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The History, Message, and Legacy of a Spiritual Path for Today
Foreword: Iyalana Vanzant Celestial Arts 2008 ISBN #1-58761-312-8 "A Course In Miracles" was birthed in 1965 (and published in 1976) by Columbia University professor Helen Schucman (with the help of her supervisor, Dr. William Thetford, who typed the manuscript for her). It began as a voice in Dr. Schucman's head, directing her to write down what it dictated to her. (Please bear in mind that both of these professors held positions with the Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center's Department of Psychology - Dr. Thetford being the Department Head.) In essence - this is channeled material from an entity that is sometimes referred to as "the Voice", or as Jesus Christ. This was a 1,200 page project that would change the lives of many people - in fact, it is still changing the lives of many people. It is so complex that many students simply drop off into the wayside, because they don't understand the material. D. Patrick Miller, a widely published writer, independent publisher, and literary consultant, wrote the predecessor for this book in 1997 (The Complete Story of the Course: The History, the People, and the Controversies Behind "A Course In Miracles"). In her foreword, Iyanla Vanzant talks about her experience with "A Course In Miracles". It was gifted to her by a friend, and set aside after she glanced through it and was at first unimpressed. At a very low time in her life, Vanzant returned to the book - and this time was impressed enough to stay with it. (She was gifted with all three "A Course of Miracles" volumes - the Text, the Workbook, and the Manual For Teachers. She has been a serious student since 1988. At that time, there were no websites to explain the material, nor were there any books like Dr. Miller's book to help place the material in your life. Her thought is that Dr. Miller's work on "A Course In Miracles" will make is very much easier for present day students to not only understand the material, but to place it in their lives. In his introduction, Dr. Miller talks about exactly what is this thing that we call a miracle. He defines miracles as symbolic of a different kind of reality breaking through the walls of our everyday experience. He notes that it also symbolizes divine intervention in earthly affairs. "A Course In Miracles" is a textbook about the miracles in our lives, and acts as a guide to a new kind of spirituality. He sees this work as a synthesis of metaphysics, substantially revised Christian theology, and penetrating psychological analysis laying a foundation for a daily meditative practice. While it uses Christian language throughout, it radically redefines many conventional religious ideas, including that of the idea itself. ACIM (A Course In Miracles) offers a direct mystical practice to anyone who volunteers for its unusual discipline. Its aim is not to create followers, but to incite authentic transformation of the human psyche. At the same time, it is not a religion in and of itself. What does the course do? It is a self-study curriculum that guides students towards a more spiritual way of life by restoring their contact with what is termed the Holy Spirit (also termed the "internal teacher"). The approach is both intellectual and experiential, with a 650 page Text, a 500 page Workbook consisting of 365 meditations, and a 90 page Manual For Teachers. Part I - Origins and Histoory - tells the very moving story of Drs. Schucman and Thetford, the interaction between the two, and Dr. Schucman's interaction with the "Voice" that she (sometimes not too willingly) channeled. In fact, she made a point of distancing herself from the material. Throughout the story that is the birthing of "A Course In Miracles" we get a wonderful view of each of the personalities involved, This is a very personal - and personable - book. One that you want to read, that you want to become involved in, and that you want to understand. Part II - The Message of the Course - begins by describing the Course as "mind training", on changing the way the human consciousness typically works. Students are encouraged to allow their minds to be consistently inspired by love (rather than driven by fear). Replace the drive of the ego with the guidance of the Holy Spirit (which is always available within your mind). This is not a self-help course - it is rather a course on developing personal responsibility. The practice of forgiveness is a critical foundation to the Course material. Forgiveness of others, and forgiveness of self. (This shows up as Workbook lessons, such as "Forgiveness is the key to happiness" and "Forgiveness ends all suffering and loss".) From here Dr. Miller move on to what the Course terms "special relationships", and how to turn them into Holy Relationships. In Course terms - this includes most relationships, and is one of the hardest concepts in this material to understand. Part III - A Provocative Legacy - begins by talking about where psychology and philosophy meet, and moves into a discussion of whether or not the Course material is Christian based (including a two page chart on comparisons between the Course material and the Bible, compiled by Dean C. Halverson). This section also includes secular critiques on the course. In Appendix I Dr. Miller lists a guide to ACIM study centers, teachers, and online resources. In Appendix II Dr. Miller presents a short article by Richard Smoley entitled "A Comparison of Miracles". I found this book to be a compelling study of "A Course In Miracles", its origins, and the part that it plays in society today. For those looking for clarity, or for those currently working with "A Course In Miracles", this is a quality reference.
Bonnie Cehovet
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