From the psychological perspective, the beginnings of ACIM raise questions about their validity. Helen Schucman, the primary scribe of the writing, stated that the words were determined to her by an internal style she identified as Jesus. This method of receiving the text through inner dictation, referred to as channeling, is frequently met with skepticism. Critics fight that channeling can be understood as a psychological trend rather than true religious revelation. Schucman himself was a medical psychiatrist, and some claim that the voice she heard may have been a manifestation of her subconscious mind as opposed to an additional divine entity. Furthermore, Schucman expressed ambivalence about the work and its roots, often questioning their authenticity herself. That ambivalence, in conjunction with the method of the text's reception, casts doubt on the legitimacy of ACIM as a divinely encouraged scripture.

This content of ACIM also invites scrutiny from a philosophical angle. The course shows that the planet we comprehend with your feelings is an dream and which our correct reality lies beyond this bodily realm. That idealistic view, which echoes particular Eastern ideas, issues the materialistic and scientific foundations of European thought. Critics fight that the claim that a course in miracles  the physical earth can be an illusion is not substantiated by empirical evidence and runs counter to the scientific approach, which utilizes visible and measurable phenomena. The thought of an illusory world may be persuasive as a metaphor for the distortions of notion brought on by the ego, but as a literal assertion, it lacks the scientific help needed to be considered a legitimate illustration of reality.

More over, the useful program of ACIM's teachings can be problematic. The program advocates for a revolutionary type of forgiveness, suggesting that all issues are illusions and ought to be ignored in support of recognizing the inherent unity of all beings. Whilst the practice of forgiveness may indeed be healing and major, ACIM's approach may possibly lead people to curb reliable feelings and dismiss real injustices. By mounting all negative activities as illusions created by the vanity, there is a danger of reducing or invalidating the lived activities of suffering and trauma. This perspective can be specially dangerous for individuals working with critical problems such as for instance abuse or oppression, as it can decrease them from seeking the required support and interventions.

Still another point of competition is the way in which ACIM has been promoted and commercialized. Because their publication, ACIM has spawned a substantial industry of workshops, seminars, and supplementary materials. Critics argue that this commercialization undermines the spiritual integrity of the teachings, turning what's supposed to become a holy text right into a profit-driven enterprise. The expansion of ACIM-related products and services has led some to problem the motivations behind their campaign and the reliability of those who declare to instruct its principles. This professional aspect can create a buffer to true religious exploration, as persons may possibly be much more centered on buying the following book or attending the following seminar rather than engaging profoundly with the teachings themselves.