The useful request of ACIM's teachings can also be a place of contention. Though some persons report positive transformations and personal development from following the class, the others find the practices to be useless as well as harmful. The course's focus on forgiveness and enjoy is admirable, but experts fight that it could be overly basic and naïve, failing to deal with the complexities of individual relationships and the need for boundaries and accountability. Moreover, the course's period and extensive nature may be frustrating for some individuals, resulting in burnout or disillusionment. Experts claim that the full time and work needed to accomplish ACIM could be greater spent on more empirically reinforced therapeutic methods or spiritual disciplines which have an established background of effectiveness.

The broader influence of ACIM on the spiritual and self-help areas can be worth considering. The program has inspired an important following and has been integrated into various New Age and spiritual movements. However, its effect can be seen as a double-edged sword. On a single hand, it has presented a platform for individuals seeking religious development and inner acim  peace. On one other hand, their teachings may contribute to a culture of religious skipping, where individuals use religious methods in order to avoid coping with particular and cultural issues. This may result in a form of escapism, where the focus on religious values distracts from the necessity of engaging with and handling real-world challenges.

Moreover, the professional achievement of ACIM and their connected components increases ethical concerns. The proliferation of workshops, publications, and seminars based on ACIM is seen as capitalizing on individuals' spiritual needs and vulnerabilities. Critics argue that the commercialization of spirituality may result in the exploitation of seekers, who may invest substantial time and money into practices that ultimately do not supply on the promises. This commercialization may also donate to the dilution of the course's teachings, as various understandings and changes proliferate, possibly leading to confusion and misapplication of the principles.

Still another critical element to consider could be the exclusivity and dogmatism that will often accompany the ACIM community. Whilst the class it self promotes general love and forgiveness, just how it's shown and used by some adherents may cause a feeling of religious elitism. This will produce an "us versus them" attitude, where those that follow ACIM are regarded as enlightened, while those that don't are considered as misguided or unenlightened. Such attitudes can be divisive and counterproductive to the course's supposed goals of peace and unity. Experts disagree that correct spiritual growth must foster inclusivity and humility, rather than making a hierarchical difference involving the spiritually awakened and the unawakened.