The realistic program of ACIM's teachings can also be a spot of contention. While some individuals record good transformations and particular development from following a course, the others get the practices to be inadequate or even harmful. The course's emphasis on forgiveness and love is excellent, but experts disagree that it may be excessively simplified and naïve, declining to deal with the complexities of individual relationships and the necessity for boundaries and accountability. Additionally, the course's period and intense nature could be overwhelming for a lot of people, ultimately causing burnout or disillusionment. Authorities claim that enough time and energy needed to perform ACIM might be better allocated to more empirically reinforced beneficial techniques or spiritual disciplines which have a proven track record of effectiveness.

The broader influence of ACIM on the religious and self-help areas can also be worth considering. The course has inspired a significant subsequent david hoffmeister and has been incorporated into various New Era and spiritual movements. But, its influence is seen as a double-edged sword. Using one hand, it's offered a construction for individuals seeking spiritual development and inner peace. On another hand, its teachings can contribute to a tradition of spiritual bypassing, where people use spiritual methods to prevent dealing with particular and cultural issues. This will cause an application of escapism, where in fact the concentrate on spiritual ideals distracts from the necessity of engaging with and addressing real-world challenges.

Furthermore, the commercial accomplishment of ACIM and their related products improves ethical concerns. The proliferation of workshops, publications, and seminars based on ACIM can be seen as capitalizing on individuals' religious wants and vulnerabilities. Authorities disagree that the commercialization of spirituality may lead to the exploitation of seekers, who may spend significant time and income into methods that fundamentally don't provide on their promises. That commercialization may also donate to the dilution of the course's teachings, as various understandings and adaptations proliferate, probably leading to distress and misapplication of the principles.

Another important element to take into account is the exclusivity and dogmatism that can sometimes accompany the ACIM community. As the course it self encourages general love and forgiveness, the way in which it's taught and used by some adherents may result in a sense of spiritual elitism. This could produce an "people versus them" attitude, where those who follow ACIM are seen as enlightened, while people who don't are considered as misguided or unenlightened. Such attitudes can be divisive and detrimental to the course's supposed objectives of peace and unity. Authorities fight that true religious development must foster inclusivity and humility, rather than developing a hierarchical difference involving the spiritually awakened and the unawakened.