From the psychological viewpoint, the sources of ACIM increase issues about its validity. Helen Schucman, the principal scribe of the text, claimed that the words were determined to her by an interior voice she recognized as Jesus. This technique of obtaining the writing through internal dictation, known as channeling, is usually met with skepticism. Critics fight that channeling can be understood as a emotional phenomenon rather than a authentic spiritual revelation. Schucman himself was a clinical psychiatrist, and some suggest that the style she noticed could have been a manifestation of her subconscious brain rather than an additional heavenly entity. Moreover, Schucman indicated ambivalence about the work and their roots, sometimes asking their authenticity herself. This ambivalence, along with the technique of the text's reception, portrays doubt on the legitimacy of ACIM as a divinely encouraged scripture.

This content of ACIM also attracts scrutiny from the philosophical angle. The course teaches that the world we understand with this feelings is an dream and which our true reality lies beyond that physical realm. This idealistic see, which echoes certain Eastern ideas, difficulties the materialistic and empirical foundations of European thought. Critics argue that the claim that   a course in miracles  the bodily world can be an illusion isn't substantiated by scientific evidence and goes counter to the scientific process, which depends on visible and measurable phenomena. The notion of an illusory earth may be engaging as a metaphor for the distortions of belief caused by the confidence, but as a literal assertion, it lacks the empirical help required to be considered a valid illustration of reality.

Moreover, the sensible program of ACIM's teachings may be problematic. The program advocates for a revolutionary type of forgiveness, suggesting that most issues are illusions and ought to be overlooked in favor of realizing the natural unity of most beings. As the exercise of forgiveness can indeed be therapeutic and major, ACIM's method may cause persons to curb legitimate thoughts and ignore true injustices. By surrounding all bad experiences as illusions produced by the pride, there is a threat of reducing or invalidating the lived activities of enduring and trauma. This perspective can be particularly hazardous for people dealing with serious issues such as for instance punishment or oppression, as it may suppress them from seeking the mandatory help and interventions.

Another point of contention is the way ACIM has been advertised and commercialized. Because its publication, ACIM has spawned an important business of workshops, seminars, and supplementary materials. Experts argue that commercialization undermines the religious integrity of the teachings, turning what's purported to be always a holy text into a profit-driven enterprise. The expansion of ACIM-related products and companies has led some to question the motivations behind its campaign and the reliability of those that declare to teach their principles. That commercial element can create a barrier to genuine religious exploration, as individuals may be much more dedicated to getting another book or attending the following workshop as opposed to engaging profoundly with the teachings themselves.