The practical application of ACIM's teachings is also a point of contention. Although some persons report positive transformations and particular growth from following the course, the others discover the techniques to be useless or even harmful. The course's emphasis on forgiveness and love is exceptional, but authorities disagree that it may be overly basic and naïve, declining to deal with the complexities of human associations and the need for limits and accountability. Furthermore, the course's size and intense character may be frustrating for a lot of people, leading to burnout or disillusionment. Critics claim that the time and work required to accomplish ACIM could be greater used on more empirically supported beneficial methods or spiritual professions that have a proven background of effectiveness.

The broader influence of ACIM on the religious and self-help areas is also value considering. The program has influenced an important following and has been built-into numerous New Age and religious movements. Nevertheless, their influence is visible as a double-edged sword. On one give, it's presented a framework for individuals seeking spiritual growth and internal a course in miracles lesson 1  peace. On the other give, their teachings may subscribe to a tradition of spiritual bypassing, wherever people use spiritual concepts in order to avoid working with particular and social issues. This can lead to a form of escapism, where the concentrate on religious attitudes distracts from the requisite of engaging with and handling real-world challenges.

Moreover, the professional success of ACIM and their connected components increases moral concerns. The growth of workshops, publications, and seminars based on ACIM is visible as capitalizing on individuals' spiritual needs and vulnerabilities. Experts argue that the commercialization of spirituality may result in the exploitation of seekers, who might invest significant time and income in to techniques that ultimately don't supply on their promises. That commercialization also can contribute to the dilution of the course's teachings, as various understandings and adaptations proliferate, perhaps leading to frustration and misapplication of the principles.

Another critical part to think about may be the exclusivity and dogmatism that will often accompany the ACIM community. Whilst the program it self advances universal love and forgiveness, just how it's shown and used by some adherents may lead to an expression of religious elitism. This could build an "people versus them" mindset, where those that follow ACIM are regarded as enlightened, while those who don't are viewed as misguided or unenlightened. Such attitudes may be divisive and counterproductive to the course's purported targets of peace and unity. Authorities argue that correct religious development should foster inclusivity and humility, rather than developing a hierarchical variance involving the spiritually awakened and the unawakened.