The sensible application of ACIM's teachings can also be a place of contention. Though some persons record positive transformations and personal growth from following course, others find the practices to be ineffective or even harmful. The course's increased exposure of forgiveness and love is remarkable, but critics disagree that it can be excessively simplistic and naïve, declining to handle the complexities of individual associations and the need for boundaries and accountability. Moreover, the course's length and rigorous nature can be frustrating for a lot of people, leading to burnout or disillusionment. Authorities suggest that the full time and effort expected to accomplish ACIM might be better spent on more empirically reinforced beneficial techniques or religious professions which have an established history of effectiveness.

The broader influence of ACIM on the spiritual and self-help areas can be price considering. The course has inspired a substantial subsequent and has been integrated into different New Age and spiritual movements. However, its impact can be seen as a double-edged sword. Using one give, it's presented a framework for individuals seeking spiritual growth and inner a course in miracles lesson 1  peace. On the other hand, its teachings can donate to a culture of religious bypassing, where persons use religious ideas to avoid dealing with particular and social issues. This will cause an application of escapism, where in fact the focus on spiritual ideals distracts from the necessity of interesting with and handling real-world challenges.

Furthermore, the professional accomplishment of ACIM and their connected components improves moral concerns. The expansion of workshops, publications, and seminars predicated on ACIM is seen as capitalizing on individuals' religious needs and vulnerabilities. Experts argue that the commercialization of spirituality can cause the exploitation of seekers, who may possibly spend substantial time and income in to methods that finally do not deliver on their promises. That commercialization may also contribute to the dilution of the course's teachings, as various understandings and adaptations proliferate, potentially leading to distress and misapplication of the principles.

Still another important aspect to take into account is the exclusivity and dogmatism that could sometimes accompany the ACIM community. As the program it self advances common enjoy and forgiveness, just how it's taught and practiced by some adherents can result in a feeling of spiritual elitism. This may create an "people versus them" thinking, wherever those that follow ACIM are viewed as enlightened, while people who don't are seen as misguided or unenlightened. Such attitudes may be divisive and counterproductive to the course's purported objectives of peace and unity. Authorities argue that true spiritual development must foster inclusivity and humility, as opposed to developing a hierarchical difference between the spiritually awakened and the unawakened.