For more than three decades a Course in Miracles has been a major influence on the growing number of people who identify as spiritual but not religious. First published in 1976, ACIM combines profound spiritual teachings with far-reaching and practical psychological insights. It has sold more than three million copies, without advertising or endorsements, to men and women from all walks of life and every major religion.

It all began with two Columbia University psychologists. Helen Schucman and William Thetford were highly respected experts in their fields who had become frustrated by years of angry competition and division within their department. In the fall of 1965, Helen heard an inner voice that said, “This is a course in miracles, please take notes.” From then on, she had an inner experience that consisted of heightened dreams and psychic visions, culminating in an intense period of inner dictation in which the entire text of A Course in Miracles was dictated to her word for word over seven years.

The Course consists of a 650-page textbook (providing the philosophical foundation of the teachings), a 500-page workbook of daily meditations (prescribing a spiritual discipline), and a 90-page manual for teachers (extending the thought system of the course to others). It is referred to as the “Courses” or the “ACIM” by its followers.

Although the Course draws on A course in miracles many traditional religious and spiritual traditions, including Christianity, its metaphysics is closer to that of Eastern mysticism than to Western religion. It also challenges many aspects of contemporary Christian beliefs, for example arguing that Jesus did not die on the cross to pay for human sin and that salvation comes through the simple acceptance that love already exists.

The intellectual approach of the Course is reinforced by a practice called forgiveness, which is the central theme that runs throughout all of its lessons. Those who study the Course claim that this practice leads to a gradual release of guilt and fear, the elimination of depression and anxiety, and a shift in perception to one of compassion and peace.

While some people who read the Course are able to do so independently, most find it helpful to have a teacher, a spiritual guide who can assist them in applying the lessons to their lives. A teacher can be a member of the ACIM community, an experienced student of the Course who volunteers to share his or her insights. Alternatively, the teacher may be an outsider who is familiar with its ideas and principles.

While some teachers of the Course are well known, other popular spiritual writers who have used its concepts but do not formally teach it include Eckhart Tolle, Wayne Dyer, and Gabrielle Bernstein. While the textbook is a comprehensive and in-depth work, it is accessible to anyone willing to make a commitment to reading and practicing it. For the beginner, the best way to start is by reading the Text and then the Workbook at a pace that feels comfortable.