From a psychological perspective, the origins of ACIM increase questions about its validity. Helen Schucman, the principal scribe of the text, stated that the language were dictated to her by an interior style she determined as Jesus. This technique of receiving the writing through inner dictation, referred to as channeling, is usually met with skepticism. Critics argue that channeling may be recognized as a emotional trend rather than a genuine spiritual revelation. Schucman himself was a clinical psychologist, and some suggest that the style she noticed may have been a manifestation of her unconscious brain as opposed to an external heavenly entity. Furthermore, Schucman expressed ambivalence about the work and its origins, often wondering its reliability herself. This ambivalence, in conjunction with the technique of the text's reception, portrays uncertainty on the legitimacy of ACIM as a divinely encouraged scripture.

The content of ACIM also invites scrutiny from a philosophical angle. The course shows that the planet we perceive with our feelings is definitely an illusion and which our correct truth lies beyond this physical realm. That idealistic see, which echoes certain Western concepts, problems the materialistic and scientific foundations of Western thought. Critics argue  a course in miracles  that the declare that the bodily world is definitely an impression is not substantiated by scientific evidence and runs table to the scientific process, which relies on observable and measurable phenomena. The idea of an illusory world may be engaging as a metaphor for the distortions of notion brought on by the vanity, but as a literal assertion, it lacks the empirical support required to certainly be a valid representation of reality.

Furthermore, the sensible program of ACIM's teachings could be problematic. The program advocates for a revolutionary kind of forgiveness, suggesting that grievances are illusions and ought to be neglected and only knowing the natural unity of most beings. While the practice of forgiveness may indeed be healing and major, ACIM's approach may cause individuals to control respectable feelings and dismiss actual injustices. By mounting all negative activities as illusions produced by the confidence, there's a danger of minimizing or invalidating the lived experiences of putting up with and trauma. This perception could be particularly harmful for persons working with serious dilemmas such as for instance punishment or oppression, as it might decrease them from seeking the required support and interventions.

Another position of rivalry is the way ACIM has been marketed and commercialized. Since their distribution, ACIM has spawned a substantial industry of workshops, seminars, and supplementary materials. Experts fight that this commercialization undermines the spiritual reliability of the teachings, turning what is supposed to be always a sacred text right into a profit-driven enterprise. The growth of ACIM-related products and solutions has light emitting diode some to problem the motivations behind its promotion and the credibility of those that maintain to instruct their principles. This industrial aspect can cause a barrier to true religious exploration, as persons may possibly be much more focused on getting the next guide or attending the next workshop rather than interesting deeply with the teachings themselves.