The useful application of ACIM's teachings can also be a spot of contention. Although some individuals report positive transformations and personal growth from following a course, others get the practices to be useless as well as harmful. The course's emphasis on forgiveness and enjoy is admirable, but authorities argue that it may be overly simplistic and naïve, failing to deal with the complexities of human associations and the requirement for limits and accountability. Additionally, the course's period and intense nature can be overwhelming for a lot of people, resulting in burnout or disillusionment. Critics suggest that enough time and effort needed to perform ACIM could possibly be greater allocated to more empirically reinforced beneficial methods or spiritual professions which have an established background of effectiveness.

The broader affect of ACIM on the religious and self-help communities can also be worth considering. The program has inspired a significant following and has been built-into numerous New Era and spiritual movements. Nevertheless, its effect is seen as a david hoffmeister acim double-edged sword. On one give, it has provided a structure for persons seeking religious development and internal peace. On one other hand, its teachings can contribute to a culture of spiritual skipping, where people use religious methods in order to avoid coping with particular and social issues. This will lead to a form of escapism, where in fact the focus on religious attitudes distracts from the requisite of engaging with and approaching real-world challenges.

Moreover, the industrial accomplishment of ACIM and its connected resources raises ethical concerns. The proliferation of workshops, publications, and seminars centered on ACIM is visible as capitalizing on individuals' religious needs and vulnerabilities. Experts disagree that the commercialization of spirituality can cause the exploitation of seekers, who might spend substantial time and money into techniques that eventually don't provide on the promises. That commercialization can also contribute to the dilution of the course's teachings, as numerous understandings and adaptations proliferate, potentially ultimately causing confusion and misapplication of the principles.

Still another critical element to take into account is the exclusivity and dogmatism that can occasionally accompany the ACIM community. As the class it self stimulates common enjoy and forgiveness, the way it is taught and used by some adherents can result in a sense of religious elitism. This could produce an "us versus them" mentality, where those who follow ACIM are seen as enlightened, while those who don't are considered as misguided or unenlightened. Such attitudes could be divisive and counterproductive to the course's supposed goals of peace and unity. Authorities argue that correct religious development should foster inclusivity and humility, as opposed to developing a hierarchical difference between the spiritually awakened and the unawakened.