A Course in Miracles - Hardcover

Schucman, Helen

4.19

32,265 ratings by Goodreads

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1566491444 ISBN 13: 9781566491440

Publisher: Welcome Rain Publishers, 2006

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When Columbia University professor of medical psychology Helen Schucman began hearing a voice, she transcribed what she heard. She eventually identified the voice that she was hearing as none other than Jesus, delivering a message of compassion and forgiveness for the modern world. This book sold millions of copies worldwide and is currently used in thousands of study groups.

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Review:

The acim ("A Course in Miracles") is a unique metaphysical course. I have a few pointers and ideas here to consider. I do not attempt to alter or miscreate the "course" in any way but to offer a spin on it. Know this; the course is not that revolutionary as it borrows most of its concepts and ideas from Hindu and possibly Zoroastrian thought systems. These are the main issues I have with the "course"; The cause of the separation just does not make sense to me as presented by the "course". The solution is also seemingly single minded, aka "silver bullet" theory that Americans are so fond of. The problem for me is the ever present philosophical issue is whether to accept or reject the "reality" we dream? This is the million dollar question that faces philosophers and thinkers. The intellectual notion is to reject it but there is a big problem lies therein too. So the actual answer to me at least is to accept life and live it knowing that it is a dream. Personally, I do not have a problem of rebirth and live a life of a child or 20-year old unless the circumstances are just too hard. Who knows that ahead of the time? You cannot fight the dream only gradually accept and realize that taking it seriously is unwise. I know many people who ended up cracking up because they "fight" the ego too hard. As for the cause of the separation, I have learned it differently in Yoga and it makes more sense, at least to me. What I have learned as the "first cause" as it was a "desire of expression" that "made" the Universe as is. The problem is mainly the separation but there are other issues too. But even since it is not created but emanated from Infinity. (A perfect god (infinity) cannot "create" the imperfect Universe, hence the emanation.) The "course" also lacks addressing issues of importance; i.e. how do we handle injustice, corruption and political issues in the "dream"? Do we even bother voting? Lot of people might misunderstand the "course" and apply it rather single mindedly, I am afraid. I do believe in forgiveness as the key, but there might be other facets too, like "service". I do not believe or like any "silver bullet" theory that "western" esoterism is so fond of. These seeming inconsistencies had stemmed the birth of a cottage industry, writing about a book, teaching the course and of course reinterpreting some of the ideas presented in the over 1000 page of material. Gary Renard is one author, teacher whose interpretation attempts to plug these logical potholes. He, however does not go far enough. Gary had a 9-year long interaction with two ascended masters who rephrased and reinterpreted the main ideas of the "course". My advise is use your intelligence and common sense to understand these important yet unsettling ideas and keep one important fact in mind. The Hindu Vedas had described "acim" long before Jesus ever walked the earth. --Editors' Review (Murine Press)

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