| A topic of sometimes heated discussion in regards to | | | | being. The focus of the ACIM is to put you in touch |
| A Course in Miracles is the question of it being a cult. | | | | with your Inner Voice or Holy Spirit. It really has nothing |
| Several prominent authors have made such a claim, | | | | to do with formal worship. |
| but is it true? Before we can definitively say one way | | | | Is it "a system of religious beliefs and rituals"? I guess |
| or the other, first we need to determine what we | | | | you could say that. There is certainly a religious tone to |
| actually mean by the word "cult." | | | | the volume, and if you wanted to define its daily |
| Webster's defines a cult as: | | | | Workbook exercises as "rituals" you would get little |
| 1: formal religious veneration (i.e. worship) | | | | argument from me, although I would call them exactly |
| 2: a system of religious beliefs and rituals | | | | what they are intended to be: exercises in Mind |
| 3: a religion regarded as unorthodox or spurious | | | | development. |
| There are a few more, but for our purposes this will | | | | Is ACIM "a religion regarded as unorthodox or |
| suffice. | | | | spurious"? Ah, there's where it gets tricky, doesn't it? It |
| Let's take the first one, formal religious veneration. | | | | really depends on your particular belief about such |
| Veneration is simply another word for worship. As you | | | | things. If you believe that every faith or religion that is |
| can quickly see, this definition doesn't really help us | | | | not yours is a cult, then there is nothing I or anyone |
| answer what we mean by cult. Under this definition | | | | else can say that will change your mind. But, then |
| every religious or spiritual group can be defined as a | | | | again, how does everyone else see you? How does |
| cult. I'm pretty sure most groups or churches would | | | | everyone else regard your faith? Feeling a bit |
| have a thing or two to say about that. | | | | uncomfortable yet? That's okay; just hang in there, I'm |
| We have the same challenge with definition number | | | | about to let you off the hook. |
| two. Again, if our only criteria is "a system of religious | | | | But before I do, let's talk about the last definition, the |
| beliefs and rituals," then any and every spiritual path | | | | so-called charismatic leader. Is there one in ACIM? If |
| would qualify as a cult. This definition covers everything | | | | there is they are quite well hidden, because I've been a |
| from Fundamentalist Christianity or the peaceful | | | | student of the Course for years and I've never met |
| Tibetan Buddhists to such "radical" Islamic views as | | | | them. Sure, we have our share of teachers that some |
| those espoused by Osama Bin Laden. Not particularly | | | | would label as expert or guru, but that is not how I see |
| helpful, wouldn't you agree? | | | | them; they're simply people that are a tad further along |
| This takes us to number three: a religion regarded as | | | | in their journey than the rest of us and they choose to |
| unorthodox or spurious. Well this certainly clears things | | | | leave a bit of wisdom behind. But that does not make |
| up. Or does it? The problem we have is, regarded as | | | | them a leader by any stretch of the imagination. Gary |
| unorthodox or spurious according to whom? It all | | | | Renard, for example, is one of my personal "heroes" |
| depends on one's point of view. There is no doubt | | | | and is probably responsible for bringing more people |
| most mainstream churches regard the Latter Day | | | | into awareness about the Course than any other |
| Saints (Mormons) as a cult. Likewise with the | | | | person, but that doesn't mean that I would drink a cup |
| Jehovah's Witnesses. Why is that? Primarily because | | | | of tainted Kool-Aid or kill myself in hopes of catching a |
| these groups don't adhere to the more traditional | | | | passing comet just because he said so. (Although I |
| interpretations of the Bible that the so-called | | | | might just hop a flight to Hawaii if he invited me, but I'd |
| mainstream churches do. Some people consider the | | | | still be mostly interested in the beaches.) |
| Seventh-Day Adventists as a cult. Of course the | | | | Can A Course in Miracles be used in a cult-like setting? |
| Seventh Day Adventists believe that everyone except | | | | Sure it could. In fact, there have been allegations laid |
| themselves is pretty much a cult, so it cuts both ways. | | | | against such a group known as the Endeavor |
| Moreover, before you can use this definition you first | | | | Academy in Wisconsin. And while I'm not here to pass |
| have to determine what you mean by orthodox and | | | | judgment on E.A. - I don't even know them - it does go |
| you have to define spurious. As you can see it can | | | | to show that ACIM could potentially be used. But is |
| quickly become quite a project, one definition leading to | | | | that really so different than, say, the Bible? It's a known |
| another and then another ad infinitum. | | | | fact that David Koresh could tap dance through the |
| So where does that leave us? I believe we are left | | | | scriptures like Fred Astaire on meth, but I don't see too |
| with the more common, if less scholarly, definition. | | | | many churches throwing out the Bible because of it. |
| Perhaps the most often cited sign of a cult is a group | | | | Earlier I promised I would let you off the hook. Here's |
| of people - often associated with one or more of the | | | | how... |
| above definitions - that are under the direction and | | | | Imagine a giant wall standing before you that stretches |
| control of a charismatic leader. We all know the stories | | | | as far and wide as the eye can see. And in this wall |
| of Jim Jones and the jungle, David Koresh and Waco, | | | | there are thousands of windows. One window is |
| and Marshall Applewhite and Heaven's Gate but to | | | | labeled Christianity. One is labeled Judaism. Some are |
| name a few. But realistically, could we not use this | | | | marked as Baptist, some as Buddhist. One says Fred, |
| definition to describe just about any religious | | | | another says Nancy. And so forth. Each of these |
| organization? Think about it... assuming you go to some | | | | windows is a person's particular belief system, their |
| kind of service, why do you attend the church you do? | | | | faith. But here's the interesting thing. On the other side |
| The most common answer I get is, "I just connect with | | | | of this Great Wall is a Flame. This Flame we'll call |
| the minister." Would that not qualify as following a | | | | Love. Now we can call it God, Universe, Spirit, Peace |
| charismatic leader? | | | | or any number of other names; perhaps as many |
| Note, however, that cult like control does not | | | | names as there are windows. But every single |
| necessarily have to include religion, the most famous | | | | window is seeing the same Flame. Sure, we might |
| example being Charles Manson. | | | | each see it from a different perspective, a different |
| Now we can look at A Course in Miracles and see | | | | point of view (it is a big wall, after all) but it's really just |
| where it stands. | | | | Love. And isn't that what we're all really after? Not |
| Is it a form of " formal religious veneration"? While it is | | | | conflict. Not judgment. Certainly not anger and hatred. |
| entirely possible that a group could use it in this way, | | | | We all just looking for a little bit of Love. |
| the Course itself is more of a self-study program than | | | | So is A Course in Miracles a cult? No more so than |
| anything else. One can study the Course for an entire | | | | any other window, my friend, including yours. |
| lifetime without ever mentioning it to another human | | | | |