Hi Isabel - We have a program that will walk you through the Course. It's called Course Companions and you can learn about it here: coursecompanions.com/ If you wanted a more personalized experience, we don't have one-on-one teachers just yet but we have over 50 study groups in our directory. Many are free of charge and you can find them inside community.circleofa.org. Hope that helps. - Emily xx

Thanks a lot for your sharing your thoughts to this conversation. They make perfectly sense to me, especially your point that the Course never mentions teacher as being a formal "A Course in Miracles teacher", but is talking about a Teacher of God. The Manual also mentions in the last chapter: "The curriculum is highly individualized, and all aspects are under the Holy Spirit's particular care and guidance. Ask and He will answer. The responsibility is His, and He alone is fit to assume it. To do so is His function. To refer the question to Him is yours." I don't think that there are many students of the Course that learn the Course completely by themselves. Somehow almost everyone finds a teacher guiding them through the Course that resonates with them. For some of them that will be Ken Wapnick, for others Emily and Robert or anyone else. I discovered there are many teachers out there who can support the students of the Course and they even don't have to be formal Course teachers.

Hi Britney! Thanks for your thoughtful comment. I agree with so much of what you've said and sincerely appreciate your heart for the Course and desire to stay true to what it says. We obviously have a real fondness for that around here. 🤗 I would just square the edges a bit, though, and say that, yes, you can read the Course on your own and we're very much meant to do that. The section you pointed to is called "The Need to Study" and I know Robert was thrilled to put it back into the Text. (It's new to the CE.) That said, just because we're meant to study on our own doesn't automatically take the place of teachers. Going back to the piano example, my stepson is in an orchestra and he has a viola teacher. The time he spends with his teacher is meant to supplement his daily practice, not replace it. Same here. We shouldn't use quotes on the importance of study to wipe out a whole volume that speaks to the importance of teachers. It's not one or the other. It's both. Also, you say there's another way to define self-study, but what you describe isn't what people hear when they hear "self-study." In normal parlance "self-study" just means outside a classroom or formal teacher. What you're talking about in your comment, as you noted, is mind training. In other words, if you say "mind training", people know you mean the very things you describe, e.g. changing your mind, deciding when to study, taking responsibility for your thoughts, etc. Accordingly, it just doesn't seem like a good idea for us to use definitions that are outside common understanding in the hopes that people will understand the meaning we've ascribed. Finally, there's no question we're all teaching all the time. And we're definitely not saying everyone is called to formally teach the Course. But we may just have to agree to disagree on whether, by "teacher", he includes people who teach the Course. You mentioned the Levels of Teaching section and how teaching can be as simple as not getting angry when a child bumps into you in the elevator. That's true - and you're right. That's not formal teaching. But in the Introduction to the Manual he acknowledges "the formal teaching situation." Again, it's not formal teachers or informal teachers. It's both. So it doesn't feel accurate to just flatly state that he doesn't mean formal teaching situations in the Manual. Sometimes he does. I guess the bottom line here is that I'm really not disagreeing with your larger points, but I do feel there are some distinctions to be drawn out on some of the finer ones. I hope that helps clear things up a bit. Thanks again for contributing to the conversation Britney. I'm a fan of yours. - Emily xx

​@@CircleOfAtonement Hey Emily :) Thank you so much for your detailed response and for sharing more of your thoughts. I deeply appreciate the exchange and your openness here. I also feel grateful for Robert reinstating that part, as it has been a valuable reference for me in my interactions with others. :) I must say that even though many Course students hear "self-study" and think it means "outside a formal classroom," that's not the only definition, and it might be helpful to provide a definition that is more accurate. Because honestly, we must read the Course on our own-no one can do that for us. If we do not take full responsibility for our studies, we will be forever reliant on what other people think about it and turn to them for answers instead of looking within. So, when listening to you both speak, I felt you threw the term "self-study" in the garbage without redefining it (which is what ACIM is all about). Instead, you used it as an opportunity to say that formal teachers of the Course are necessary, and I really do not believe they are necessary. They are helpful, and we will be brought to teachers if we need them, but they are not necessary. I have never taken any human to be my teacher of the Course. I have only ever studied it with Jesus as my teacher, and through my willingness to take it seriously as a self-study and apply what I am learning in it to my relationships, I have been led to God and my purpose directly. So I am speaking from experience here, not just ideas. We also must remember that miracle working is not like learning the piano. Piano does require a human teacher. A Course in Miracles is self-sustaining and has everything contained within it for any one of us to take it into our minds and hearts with Jesus and the Holy Spirit-and that be enough. Clearly, ACIM emphasizes relationships, which I am SO glad you and Robert highlight. It’s been left out of discussions in our community for far too long. But relationships being the "temple of the Holy Spirit" is different from saying "formal teachers are necessary." I see the mention of "formal teaching situations" includes Course teachers, of course, but not exclusively. This is reserved for any relationship where there is a teaching/learning dynamic that has the potential to demonstrate miracles being for "those who temporarily have more for those who temporarily have less." This can include mentors, spiritual therapists, counselors, lawyers, schoolteachers, entrepreneurs, parents, and coaches. So, we as Teachers of the Course must resist the temptation to assign a role to students (such as Course Teacher), as it is not us who assigns others their role in God’s plan, but only Him. Like I said in my first response, I do not think most students of the Course are meant to be formal teachers of A Course in Miracles at all. Most have their part written on their Soul, and we want to get them in touch with that and not what we think they should do. Thanks for hearing me out. When it comes to all this stuff, there is such a fine line, and we have to be careful not to cross it in this regard. I truly feel we’re aligned on so much here, and I’m so grateful for the opportunity to have this dialogue with you. Sending so much love and gratitude! 🙏💖

I have self studied the course for over 30 years. I find I am making very fast progress now, making it my focus and top priority, and this is due to finding and joining the Circle. This format for learning is incredibly motivating, and it is so helpful to be in a community. I love the discussion and debate. This does not preclude us from having our own relationship with Jesus and taking guidance from the HS.

Andrew, Thanks for your comment. I understand the dangers inherent in teaching / learning situations, especially in spiritual community. I talked about this in the episode. We aren't interested in the guru model and, personally speaking, I think that model is dangerous for all the reasons you already know. And I also strongly disagree with the constraints placed on teaching and sharing the Course. During the copyright lawsuits our tiny nonprofit spent over $I00,000 defending our right to share the material, so we are very much with you that limitations in who is the "authority" is not the way to go. But that's not at all what's being discussed here. We're not talking about consolidating authority or constraining anything. It's the opposite - we're talking about training a lot of people to share the principles of divine love and forgiveness. To say "let's not have teachers because look at this bad thing that happened over there" is like saying "let's get rid of gardens because there are weeds in them." You don't lose the beauty of the garden because there are weeds. You simply uproot the weeds. Likewise, we don't believe it's wise to lose the beauty of teachers because there's a possibly of things going wrong. Humans are messy and things will always go wrong. And yet, we still believe it's wise to take the Course at its word regarding a teacher / pupil model and do everything we can to build it in a healthy way. That's what we're trying to do. - Emily xx

Emily and Robert are great teachers. I especially love the fact that Robert edited a new version, the CE. I am thinking of the incredible devotion and persistence this must have taken. His skills for research and attention to detail are truly amazing. And Emily's warmth, love, acceptance, social consciousness, honesty, and her ability to speak up and question and debate is remarkable. Together, they are magic.

@ all true. Thankyou.

@@dfeldhan1 Hi Donna - I didn’t realize you had a teacher so I’m happy to hear you’re gaining so much. I hope you both continue benefit from the experience. - Emily xx

@@CircleOfAtonement Thank you🥰

It just takes two. Then there will be three.

@@beebeetee9957 Sorry to answer your question with another video but I think this will clear things up: kzbin.info/www/bejne/b2a9i6mAdtCIZsUsi=jo8FO159-d-xawUO

@@CircleOfAtonement Thank you I've just watched the video you sent and I totally get all of those concepts. I have watched hundreds of NDE's which speak to these principles & I think I have always perceived the world through this kind of lens. I was brought up without religion which helps also. My comment was really because of my confusion around what's said in "What is the real world" video about how we perceive the world wrongly (yes I agree, especially as adults) and if we only saw through pure awareness and love we would see as Jesus does and therefore for example animals & everything we perceive would respond accordingly. But what about - for an example - an innocent child of a few months ( pure innocent loving) paddling next to a crocodile. A child like this might even pat the crocodile on the nose if he or she had just seen cartoon images as is the norm...so the crocodile would respond in what way? I think you can see where I'm going with here. I'm finding the lack of CONTEXT with much of the teaching of ACIM to be really off putting. Am I getting something wrong? When you use the word "The World" it implies EVERYTHING we perceive..but then you suddenly switch to talking about inter- personal relationships . Totally different context!

I hear you, except that wipes away the entire Manual for Teachers where he outlines a whole teacher / pupil model. You're correct on the main message of course. We are meant to see Christ in another and thus awaken ourselves, but he wants *teachers* to share that message and that's the plan for salvation. He literally calls it "the plan of the teachers". - Emily xx

Tom, I know you to be a serious student. I would really encourage you to seriously engage with the evidence here. This is the kind of thing that can’t be answered by asserting principles. You have to engage on the evidence level. What does it mean to call it a teacher’s manual? How does the Manual portray the relationship between pupil and teacher? What is being taught by teacher to pupil? What does it mean to say that this is a manual for teachers of ACIM (M-1.4:1)? What does M-2.1:2 imply about this issue? How is the word “pupil” used throughout the Manual? What about sections 24 and 29 where the pupil is explicitly being taught and guided through ACIM by his teacher? I know you as someone willing to go where the evidence leads. Why not take a deep look at the relevant evidence on this topic with an open mind and see where you land?

​ @CircleOfAtonement & ​ @robertperry7823 Thanks for your reply. I am not denying that the course contains a teacher's manual and that there are obviously relationships in which true ideas are introduced, reinforced and hopefully experienced through the communication that happens between 2 minds seemingly at different points in their wakefulness. I disagree with the conclusions you drew from the presence of the manual, and what it means about how the course must be studied. I have always looked at the manual as a support for minds who have finished the workbook and have taken the step that made them a TOG (The step the teachers manual explicitly states) or its for people who have these sudden awakenings and experiences which they may not understand. The manual is a support for them. It isn't an implication that all course students must go out ther to find course teachers in order to learn. I never had a worldly teacher of ACIM...... I learned it, and never expected anyone to explain it to me, because I understood that I must learn to discern truth inside of my mind. You mention in the video that everyone reaches out for help when they come across the course. That could be guidance, but it also could be the authority problem. I've seen it be both. ***Do not forget the claim you are making with the video. ACIM is not a self study course. *** Everything else is just what you are using to prove your point. I disagree with this premise entirely, and the presence of the manual for teachers does not prove it to me, for the reasons explained above. I am speaking out because your premise re asserts the external search for authority or knowledge or understanding. The ego will study the course for 40 years as long as the student doesn't take the step INWARD to find true authority there.

@@leahleeds4289 No, not at all. It’s way more pedestrian than that. We are just saying the course isn’t something you are meant to learn by yourself, which is what people mean by “self-study.” The Course itself has a teacher / pupil model in mind. That’s it. - Emily xx

@@phoenixtimes2 This will help you: kzbin.info/www/bejne/b2a9i6mAdtCIZsUsi=6W3NKmEJgtjbOXyk

@@walkyourdog6584 Jesus doesn’t say not to get involved in politics in the Course. He’s very anti-war, but he isn’t anti-politics. He talks favorably about FDR’s Four Freedoms, for example. Jesus has always been interested in healing the world through love and forgiveness (bringing the Kingdom of Heaven to earth) and that’s the plan of salvation in the Course as well. - Emily xx

@CircleOfAtonement I did change my mind after listening to your podcast interviewing her. Because I think she must have followed her inner directions. And I am sure she will agree it was a tremendous learning experience of putting the Course principles into action under fairly extreme circumstances, provocations, and temptations. Bless you!!

@@walkyourdog6584 Thank you for that. Yes, Marianne feels that higher principles of spiritual love should absolutely be part of politics and some people (including her) will be genuinely called by God for that role. Since politics is about our life together and people suffer when we get it wrong, as spiritual community we should be *sending people into politics* to transform it versus pushing them away from it. We may disagree on this point but Robert and I believe Jesus very much cares about our suffering here and wants us to heal it both in our minds *and* subsequently in the world. I appreciate your comments and the kind intentions behind them. Take care - Emily xx

Thank you so much. That is very kind of you. - Emily 💙

Greetings Emily, You (& Robert) are welcome and you are worthy.....simply because you are - the true Gospel of the Kingdom according to Jesus ❤️🫂❤️ Jesus revealed this so often but it's missed in all the vain pursuits of "so called" moral perfection... Which is not the Gospel message... The message of ACIM is a modern revelation of the 1st Century revelation of the Gospel message...no different - we are all children of light. Matthew 12:6-8 NKJV - “Yet I say to you that in this place there is One greater than the temple. “But if you had known what this means, ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the GUILTLESS. “For the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.” ❤️🫂❤️

We do talk about that very thing all the time.

@@CircleOfAtonement​​⁠ can you please send some links because I’m really up against myself. Part of moving with the heart you know I always say it’s a fine line between codependency and compassion. I just really need a direct link. I’ve been taking your videos and there’s nothing really specific that I’m finding and I know you have a program but I don’t care about that right now. Trying to find direction. It seems the course is asking us to simply accept things as they are the love that we lack the love that we’re not giving, but I don’t want to give to somebody who is not loving. Self absorbs narcissistic…..❤

@ No problem. Here’s a good place to start for the questions you’re asking about related to the Course’s position on bypassing: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z3ebm2RsobyIe9Esi=upnhrft4BP51JW2z

@ ❤️❤️❤️

@@tresajohnson1190 In the Complete and Announced Edition there’s a new section called “The Question of Karma”. You can read it here: acimce.app.

I am happy to say that you are not recapping us right at all. We frequently speak out against those same views.

@@CircleOfAtonement Well, I am glad you dislike these things. But Ive heard many lectures that seem to gaslight people. "No the world isnt bad, it is illusory, just work on how screwed up your perception is". And after so many years of this I am ready to bail on ACIM.

@ Hiya. 👋 You’ll find pretty quickly around here that’s not us. I’d point you to our videos on ACIM and Spiritual Bypassing, How to Save the World, ACIM and Martin Luther King, Should We Seek to Change the World with Marianne Williamson, and I just spoke about this again last Sunday in a sermon called “Jesus and the Disinherited.” We consider the idea that the only thing we have to do is change our mind about the world to be a very damaging misinterpretation of Course teachings which ask us to change our mind to align with love SO THAT we can heal the world. Hope that helps. - Emily ♥️

@@CircleOfAtonement Okay and thank you. I will check those out. You did mention Peace Pilgrim. We are practically from the same town. Friends of mine knew her sister--we all attended the same UU at different times (I never had the pleasure of meeting her). Ive been big into her for YEARS. My copy of her book is underlined and dog eared. Love it.

@ Aww. Robert and I recently watched a truly fascinating documentary about her. What a hero. ♥️

Mee too!

Agreed. As you explore our videos more thoroughly you'll see that's what we teach as well.