The realistic application of ACIM's teachings can be a place of contention. While some individuals report good transformations and particular development from after the course, the others discover the methods to be useless as well as harmful. The course's focus on forgiveness and love is admirable, but critics disagree that it could be overly basic and naïve, declining to address the difficulties of human relationships and the need for boundaries and accountability. Moreover, the course's size and intensive nature could be overwhelming for a lot of people, leading to burnout or disillusionment. Authorities suggest that the time and effort required to perform ACIM could be greater used on more empirically reinforced beneficial practices or religious disciplines which have an established history of effectiveness.

The broader influence of ACIM on the religious and self-help neighborhoods is also worth considering. The course has encouraged a significant christian mysticism subsequent and has been built-into various New Era and religious movements. However, their effect is visible as a double-edged sword. On a single give, it has presented a structure for individuals seeking spiritual development and inner peace. On another give, its teachings may contribute to a culture of religious skipping, where people use religious methods to prevent coping with personal and social issues. This could lead to a form of escapism, where the give attention to religious values distracts from the requisite of engaging with and approaching real-world challenges.

Furthermore, the commercial accomplishment of ACIM and its connected materials raises ethical concerns. The proliferation of workshops, publications, and seminars predicated on ACIM can be seen as capitalizing on individuals' religious needs and vulnerabilities. Critics fight that the commercialization of spirituality may cause the exploitation of seekers, who might spend substantial time and income into techniques that ultimately don't produce on the promises. This commercialization may also contribute to the dilution of the course's teachings, as various interpretations and changes proliferate, potentially resulting in frustration and misapplication of the principles.

Still another important aspect to take into account is the exclusivity and dogmatism that could occasionally accompany the ACIM community. While the course it self stimulates universal enjoy and forgiveness, the way in which it's shown and practiced by some adherents can lead to a feeling of spiritual elitism. This can produce an "us versus them" thinking, wherever those that follow ACIM are viewed as enlightened, while people who do not are seen as misguided or unenlightened. Such attitudes could be divisive and counterproductive to the course's supposed targets of peace and unity. Experts disagree that true religious growth must foster inclusivity and humility, rather than developing a hierarchical distinction between the spiritually awakened and the unawakened.