A Very Brief History of a Course in Miracles

Over 40 years ago, a psychologist from Columbiadoes exist is pure love and that innocent minds
University began to channel revelations from aand spiritually right thinking will not allow anything
spiritual entity that she was convinced was Jesuslike evil to exist.
himself. She and her assistants produced teachingsThese ideas and beliefs angered many people
that filled hundreds of empty pages over a periodwho belonged to some of the major faiths
of seven years which later became "A Course Inbecause, while they espoused many of the same
Miracles."principles, this course also sought to have people
The psychologist was a Jewish lady named Helenbelieve that evil is not real and therefore sin is
Schucman, and she told people that Jesus Christalso not real. ACIM itself tries to have people
himself was her own spirit guide for these lessonsbelieve in the sanctity of right and wise beliefs
and teachings. These lessons were supposed toand behavior and in the fact that nothing can
provide credence for people to learn that theyharm you unless you believe that it can. New Age
were the only ones in control of their owngurus were quick to grasp onto these concepts
feelings, attitudes, actions and destinies. Thebecause many of the New Age religions are
teachings took many penalties of actions out ofbased not on sin and redemption but the power
the equation. Indeed, a hallmark of the ACIMof one's own mind and spirit.
course is that evil itself does not exist. The ACIMACIM does offer some teachings about how to
teachings insist that by training your mindrid yourself of angry and negative emotions that
properly, you can learn that there is no such thingare flooding your life with problems and creating
as evil, and that it is just a perception orillness and unhappiness day by day. A Course In
something that other people have set up toMiracles teaches you that you are responsible for
frighten and control the actions and thoughts ofthese feelings and they are only hurting you.
those who are not capable of thinking forTherefore, it is up to you to rid them from your
themselves. ACIM insists that the only thing thatlife for your own happiness and prosperity.