HEH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Introduction to A Course in Miracles
>From The Foundation of Inner Peace www.facim.org
A Course in Miracles is a complete self-study spiritual thought system. As a three-volume curriculum consisting of a Text, Workbook for Students, and Manual for Teachers, it teaches that the way to universal love and peace—or remembering God—is by undoing guilt through forgiving others. The Course thus focuses on the healing of relationships and making them holy. A Course in Miracles also emphasizes that it is but one version of the universal curriculum, of which there are "many thousands." Consequently, even though the language of the Course is that of traditional Christianity, it expresses a non-sectarian, non-denominational spirituality. A Course in Miracles therefore is a universal spiritual teaching, not a religion.
The "Text" presents the theory of the Course and has built into its study the development of the experience of forgiveness that is the Course's goal for the student. In this regard, A Course in Miracles states that "its goal for you is happiness and peace." (Text, p. 241) (T-13.II.7:1) The Text also explains the basis for fear and guilt, and how they can be overcome through miracles, which are defined as maximal "expressions of love." Miracles are also defined as the shift in perception from fear to love.
The "Workbook for Students" consists of 365 lessons, an exercise for each day of the year. This one-year training program begins the process of changing the student's mind and perception, though it is not intended to bring one's learning to completion. As stated in the Preface to the Course, "At the end, the reader is left in the hands of his or her own Internal Teacher, Who will direct all subsequent learning as He sees fit." (Preface: ix)
The "Manual for Teachers" is written in question-and-answer form and provides answers to some of the more likely questions a student might ask. It also includes clarification of a number of terms the Course uses, explaining them within the theoretical framework of the Text and for their practical application through the Workbook.
A Course in Miracles was "scribed" by Dr. Helen Schucman through a process of inner dictation she identified as coming from Jesus. A clinical and research psychologist and tenured Associate Professor of Medical Psychology, she was assisted by Dr. William Thetford, her department head, who was also a tenured Professor of Medical Psychology at the Medical Center where they both worked.
A Course in Miracles was first published in 1975, the year Dr. Schucman assigned copyright of the Course to the Foundation for Inner Peace (FIP). Since the beginning and as designated, this Foundation has been its publisher, disseminator, and copyright/trademark holder, although in 1999 it assigned the copyright and trademark to the Foundation for A Course in Miracles (FACIM). There are currently over one and a half million copies of the Course in circulation worldwide. Translations in Chinese, Danish, Dutch, German, Hebrew, Italian, Portuguese, Russian, and Spanish are also available, with eleven other translations now in progress.
What exactly, then, is A Course in Miracles? The summary introduction, which appears in its Text, is quite succinct and brief. It reads:
"This is a course in miracles. It is a required course. Only the time you take it is voluntary. Free will does not mean that you can establish the curriculum. It means only that you can elect what you want to take at a given time. The course does not aim at teaching the meaning of love, for that is beyond what can be taught. It does aim, however, at removing the blocks to the awareness of love's presence, which is your natural inheritance. The opposite of love is fear, but what is all-encompassing can have no opposite.
This course can therefore be summed up very simply in this way:
Nothing real can be threatened.
Nothing unreal exists.
Herein lies the peace of God"
For more details about the Course and how it was scribed, go to
www.facim.org
Where did A Course In Miracles come from?
During the mid-1960's in a workplace filled with conflict, aggression, suspicion and chaos, two people struggled to find a sense of peace and harmony. Their relationship was difficult and often strained. Finding this working environment extremely stressful, a research psychologist and her department head jointly willed to find a better way. This small bit of willingness set in motion the making of "A Course In Miracles."
Helen Schucman, a Research Psychologist at the Columbia University School of Physicians and Surgeons, was anything but spiritual. Highly educated and atheistic in belief, she would hardly be the logical choice to transcribe such powerful and life changing material. However, her willingness to find a better way was all the "Voice" needed.
For three months Helen received highly symbolic dreams and strange images accompanied by a silent Voice. Concerned with the Voice and the meaning of these dreams, she confided in Bill Thetford, her co-worker and friend. Bill suggested she write down the dreams and images and they would review the content. She agreed. Helen had become accustomed to the strange images and dreams, but she was very surprised when she heard the Voice say "This is a course in miracles. Please take note. "
In a gentle yet assuring way, the Voice would dictate the material to Helen, who wrote it down in shorthand. Each day she would meet with Bill and he would type it out. The material would come whenever Helen was ready to transcribe it.
Both Helen and Bill recognized the profound importance of the Course material. Although Helen was opposed to writing it down and was often infuriated with the inference of the Voice, it never seriously occurred to her to stop. And it was obvious to Bill that this material was the answer to their request, "there must be a better way." After reading the material dictated over the first few days, he knew that to accept this material would involve a mind shift that would contradict everything he believed to be true. Yet he also felt a sense of truth in the material. Bill knew they must continue transcribing this material.
Helen, at one point, refused to transcribe any more material until she knew what it was for. Bill suggested that she ask the Voice. They were surprised at the answer:
"The world situation is worsening to an alarming degree. People all over the world are being called on to help, and are making their individual contributions as part of an overall prearranged plan. Part of the plan is taking down A Course in Miracles, and I am fulfilling my part in the agreement, as you will fulfill yours. You will be using abilities you developed long ago, and which you are not really ready to use again. Because of the acute emergency, however, the usual slow, evolutionary process is being by-passed in what might best be described as a 'Celestial speed-up. '" (Journey Without Distance by Robert Skutch, P 60)
This inner dictation, as Helen called it, would come mentally in a soundless way. Although she was a professed atheist, she had no doubt the material was being given her by Jesus. The Course was being dictated in first person, and at one point states:
"The Name of Jesus Christ as such is but a symbol. But it stands for love that is not of this world. It is a symbol that is safely used as a replacement for many names of all the gods to which you pray. . . This course has come from him because his words have reached you in a language you can love and understand." (M 58-59) [55-56J <SNIP>