A Course In Miracles is a famous book written by Helen Schucman. The underlying premise is that what actually causes miracles is not so much a physical, as it is a mental act. Christ said that all things come from love and that nothing can be created in vain. However, as Schucman points out, this means that there can only be love if there are no objects to make it. So does a Course in Miracles really exist?
This article will cover the first two chapters of the book, which deal primarily with introductory philosophy and examples of previous fulfilled desires. The third chapter, "ACIM," which contains the citation needed to complete the course, deals primarily with the application of the concept of "love." After this, readers will have learned about the three parts of love and will be prepared to embark on the application of these concepts in their lives.
As we have seen above, A course in miracles starts with an introduction where Helen Schucman presents her basic beliefs about the nature of the universe and human beings. It also includes three short chapters that, while not specifically about the subject of miracles, provide an insightful look at the relationships of the ego and Christ, as well as how the ego relates to the higher self or the ego itself. These short chapters are useful, because they help present the ideas behind the course material. The idea of ego and Christ are central, but the nature of the universe and life in general are also equally important and are covered in great detail.
After an intro chapter that looks at the relationship between Christ and the ego, and the role of faith and action in bringing about miracles, the next few chapters cover the various areas of Christian Science that are relevant to this subject. These include a discussion on the nature of creation, the virgin birth, the existence of spirits, the physical body, and the soul. Although these chapters do touch on these topics in a cursory way, it is the quality of the information presented that makes these important areas of the teachings very interesting.
In chapter four, "The New Thought," a new light is cast on the Christian Science movement by discussing the methods, results, and purposes of the original system of thought. Helen Schucman does a good job of outlining what the original thought was and is showing how some of its methods are no longer applicable. She also examines the various arguments against Christian miracles and evaluates whether these arguments have any merit. Furthermore, she briefly outlines the role of apologetics in the modern era. Finally, she concludes the book with a short bibliography.
This is a fine workbook for those who are new to this area of Christian thought, but are not familiar with the methods or the background of the thought. It presents a clear explanation of how the Christian Science movement began and provides a clear outline of its various theories and methods. The three sections of the workbook provide a helpful introduction to this fascinating subject, and even though there are several different theories, the majority of them are similar. However, it can be somewhat difficult to understand at times, especially if you do not already have a solid grasp of the workings of Christian Science. Still, this is an excellent introduction to this fascinating subject for those interested in the area and would make a great addition to any curriculum or library.
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