that
what you thought your brother did to you has not occurred. Forgiveness
does not pardon
sins and make them real. It sees that there was no sin. Forgiveness
shows us only the
extensions of love or the calls for love, not the attack or hate. By
changing our perception
in this way, we can remove the blocks to the awareness of love's
presence, which the
Course says is our natural inheritance.
A goal of A Course in Miracles is to train us to listen to God's voice,
the Holy Spirit.
This extension of God's mind serves as our inner guide, who will direct
our thoughts,
telling us exactly what to do, and directing all our efforts. To be
truly effective, we must
learn to rely on our own internal teacher rather than looking for help
outside ourselves.
We are thus guided to discover our own God-given function.
As we are led from the world of the ego to the world of love, our
perception of ourselves
as separated persons is corrected, and we remember our higher, or true
Self. We
remember we were created by God as His Child, and we are enabled to
accept the
Christ within, and to see with Christ's vision. We recognize our oneness
with God, our
Self, and all our brothers, and are able, finally, to "teach only love,"
which is our true
function as Children of God.
© 1997 Miracle Distribution Center