Frequently Asked Questions about A Course in Miracles (4)
The versions of A Course in Miracles
Q: What are the differences between the First and Second Editions?
The Second Edition of A Course in Miracles appeared in 1992. It differs from the First Edition primarily in these ways:
- The presence of reference numbering for every section, paragraph, and sentence
- The addition of a small amount of accidentally omitted material
- Changes in a few phrases (for instance, the plural "you" was often changed to "you and your brother"), and in some capitalizations
- Different page numbering as a result of the added material and slightly larger type
- Section titles have been added at the top of every page.
In the Second Edition, first published in 1992, all parts of the book are numbered. In the Text, numbering is applied to chapters, sections, paragraphs, and sentences. For example, T-17.III.7:3 means:
Text, Chapter 17, section III, paragraph 7, sentence 3
This refers to the sentence "Whom God has joined as one, the ego cannot put asunder" which can be found on page 332 of the Text in the First Edition.
References are made in the following ways:
Text: T-Chapter.Section.Paragraph:Sentence
Workbook: W-Part (I or II).Lesson.Paragraph:Sentence
Manual for Teachers: M-Section.Paragraph:Sentence
Clarification of Terms: C-Section.Paragraph:Sentence
Psychotherapy supplement: P-Chapter.Section.Paragraph:Sentence
Song of Prayer supplement: S-Chapter.Section.Paragraph:Sentence
A few sections of the Course necessitate subsection letters as reference, e.g., T-6.V(A).1:1.
For more information, see Allen Watson's article entitled Using Proper ACIM References.
Q: What are the earlier versions of the Course that have emerged recently?
A couple of earlier versions of the Course have emerged recently:
- The Hugh Lynn Cayce Version: This version was an attempt by Helen and Bill to turn the very rough original dictation of the Urtext (see below) into a clean and readable manuscript. It is called the "Hugh Lynn Cayce Version" because it was the version sent to Hugh Lynn Cayce, the son of famed psychic Edgar Cayce. It is also known by the name "Jesus' Course in Miracles."
- The Urtext: This is an earlier version than the Hugh Lynn Cayce Version. It was Bill's original typing from Helen's shorthand notebooks. The word urtext means "original text," and is often used to refer to the original manuscript of a musical score or literary work.
The main difference between these versions and the standard version published by the Foundation for Inner Peace is that they have less editing (fewer word changes, less rearranging of material, etc.) and more material in the early chapters of the Text (including personal material for Helen and Bill, and material discussing a wide variety of topics, including sex, psychology, possession, Edgar Cayce, the structure of the mind, etc.). Many people have gotten a lot out of reading these earlier versions--especially the additional material in the early chapters, in which Jesus speaks in a very down-to-earth way about specific issues.
There is currently a debate in the Course community about which of the versions of the Course is closest to what Jesus intended to have published. Our position at the Circle is that none of the versions is the "perfect" version, but all are helpful aids in gaining a deeper understanding of Jesus' message. We would like to see a new edit of the Course, one which is designed to be useful for the student, and which hews as closely as possible to the editing instructions Jesus actually gave Helen and Bill.
For a detailed discussion of the earlier versions and how they came about, see Robert Perry's article The Earlier Versions and the Editing of A Course in Miracles.
The world of A Course in Miracles
Q: How is the Course community organized? Is it a church?
A Course in Miracles is not a church; it is simply a book that lays out a spiritual path. There is a publisher (the Foundation for Inner Peace), but no central organization or heirarchy. However, there are a number of independent organizations, such as the Circle of Atonement, who are dedicated to teaching and disseminating the Course and its message. There are some independent Course churches, such as the Community Miracles Center in San Francisco and A Place for Miracles in Las Vegas. There are a number of Course-based Internet discussion groups, chat rooms, and websites (click here for a selection of websites). And perhaps the most most prevalent way of teaching and disseminating the Course is study groups: groups of people who meet informally to discuss the Course together, with or without a facilitator or teacher.
There is some discussion in the Course community about whether the phenomenon of Course churches is a good thing. For Robert Perry's perspective on this issue, see his article entitled Should There Be Course Churches?
Q: How can I find an ACIM study group?
The Miracle Distribution Center has a large listing of study groups. See their website for study group information. The Community Miracles Center also maintains an on-line listing of study groups which, although less complete than the MDC listing, is very quickly available.
Q: What happened in the controversy surrounding the Course's copyright?
To make a very long story short: Beginning in the early 1990's, the enforcement of the copyright of A Course in Miracles grew increasingly restrictive. This led to a number of lawsuits. One of these lawsuits was filed in 1996 by the copyright holders of A Course in Miracles (the Foundation for Inner Peace, the Foundation for A Course in Miracles, and Penguin) against the First Christian Church of Full Endeavor (also known as Endeavor Academy). The plaintiffs contended that Endeavor had violated their copyright on the Course by publishing large portions of it without their consent; the defendants claimed that the copyright for A Course in Miracles was invalid.
After seven years, a verdict was rendered by Judge Robert Sweet of the Southern District Court of New York. On October 24, 2003, he ruled that the copyright of the First Edition of A Course in Miracles was invalid. The copyright holders were given a time period in which to appeal the decision if they wished, but they chose not to appeal. Finally, on May 28, 2004, the appeal period expired, and the copyright of the First Edition of A Course in Miracles was officially revoked for good. (The copyrights for the Second Edition and the "Clarification of Terms" remain legally valid.)
This account of what happened is, of course, only the barest of bare bones accounts. For more details about how the copyright controversy unfolded, read Rev. Tony Ponticello's article on this website entitled The Copyright Infrastructure. For Robert Perry's commentary on what the final verdict means for the future of the Course, read his article entitled And Now It Belongs to the World.
Q: What are the similarities and differences between the teachings of Ken Wapnick and those of the Circle of Atonement?
We were asked this question so frequently that we finally decided to publish a book about it. For a short account of the the similarities and differences between Wapnick's and the Circle's perspectives, read the article by Robert Perry, Greg Mackie, and Allen Watson entitled The Relationship between the Circle's Teachings and the Teachings of Ken Wapnick. For a longer treatment, you may want to order the book, which is entitled One Course, Two Visions: A Comparison of the Teachings of the Circle of Atonement and Ken Wapnick on A Course in Miracles
Bibliography
Inclusion on this list of related books does not signify approval of any book by the authors of this FAQ (except those of Robert Perry Allen Watson, and Greg Mackie which, needless to say, we highly recommend), nor does exclusion reflect a judgment against a book. This list is simply provided to help you find more information about the Course.
Path of Light: Stepping into Peace with A Course in Miracles , by Robert Perry, If you want an accessible introduction to the Course, this is the first book to get after the Course itself. Author Richard Smoley calls Path of Light "a superb introduction to the beautiful and enigmatic work that is A Course in Miracles. Highly recommended both for beginners and for old hands at the Course."
Other books by Robert Perry, Allen Watson, and Greg Mackie: Go to our bookstore for full information about all of the Circle of Atonement's Course study materials.
D. Patrick Miller, The Complete Story of the Course: The History, the People, the Controversies behind 'A Course in Miracles.' Available from Fearless Books. An excellent overview of the phenomenon that is A Course in Miracles.
Robert Skutch, Journey without Distance: The Story behind 'A Course in Miracles.' Available from the Foundation for Inner Peace. Bob Skutch was the husband of Judy, and this was the first book to give the story of how the Course was written.
Ken Wapnick, Absence from Felicity: The Story of Helen Schucman and Her Scribing of 'A Course in Miracles.' Available from the Foundation for A Course in Miracles. The phrase "absence from felicity" alludes to Hamlet; the theme of the book is Helen's inner struggles in transcribing the Course and trying to live by its teachings. This book gives a detailed account of how the Course was written, and contains a wealth of material from Jesus scribed by Helen that is not included in the Course itself.
A 2 1/4 hour video, The Story of 'A Course In Miracles,' is available from the Foundation for Inner Peace. The first half narrates the story of Helen and the Course's scribing, with Glynis Johns as Helen. The second half includes a number of commentators discussing the Course and its impact on their lives.
Return to top | Send Reader Feedback | | Printer friendly version
Dear friend: We offer the materials on this website to you in the hope that they can serve you well on your journey home. Your continuing donations support the work of the Circle of Atonement. Thank you.
Click here to make a Donation.
This material is copyrighted by the Circle of Atonement, P.O. Box 4238, W. Sedona, AZ 86340. All rights reserved. The opinions expressed are the personal interpretation and understanding of the author(s).
Please report problems to the webmaster.