The useful software of ACIM's teachings is also a place of contention. Though some persons report positive transformations and particular development from after the course, others get the practices to be useless or even harmful. The course's focus on forgiveness and love is exceptional, but experts argue that it may be very simplistic and naïve, declining to deal with the complexities of individual associations and the need for limits and accountability. Also, the course's size and intense character can be overwhelming for many people, ultimately causing burnout or disillusionment. Experts suggest that enough time and work expected to perform ACIM could be greater spent on more empirically supported beneficial techniques or religious professions which have an established background of effectiveness.

The broader influence of ACIM on the spiritual and self-help neighborhoods can be value considering. The course has influenced a substantial subsequent and has been incorporated into different New Era and spiritual movements. But, its impact is seen as a  david hoffmeister   double-edged sword. Using one give, it has provided a construction for people seeking religious development and inner peace. On another hand, its teachings can donate to a lifestyle of spiritual bypassing, wherever persons use spiritual methods to prevent working with personal and cultural issues. This can result in a form of escapism, where the give attention to religious ideals distracts from the prerequisite of engaging with and approaching real-world challenges.

Furthermore, the professional achievement of ACIM and their connected resources improves ethical concerns. The expansion of workshops, publications, and seminars predicated on ACIM is visible as capitalizing on individuals' spiritual needs and vulnerabilities. Experts disagree that the commercialization of spirituality may lead to the exploitation of seekers, who may possibly invest substantial time and money into techniques that eventually do not supply on the promises. This commercialization also can subscribe to the dilution of the course's teachings, as numerous interpretations and changes proliferate, perhaps resulting in frustration and misapplication of the principles.

Another important element to consider is the exclusivity and dogmatism that can sometimes accompany the ACIM community. As the course it self encourages common enjoy and forgiveness, the way in which it is taught and used by some adherents may cause an expression of religious elitism. This can develop an "people versus them" mentality, wherever those who follow ACIM are viewed as enlightened, while people who don't are viewed as misguided or unenlightened. Such attitudes could be divisive and counterproductive to the course's purported goals of peace and unity. Experts argue that correct spiritual growth must foster inclusivity and humility, as opposed to making a hierarchical variation involving the spiritually awakened and the unawakened.