A Course in Miracles: An Overview

Taken by permission from literature of the Foundation For A Course in Miracles

A Course in Miracles was written down by a process known as inner dictation, wherein Dr. Helen Schucman, a clinical psychologist and professor at the Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center in New York City, internally "heard" the voice of Jesus, Who dictated the Course to her over a seven-year period beginning in the fall of 1965. The scribing-Jesus' and Helen's term for the process-began shortly after an experience of forgiveness between her and Dr. William Thetford, professor and Psychology Department chairman at the Medical Center, and a close friend of Helen's. Shortly before they were to attend a monthly interdisciplinary meeting at another New York medical center, Bill made a speech to Helen, the gist of which was that there had to be "another way" of relating to colleagues-with love and peace instead of attack and judgment. Helen's agreeing with him reflected their shared thought of forgiveness-they almost never agreed on anything-a joining together that reflected what A Course in Miracles would later term a holy instant. The Course, whose major focus is the healing of relationships through forgiveness, obviously was the "answer" to their search for another way.

The Course consists of three books-text, workbook for students, and manual for teachers-that together constitute a self-contained curriculum for spiritual growth. It is unique among world spiritualities in its integration of a non-dualistic metaphysics with a sophisticated psychology that describes in great detail the subtle complexities of the ego's (or false self's) thought system. The Course teaches that our fundamental problem is the belief that we have separated from God, and in an attempt to escape the enormous guilt over what we believe we have done, we project this guilt onto others. By changing our minds-having the Holy Spirit or Jesus be our Teacher instead of the ego-we are able with Their help to forgive others for what we have projected onto them. Thus the guilt is not only lifted from the other person, but is undone in our minds as well. And so through our decision to forgive, we learn how to remember that we have never truly left our Creator and Source, and remain as He created us-one with Him and all creation.

Anyone interested in an introductory workshop on A Course in Miracles to be held in north Raleigh may call Deborah or Henry Tarkington at 919-938-3638 or e-mail deheta@earthlink.net. For books, video and audiotapes, and articles on A Course in Miracles, contact http:// www.facim.org/.