A Course in Miracles

If you already own A Course in Miracles, why would you need a new edition?

So much of what draws us to A Course in Miracles and grants it such authority in the eyes of students is its apparent otherworldly origin, the fact that it was received, word for word, by a self-professed atheist. What we typically don’t realize, however, is the amount of editing that went into the Course as we have known it, especially in its early chapters.

The Course went through several editing processes before being published in 1976, resulting in the removal of 45,000 words. This editing also meant that only 20% of the sentences remaining in the first four chapters retained their original wording.

What was edited out? It appears the editing targeted references to specific things in the world. As a result, Jesus’ attempts to clarify his new ideas with illustrations, analogies, real-life examples, and comparisons to existing ideas were largely removed. Thus, a vital bridge into his new and unfamiliar world of thought was lost.

This brings you into much more direct contact with the pristine inspiration that gave birth to the Course. It also restores that bridge into Jesus’ thought system, allowing you greater practical grasp of what is being said.

In addition, we have also added other key elements to the CE. We have included extensive footnotes to aid comprehension and appreciation. We have included an appendix of 33 cameo essays that feature personal instruction Jesus gave to scribes Helen Schucman and Bill Thetford to help apply his teachings in daily life.

The goal of the CE, then, is to be both more true to the original dictation and more practical, understandable, and user-friendly. And these qualities seem to be behind the enthusiastic and heartwarming feedback we have been receiving since its release.