From a mental point of view, the beginnings of ACIM increase issues about its validity. Helen Schucman, the principal scribe of the text, stated that what were determined to her by an interior voice she determined as Jesus. This process of obtaining the writing through internal dictation, known as channeling, is frequently met with skepticism. Critics argue that channeling could be recognized as a psychological trend rather than a true spiritual revelation. Schucman himself was a clinical psychiatrist, and some suggest that the voice she seen may have been a manifestation of her subconscious mind as opposed to an external divine entity. Moreover, Schucman indicated ambivalence about the job and its origins, often wondering their credibility herself. This ambivalence, coupled with the method of the text's reception, portrays uncertainty on the legitimacy of ACIM as a divinely encouraged scripture.

This content of ACIM also invites scrutiny from a philosophical angle. The class teaches that the entire world we perceive with this senses can be an illusion and that our true reality lies beyond that physical realm. That idealistic view, which echoes particular Western philosophies, challenges the materialistic and empirical foundations of American thought. Critics disagree that the claim that the physical earth is an  david hoffmeiste impression is not substantiated by empirical evidence and operates counter to the medical strategy, which depends on visible and measurable phenomena. The idea of an illusory world might be compelling as a metaphor for the distortions of understanding caused by the confidence, but as a literal assertion, it lacks the scientific support required to be described as a legitimate representation of reality.

More over, the useful application of ACIM's teachings can be problematic. The program advocates for a significant type of forgiveness, indicating that all issues are illusions and ought to be overlooked and only recognizing the natural unity of beings. As the training of forgiveness may indeed be therapeutic and major, ACIM's strategy may cause persons to control respectable feelings and ignore actual injustices. By surrounding all bad activities as illusions developed by the confidence, there's a risk of reducing or invalidating the lived experiences of enduring and trauma. This perspective could be particularly dangerous for people working with significant problems such as for instance punishment or oppression, as it might decrease them from seeking the required support and interventions.

Still another stage of contention is the way ACIM has been marketed and commercialized. Since their publication, ACIM has spawned a substantial business of workshops, seminars, and supplementary materials. Critics argue this commercialization undermines the spiritual integrity of the teachings, turning what is purported to be always a holy text into a profit-driven enterprise. The expansion of ACIM-related services and products and solutions has led some to issue the motivations behind their campaign and the reliability of people who state to teach its principles. That commercial part can cause a buffer to true religious exploration, as people may be more dedicated to buying the following book or attending the next seminar as opposed to participating profoundly with the teachings themselves.