Archive of Articles
—The Nature of the Course
The Circle of Atonement is making these thought-provoking and inspiring articles about A Course in Miracles topics available to you online. Most of these articles have appeared in past issues of our newsletter, A Better Way.
For a selection of Circle of Atonement articles translated into Spanish, go to Artículos del Círculo de Expiación en Español.
For a selection of Circle of Atonement articles translated into Dutch, go to artikelen in het Nederlands.
Enjoy!
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Our library of articles is organized in various categories. Click on one of the major categories below to go to that category or just browse the whole thing.
- This Course is perfectly clear by Robert Perry. The Course claims that it is perfectly clear. Yet anyone who has cracked the book has a somewhat different experience, to say the least. How can we reconcile the Course's claim with our experience?
- How Literally Do We Take the Course? by Robert Perry. It is common to read the Course as mostly metaphorical. Yet is that how the Course expects us to read it?
- The Depth and Intricacy of a Single Paragraph T-20.III.2: by Robert Perry. This article is an in-depth explication of a particular paragraph in the Course, one that speaks of the ego as "the self-appointed mediator" of all relationships--the thing we look to to help us iron out our differences. How good of a job does it do?
- Why Does the Course Model Itself After Education Rather Than Religion? by Robert Perry. Isn't it odd that Jesus, the central figure in American religion, reappeared (if we are to believe A Course in Miracles) not to devout Christians, but to two university psychologists and authored through them an educational course? Why has he jumped ship from religion to education? Robert offers his reflections.
- Conclusion of Return to the Heart of God In this personal piece, Robert attempts to describe what he finds "so amazing" about the Course after twenty-five years of studying and practicing it. This conclusion to the book has received so much positive feedback, along with requests to offer it as a stand-alone piece, that we finally decided to post it to the website.
- What It Says: An Expanded Summary of ACIM's Thought System by Robert Perry. The thought system of A Course in Miracles is sophisticated, multifaceted, and difficult to succinctly summarize. If you've ever wanted such a succinct summary, this article is for you. Robert presents a fifteen-point summary of the Course's thought system that traces the entire journey from Heaven to the depths of the separation and back again.
- The Many-Faceted Diamond of A Course in Miracles by Greg Mackie. The Course, according to Greg, is like a many-faceted diamond. Rather than latching onto one particular facet, we need to include all the facets, and let them blend together as one.
- Helen and Bill's Joining: A Window onto the Heart of A Course in Miracles by Robert Perry. What is the heart of the Course? What is the point at which it all comes together. This article views Helen and Bill's joining in "a better way" as that point, as the example of what the Course is trying to have happen in the lives of all of its students.
- Appreciating the Masterpiece, Part 1: Seeing the Course as a Great Work of Art by Greg Mackie. Many Course students have marvelled at the sheer poetic beauty of A Course in Miracles. Indeed, in addition to being a profound spiritual teaching and practical program in mind training, the Course is an artistic masterpiece. This article, the first of a two-part series, explores the Course as a great work of art, and shows how seeing it as such can help reveal both the transformative depth and the ultimate clarity of its seemingly impenetrable writing style.
- Appreciating the Masterpiece, Part 2: Studying and Experiencing the Course as a Great Work of Art by Greg Mackie. This article, the second of the two-part series, shows how seeing the Course as an artistic masterpiece can enrich our study and experience of it. It examines some of the methods developed by artists and art teachers to reveal the hidden treasures of great art, and shows the benefits of applying these same methods to the Course.
- How Can A Course in Miracles Accomplish Its Purpose? by Robert Perry. A detailed presentation of the Course's own vision for how its teaching can penetrate the world, and of the part we see in this for the Circle of Atonement.
- There Is No Salvation in Form by Robert Perry. A look at the many ways we try to find our salvation in some form, rather than in the formless love of God.
- Traditional Monastic Pursuit in the Context of Contemporary Society by Robert Perry. A companion piece to the "How Can A Course in Miracles Accomplish its purpose?" article, showing how the Course advocates the dedication and seriousness of a monk, but in the context of an ordinary, fully engaged (not isolated) lifestyle.
- A Course in Miracles as a Spiritual Path by Robert Perry. We can divide the Course into two aspects: its teaching, and what we do with that teaching, how we live it. This article is a brief overview of that second aspect: what it means to walk the path of the Course.
- What is A Course in Miracles? by Robert Perry. An in-depth answer to this most fundamental of questions, which presents the Course as a magnificent synthesis of nine seemingly disparate categories: 1) a channeled spiritual teaching, 2) a modern educational Course, 3) a public communication from Jesus, 4) a psychological system, both theoretical and therapeutic, 5) an inspired scripture, in the lineage of the Bible 6) a path of enlightenment, 7) a philosophical system of ideas, 8) a literary work of art, and 9) a manual for how to heal others, heal relationships, and save the world.
- Artistic Techniques Used in the Course by Greg Mackie. A companion piece to the two-part series above, which lists some of the artistic techniques used in A Course in Miracles. Includes examples from the Course.
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