In A Course in Miracles, Helen Schucman channeled a teaching of Jesus that she later edited with William Thetford. They compiled it into three volumes--the Text, the Workbook for Students, and the Manual for Teachers.
The Course calls a miracle "when true perception transfers from the mind of the giver to the mind of the receiver." It teaches that sickness is caused by sick perception, a projection of the ego's false self-conception, and that it is possible to heal the mind through a new perception of true self.
It is not a religion
The New Age movement is a popular cultural phenomenon that seeks to provide alternative forms of esoteric, spiritual, and mystical knowledge and experience in a nominally Christian or post-Christian Western world. A Course in Miracles represents a significant and enduring feature of this movement, reflecting trends in contemporary Western religiosity, especially the quest for alternative forms of gnostic thought in an increasingly disillusioned and disaffected world.
As a neo-gnostic text, A Course in Miracles has largely been ignored or marginalized in mainstream religious studies, but a critical evaluation of its editing, reception, and contemporary interpretation offers a fascinating case study in how "texts" become invested with "scriptural" authority and exemplify the gnosticizing trajectories that have fueled contemporary New Age thought.
Unlike other religious texts, A Course in Miracles does not advocate a dualistic metaphysics that sees God and the physical universe as separate. Instead, it argues that all levels of reality are inherently interconnected and interdependent, and that sickness results from misperceptions that create an illusion of separation between the body and the spirit.
This is a fundamental point in the Course's philosophy. As a result, a healing miracle must focus on the mind rather than the physical.
Another important principle in A Course in Miracles is that the healing of the mind involves a correction of a misperception of the ego. This is an essential aspect of the Course's teachings, as it explains that the ego is the underlying source of guilt and remorse for all one does.
By contrast, a correction of the ego's misperception can also bring about healing for the spirit. This is why the Course often recommends meditation for mental healing: to help one gain a clearer and more accurate view of reality, which can then lead to improved behavior.
As a consequence of this belief, many people are burdened with unconscious guilt and feel they are sinners. In addition, they are more likely to be receptive to the influence of negative emotions like anger and depression, which may seem like a natural part of being human but actually detract from our ability to reach God. A Course in Miracles teaches that the only way to remove this guilt and reclaim one's true self is to correct the ego's perception of the world.
It is not a philosophy
New Age is a neo-gnostic movement that represents significant trends in contemporary Western religiosity, especially the quest for alternative forms of esoteric "spiritual" knowledge and experience in a nominally Christian or post-Christian West.
The neo-gnostic movement draws on elements of ancient Gnosticism, including an emphasis on alternative forms of religion and mysticism, and a quest for gnostic revelation as the primary source of "truth". A Course in Miracles is a modern-day neo-Gnostic text that exemplifies some of these gnosticizing trajectories in the New Age.
A Course in Miracles is a three-volume, 1250-page book (text, workbook, and manual for teachers) written in 1976 by Helen Schucman. She claimed that the words of the book were dictated by an “Inner Voice” she identified as Jesus or the Holy Spirit.
This “Inner Voice” teaches the student about the human condition. The Course is designed to bring a consistent state of happiness and peace to the student through the application of its principles. The lessons are revolutionary and often seem like magic, but they can bring real and lasting relief.
Unlike most other forms of spirituality, however, A Course in Miracles does not fit neatly into any category. The Course combines sophisticated concepts of forgiveness, true perception, and the holy instant with a focus on depth psychology, mysticism, and spiritual development.
It also fills the familiar form of a traditional miracle with new content, making it something that everyone can do and enabling it to heal any problem. In addition, the Course focuses the miracle away from physical healing and onto mental and interpersonal healing.
A Course in Miracles is not a religion; rather, it aims to help people overcome their own demons and heal their relationships with others. The course teaches that every person is burdened with an unconscious sense of guilt that is the result of identification with their ego.
As the course teaches, this ego is responsible for most of our problems in life. This guilt is based on our belief that we are separate from God and from each other, and it reflects the fact that our egos have developed an unrelenting habit of attacking others.
It is not a psychology
A course in miracles new age is a metaphysical self-study program that offers a system of spiritual psychotherapy and an invitation to experience inner peace. It is a unique approach to healing, and can be challenging to follow at first, but it can provide a consistent state of happiness and peace.
It is based upon a 669-page text that explains the philosophy of miracles; a 488-page workbook that offers 365 daily lessons; and a 92-page manual for teachers. It also includes two supplements, The Song of Prayer and Psychotherapy.
The thought system of A Course in Miracles is intellectually sophisticated, combining spiritual inspiration with a deep psychological understanding of such phenomena as belief and defense systems, perception and identity. It was scribed by Helen Schucman, a medical psychology professor at Columbia University in the 1960s and 1970s, with assistance from Bill Thetford, Ken Wapnick, and Robert Skutch.
This approach to the world of perception is a revolutionary one, as it moves away from the usual view of the human being as a limited, isolated, and separate entity. It calls into question all that we have been taught about ourselves and others in terms of what is real, true, and authentic.
In A Course in Miracles, we are taught to recognize that our true nature is Love, and that we are a part of the divine whole. This reorientation allows us to release our self-defeating thoughts and beliefs about ourselves.
We learn to access our inner teacher, the Voice of the Holy Spirit, and to be guided by it. We are encouraged to observe our egos with Jesus, to release blocks and obstacles that interfere with our ability to love without limits, and to practice the healing arts of forgiveness, prayer, and inner peace.
As we continue to practice these principles, we begin to perceive the world in a different way--one that is filled with love and compassion for all beings. This begins to transform our entire perspective on life and is the starting point for transformation.
We are given the power to make a miracle happen, and we have the opportunity to create an entirely new way of seeing ourselves and the world around us. This transformative experience is a gift that comes from the Higher Holy Spirit Self, which is always present and waiting to guide you.
It is not a book
Despite its title, a course in miracles new age is not a book. Instead, it's a spiritual path that can be practiced in order to experience healing and transformation. This esoteric teaching is a blend of Christian terminology with Eastern mysticism, perennial philosophy, and modern psychological insights.
It is based on the idea that God or a higher power is able to work through our minds, and that we can achieve a state of peace by retraining our thoughts. This process is accomplished through a series of daily lessons that are taught by Helen Schucman, a psychologist at Columbia University.
The Course's theory is based on the concept of "true perception," or vision, which is achieved through an ongoing process of disciplined practice of a set of 365 lessons. These lessons are taught by teachers around the world, and are meant to be a powerful tool for achieving a permanent state of peace.
However, while this material is very powerful, it can also be overwhelming for those who are not prepared to work through its contents in an organized manner. This is why the authors of the course created A Course in Miracles Original Edition, which was first published in 1972 and was then edited significantly by others.
During this editing process, it was discovered that many of the text's early chapters contained material that was not suitable for teaching the Course. The authors then divided the text into sections and gave titles to each section, which resulted in a more organized version of the book that is still used today.
These sections include lessons that cover topics such as forgiveness, true perception, and the holy instant, and extend into areas of depth psychology, extrovertive mysticism, and spiritual development. This new content broadens the miracle's range, making it something that everyone is called to do and enabling it to heal any problem.
In addition, the Course focuses the miracle away from the physical and says that it is not about healing bodies or performing spectacular physical feats. Rather, it is about healing minds and relationships, and any physical healing that occurs is a by-product of this more essential healing.