词条 | A Course in Miracles |
释义 |
}}{{Infobox book | name = A Course in Miracles | image = ACIM3COVER.jpg | caption = A Course in Miracles, Combined Volume, Third Edition as published by the Foundation for Inner Peace. | author = There is no author attributed to ACIM, although it was "scribed" by Helen Schucman | editor = Helen Schucman, Bill Thetford, Kenneth Wapnick | illustrator = | cover_artist = | country = United States | subject = Transformation | genre = Spirituality | publisher= 1976 (New York: Viking: The Foundation for Inner Peace) 2007 (The Foundation for Inner Peace, 3rd ed.) | media_type = Softcover, hardcover, paperback MME, and Kindle, Sony and Mobipocket ebooks | pages = 1333 | isbn = 978-1-883360-24-5 | oclc = 190860865 | preceded_by = | followed_by = }}{{NewThought}}A Course in Miracles (also referred to as ACIM or the Course) is a 1976 book containing a curriculum which aims to assist its readers in achieving spiritual transformation. The underlying premise of the work is the teaching that the greatest "miracle" that one may achieve in one's life is the act of simply gaining a full "awareness of love's presence" in one's own life.[1] The book was written, or "scribed," by Helen Schucman, who claimed that it had been dictated to her word for word via "inner dictation" which came from Jesus.[2][3] The Course contains a curriculum to bring about what it calls a "spiritual transformation," consisting of three sections entitled the "Text", "Workbook for Students," and "Manual for Teachers". Written, or transcribed, from 1965 to 1972, some distribution occurred via photocopies before a hardcover edition was published in 1976 by the Foundation for Inner Peace.[4] The copyright and trademarks, which had been held by two foundations, were revoked in 2004[4] after lengthy litigation because the earliest versions had been circulated without a copyright notice.[5][6] Throughout the 1980s annual sales of the book steadily increased each year; however the largest growth in sales occurred in 1992 after Marianne Williamson discussed the book on The Oprah Winfrey Show,[4] with more than two million volumes sold.[4] The book has been called everything from "New Age psychobabble"[7] to "a Satanic seduction"[4] to "The New Age Bible".[8] According to Olav Hammer, the psychiatrist and bestselling author Gerald G. Jampolsky has been among the most effective promoters of the Course. His first book Love is Letting go of Fear, which is based on the principles of the Course, was published in 1979 and after being endorsed on Johnny Carson's show went on to sell over 3 million copies by 1990. [9] OriginsA Course in Miracles was written as a collaborative venture between Schucman and William ('Bill') Thetford. In 1958 Schucman began her professional career at Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center in New York City as Thetford's research associate.[10][11] In the spring of 1965, at a time when their weekly office meetings had become so contentious that they both dreaded them, Thetford suggested to Schucman that "[t]here must be another way".[12] Schucman believed that this interaction acted as a stimulus, triggering a series of inner experiences that were understood by her as visions, dreams, and heightened imagery, along with an "inner voice" which she identified as Jesus. She said that on October 21, 1965, an "inner voice" told her: "This is a Course in Miracles, please take notes." Schucman said that the writing made her very uncomfortable, though it never seriously occurred to her to stop.[13] The next day, she explained the events of her "note taking" to Thetford. To her surprise, Thetford encouraged her to continue the process. He also offered to assist her in typing out her notes as she read them to him. The transcription the next day repeated itself regularly for many years to come. In 1972, the dictation of the three main sections of the Course was completed, with some additional minor dictation coming after that point. [14]Fr. Benedict Groeschel, a Roman Catholic priest who had studied under Thetford and worked with Schucman, arranged an introduction of Kenneth Wapnick to Schucman and Thetford in November 1972. Groeschel was given a copy of the ACIM manuscript in 1973 and testified that he was instructed by Schucman not to distribute the manuscript; however, with Schucman's permission, he made it available to Wapnick. Wapnick then reviewed the draft and discussed, with Schucman and Thetford, further revisions that he felt were needed in order to place the book in its final copyrighted and published form. Thetford then made a few further editorial decisions and stipulations about the "Principles of Miracles" section, and soon afterwards opted to withdraw from being directly involved with any further major edits to the material. Wapnick and Schucman continued to edit the manuscript by deleting personal material apparently directed only to Schucman and Thetford, creating chapter and section headings, and correcting various inconsistencies in paragraph structure, punctuation, and capitalization.[15] This editing process was completed by approximately February 1975. Wapnick subsequently became a teacher of ACIM, a co-founder and president of the Foundation for A Course in Miracles (FACIM), and a director and executive committee member of the Foundation for Inner Peace (FIP). ContentsThe content of A Course in Miracles is presented in the three sections: "Textbook", "Workbook", and "Manual for Teachers":
Foundation for Inner Peace and Other EditionsA limited edition release of 300 copies of the first three sections of the book was published by The Foundation for Inner Peace, a publishing company that had been created solely to publish A Course in Miracles. In June 1976, FIP published the first three sections of ACIM in a set of three hardcover volumes in a 5,000 copy run, along with the publication of the supplemental booklet Psychology: Purpose, Process, Practice. In 1985, FIP began publishing a single volume containing all three of the first books in single soft-cover volume. In 1992, FIP published its second edition, a hardcover edition. This revision incorporated some minor changes within the first three sections including some editorial content additions and the addition of a verse-numbering system, as well as addition of the "Clarification of Terms" section. At this time, FIP also released the publication of the supplemental Song of Prayer booklet. In October 2004, a long-standing copyright battle over A Course In Miracles was decided with a ruling that put the work into the public domain. In August 2017, the Circle of Atonement published "A Course in Miracles: Complete and Annotated Edition", which contains the original material that Helen Schucman wrote up to 1972, and prior to it being edited by Schucman, Thetford, and Wapnick into the Foundation for Inner Peace edition. ReceptionSince it first went on sale in 1976, the text has been translated into 22 languages.[18] The book is distributed globally, forming the basis of a range of organized groups.[19] Wapnick said that "if the Bible were considered literally true, then (from a Biblical literalist's viewpoint) the Course would have to be viewed as demonically inspired".[20] Though a friend of Schucman, Thetford, and Wapnick, Catholic priest Benedict Groeschel has criticized ACIM and the related organizations. Finding some elements of ACIM to be what he called "severe and potentially dangerous distortions of Christian theology", he wrote that it is "a good example of a false revelation"[21] and that it has "become a spiritual menace to many”.[22] The evangelical editor Elliot Miller says that Christian terminology employed in ACIM is "thoroughly redefined" to resemble New Age teachings. Other Christian critics say that ACIM is "intensely anti-Biblical" and incompatible with Christianity, blurring the distinction between creator and created and forcefully supporting the occult and New Age worldview.[23] The skeptic Robert T. Carroll criticized ACIM as "a minor industry" that is overly commercialized and characterizes it as "Christianity improved". Carroll said the teachings are not original and suggested they are culled from "various sources, east and west".[24] Associated worksTwo associated works have been noted as extensions of A Course in Miracles. Author Gary Renard's The Disappearance of the Universe, first published in 2003, and Marianne Williamson's A Return to Love, published in 1992.[25][4][26][27] The Disappearance of the Universe, first published in 2003 by Fearless Books, was later republished by Hay House in 2004.[28] Publishers Weekly noted how Renard's significant examination of A Course in Miracles influenced his book.[29] See also{{portal|Books}}
References1. ^A Course in Miracles. Foundation for Inner Peace. [https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/A_Course_in_Miracles/Text Introduction], Page 1. Retrieved December 29, 2017. 2. ^{{cite web|title=ACIM: About the Scribes|url=http://www.acim.org/Scribing/about_scribes.html|website=acim.org|publisher=Foundation for Inner Peace|accessdate=December 29, 2017}} 3. ^{{cite book|author=Foundation for Inner Peace|title=A Course in Miracles: Combined Volume|date=1992|publisher=The Foundation|location=Glen Ellen, Calif.|isbn=0-9606388-9-X|pages=vii–viii|edition=2nd|url=https://www.acim.org/AboutACIM/how.html|accessdate=December 29, 2017}} 4. ^1 2 3 4 5 {{cite book|last1=Miller|first1=D. Patrick|title=Understanding A Course in Miracles: The History, Message, and Legacy of a Spiritual Path for Today|date=November 23, 2011|publisher=Celestial Arts|location=Berkeley, CA|isbn=9780307807793|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1ugFYKozgIgC|accessdate=December 29, 2017}} 5. ^{{cite book |last=Beverley |first=James |title=Nelson's Illustrated Guide to Religions: A Comprehensive Introduction to the Religions of the World |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ul0kFIxtMfkC&pg=PT397|accessdate=December 29, 2017|date=May 19, 2009|publisher=Thomas Nelson Inc.|isbn=9781418577469|pages=397–}} 6. ^{{cite journal|title=Recipient's Common Interest in Subject of Work Does Not Limit Publication|journal=Patent, Trademark & Copyright Journal|year=2003|volume=67|issue=1645|pages=16–17|publisher=Bureau of National Affairs (BNA)}} 7. ^{{cite book |last1=Boa |first1=Kenneth |last2=Bowman |first2=Robert M. |title=An Unchanging Faith in a Changing World: Understanding and Responding to Critical Issues that Christians Face Today|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hJuUtcoUOysC|accessdate=September 28, 2014|year=1997|publisher=Oliver Nelson|isbn=9780785273523}} 8. ^The Imminent Heaven: Spiritual Post-Metaphysics and Ethics in a Postmodern Era 9. ^Hammer, O, 2004, Claiming Knowledge : Strategies of Epistemology from Theosophy to the New Age, Studies in the history of religions 90, Brill, Leiden, Boston p451 10. ^[https://acim.org/Scribing/about_scribes.html Helen Schucman's Career] 11. ^{{Cite news|url=https://acim.biz/a-course-in-miracles-book-acim/|title=A Course in Miracles Book ACIM Lessons Online and Text|work=ACIM Portal|access-date=25 December 2017}} 12. ^{{cite book | title=Helen Schucman: Autobiography, in "Origins of A Course in Miracles" 3:27–28 |publisher=Foundation for Inner Peace Archives, Tiburon, CA)}} 13. ^Skutch, Robert. Journey Without Distance: The Story Behind A Course in Miracles. Ten Speed Press, Berkeley, CA, 1984, p. 58. 14. ^Final Dictation of The Song of Prayer 15. ^{{cite web | url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dpJ6BO8xeDA |title= The Story of A Course in Miracles = Documentary where Bill Thetford, Helen Schucman, and Ken Wapnick talk about A Course in Miracles |accessdate=21 February 2011}} 16. ^Hammer, O, 2004, Claiming Knowledge : Strategies of Epistemology from Theosophy to the New Age, Studies in the history of religions 90, Brill, Leiden, Boston 17. ^Joseph, Simon J. "‘Knowledge is Truth’: A Course in Miracles as Neo-Gnostic Scripture" in Gnosis:Journal of Gnostic Studies, Volume 1, Issue 2, 22 Mar 2017 18. ^{{cite web | url = http://www.acim.org |title=ACIM Translations |publisher=Foundation for Inner Peace |accessdate=28 September 2009}} 19. ^Bradby, Ruth, "A course in miracles in Ireland". 147 – 162 in Olivia Cosgrove et al. (eds), Ireland's new religious movements. Cambridge Scholars, 2011 20. ^Dean C. Halverson, "Seeing Yourself as Sinless", SCP Journal 7, no. 1 (1987): 23. 21. ^Groeschel, Benedict J., A Still Small Voice (San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 1993) 80 22. ^Groeschel, Benedict J., A Still Small Voice (San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 1993) 82 23. ^{{cite book|last=Newport|first= John P. |title=The New Age movement and the biblical worldview: conflict and dialogue |url=https://books.google.com/?id=Rxss1cqHWYIC&pg=PA176&dq=%22a+course+in+miracles%22+christian+criticism#v=onepage&q&f=false|year=1998|publisher=Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing|isbn=978-0-8028-4430-9}} 24. ^{{cite book|last=Carroll|first=Robert Todd |title=The skeptic's dictionary: a collection of strange beliefs, amusing deceptions, and dangerous delusions|url=https://books.google.com/?id=6FPqDFx40vYC&pg=PA84&dq=skeptic+%22a+course+in+miracles#v=onepage&q=skeptic%20%22a%20course%20in%20miracles&f=false|year=2003|publisher=John Wiley and Sons|isbn=978-0-471-27242-7}} 25. ^Butler-Bowdon, Tom.[https://books.google.com/books?id=GT0JJOCNU_8C&pg=PA223 50 Spiritual Classics: Timeless Wisdom From 50 Great Books of Inner Discovery, Enlightenment and Purpose]. Nicholas Brealey Publishing, 2010. p. 223. 26. ^Butler-Bowdon, Tom. [https://books.google.com/books?id=GraTRTr9UIsC&pg=RA4-PA223 The Literature of Possibility]. Nicholas Brealey Publishing, 2013. p. 223. 27. ^Coburn, Lorri. [https://books.google.com/books?id=AjtE4SY2U-QC&pg=PA193 Breaking Free: How Forgiveness and A Course in Miracles Can Set You Free]. Balboa Press, 2011. p. 193. 28. ^{{cite news |last=Wilson |first=Brandy |date=July 29, 2006 |title=Community of Faith: NEWS FROM HOUSES OF WORSHIP: 'Disappearance of Universe' author to host workshop |url=http://infoweb.newsbank.com/resources/doc/nb/news/1132C530A58FA578?p=WORLDNEWS |newspaper=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution |accessdate=8 August 2017 |archiveurl=https://www.webcitation.org/6sYaIfRwH?url=http://infoweb.newsbank.com/resources/doc/nb/news/1132C530A58FA578?p=WORLDNEWS |archivedate=August 8, 2017 |deadurl=yes |df= }} 29. ^{{cite news |last=Garrett |first=Lynn |date=March 7, 2005 |title='Disappearance' Appears Big Time |url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/print/20050307/28564-disappearance-appears-big-time.html |newspaper=Publishers Weekly |accessdate=8 August 2017 |archiveurl=https://www.webcitation.org/6sYZWQS0P?url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/print/20050307/28564-disappearance-appears-big-time.html |archivedate=August 8, 2017 |deadurl=yes |df= }} Further reading
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