What is ACIM?
Course in Miracles (also referred to as ACIM or "the
Course") is a self-study curriculum (spiritual in
nature) that sets forth an absolute non-dualistic metaphysics
yet integrates forgiveness emphasizing its practical application
in daily living.
There
is no author listed on either the cover or the title page
of the copyrighted publication, nor is there a "personal
name" listed for author/creator with the United States
Library of Congress. However, in the Preface of the Course,
under the section entitled "How It Came," there
is a first-person account by Helen Schucman who describes
in her own words the process by which the material came
to fruition. Schucman claimed to have written the material,
with the help of William Thetford, based on the dictation
of an inner Voice. In the last paragraph of this section,
Schucman explains why the names of the collaborators do
not appear on the cover.
It
is considered by some to be a short cut to the fast lane
for spiritual awakening... it is not a religion, although
it does use Christian terminology.
The
most recent copyrighted, published edition of A Course
in Miracles is the only edition that contains in one place
all of the writings that Schucman authorized to be printed.
It is published by the Foundation for Inner Peace, the
organization chosen by Schucman for this purpose.
There
is now an app
for the iPhone for ACIM and also electronic versions
of it available
here.
A
Course in Miracles has been translated into nineteen different
languages with eight new translations underway.
Background:
A
Course in Miracles was originally written in a collaborative
venture by Schucman and Thetford. In the beginning, the
Voice (Jesus) described them as scribes.
The
teachings of A Course in Miracles have been supported
by such mainstream commentators as Oprah Winfrey in her
interviews with author Marianne Williamson.
In
1983, control of the copyright was transferred to the
FACIM as headed by Ken Wapnick.
Beginning
in June, 1996, and ending in April, 2004, a copyright
lawsuit initiated by Penguin Books and FIP was brought
against the Church of the Full Endeavor for their unlimited
independent publication of substantial portions of A Course
in Miracles. It was found that the contents of the FIP
first edition, published from 1976 through 1992, are in
the public domain. However, copyright in all of the changes
introduced in the Second Edition remains intact, as does
the copyright for the Text Preface, "Clarification
of Terms" found at the end of the Manual for Teachers,
and the two supplementary pamphlets, Psychotherapy and
Song of Prayer, as well as Schucman's poetry, The Gifts
of God. The Urtext manuscript of A Course in Miracles,
which has been widely published on the internet, was obtained
deceptively under false pretenses. This material is under
separate copyright and all duplications and versions of
this copy are in violation of its copyright protection.
The
Text contains the largest volume of material--containing
31 chapters--and discusses the theory upon which A Course
in Miracles is based.
The
Workbook contains 365 lessons, which are designed to be
used daily to help a student practice applying the principles
set forth in the text.
Links:
Click here
for the Official Website and copyright holder's information.
Click
here for The Text
Click
here for The Workbook
Click
here for The Manual for Teachers
Click
here to find out how to join us for ACIM Gather
