The useful software of ACIM's teachings can also be a spot of contention. While some persons record positive transformations and particular development from after the class, others discover the methods to be inadequate or even harmful. The course's emphasis on forgiveness and enjoy is remarkable, but critics argue that it can be very simplistic and naïve, declining to handle the complexities of human relationships and the requirement for boundaries and accountability. Moreover, the course's period and intense character can be overwhelming for many people, resulting in burnout or disillusionment. Critics claim that enough time and work needed to accomplish ACIM could possibly be better spent on more empirically reinforced beneficial practices or spiritual disciplines which have a proven background of effectiveness.

The broader influence of ACIM on the religious and self-help towns is also value considering. The course has influenced a substantial following and has been built-into numerous New Era and spiritual movements. Nevertheless, their influence is visible as a double-edged acim sword. On one give, it's provided a construction for individuals seeking religious development and internal peace. On another give, their teachings may contribute to a tradition of religious bypassing, wherever people use religious concepts in order to avoid coping with particular and social issues. This could lead to an application of escapism, where in fact the focus on religious ideals distracts from the requisite of engaging with and handling real-world challenges.

More over, the industrial achievement of ACIM and their related resources increases honest concerns. The expansion of workshops, books, and seminars based on ACIM is seen as capitalizing on individuals' spiritual needs and vulnerabilities. Authorities fight that the commercialization of spirituality can result in the exploitation of seekers, who might spend significant time and money in to techniques that ultimately do not deliver on their promises. This commercialization also can donate to the dilution of the course's teachings, as various understandings and adaptations proliferate, possibly resulting in distress and misapplication of the principles.

Still another critical part to consider could be the exclusivity and dogmatism that will occasionally accompany the ACIM community. Whilst the program it self advances general enjoy and forgiveness, the way it's taught and practiced by some adherents can result in an expression of spiritual elitism. This could develop an "us versus them" mindset, where people who follow ACIM are regarded as enlightened, while those that don't are viewed as misguided or unenlightened. Such attitudes may be divisive and counterproductive to the course's purported goals of peace and unity. Authorities fight that true spiritual development should foster inclusivity and humility, rather than making a hierarchical variance between the spiritually awakened and the unawakened.