Described as the "esoteric bible that went mainstream,"

acim

ACIM has been a major influence on the rapidly growing number of people who identify themselves as spiritual but not religious. Its heady mix of reinterpreted Christian language, modern psychological thought and Eastern metaphysics is unlike any other spiritual teaching the world has ever known. The Origins

A Course in Miracles (ACIM) has a unique and distinctive metaphysics. It is both a psychology and a spiritual training, demanding an extraordinary degree of self-sacrifice as well as a radical shift in perspective, asserting that the physical world we perceive is nothing more than a massive mass illusion (similar to the Buddhist and Hindu notions of maya and samsara). Although it is sometimes regarded as a Christian path, its metaphysics is more aligned with Eastern mysticism, and it challenges several significant elements of contemporary Christianity, particularly the doctrines of sin and crucifixion. The standard edition of the Course, published by the Foundation for Inner Peace, has sold millions of copies worldwide.
The Teachings

In the wake of the New Age movement, ACIM quickly became one of the best-known channeled works in English--and the most successful spiritual book ever published. Its message, a heady mix of reinterpreted Christian language, modern psychological thought, and Eastern metaphysics, is unlike anything else the world has seen.

It teaches that Jesus was an advanced being who was fully aware of the illusory nature of the physical world, and that everyone shares his or her own potential for enlightened consciousness. Its most central idea is that forgiveness is the moment-by-moment practice that transforms attitudes and behavior.

It also calls for a reversal of ordinary perception, encouraging acceptance of the notion that spirit is the only real reality and that the physical world we perceive is a mass illusion (similar to Buddhist and Hindu ideas like maya or samsara). While many people identify as Course students, there are no accurate figures on how large the community is. The Foundation for Inner Peace manages the copyrights to the Standard edition of ACIM and distributes it worldwide, but there are dozens of other translations, many of which are sold without the Foundation's permission.
The Workbook

In its mix of reinterpreted Christian language, modern psychological thought, and Eastern metaphysics, ACIM offers a message that is as unique as it is challenging. While no spiritual teaching has ever gained such widespread acceptance, it maintains a steady following among a core group of students who have committed to learning its principles and practicing the demanding discipline of its Workbook of 365 daily lessons. The Foundation’s Standard edition is now available in 26 languages, and New Age authors such as Marianne Williamson and Gary Renard have brought it to a wider audience. The Pathways of Light website offers daily “Lesson Insights” that offer brief expositions on each of the Workbook Lessons.