Is a Course in Miracles a Cult?

A topic of sometimes heated discussion in regards to A Course in Miracles is the question of it being a cult. Several prominent authors have made such a claim, but is it true? Before we can definitively say one way or the other, first we need to determine what we actually mean by the word "cult."

Webster's defines a cult as:

1: formal religious veneration (i.e. worship)
2: a system of religious beliefs and rituals
3: a religion regarded as unorthodox or spurious

There are a few more, but for our purposes this will suffice.

Let's take the first one, formal religious veneration. Veneration is simply another word for worship. As you can quickly see, this definition doesn't really help us answer what we mean by cult. Under this definition every religious or spiritual group can be defined as a cult. I'm pretty sure most groups or churches would have a thing or two to say about that.

We have the same challenge with definition number two. Again, if our only criteria is "a system of religious beliefs and rituals," then any and every spiritual path would qualify as a cult. This definition covers everything from Fundamentalist Christianity or the peaceful Tibetan Buddhists to such "radical" Islamic views as those espoused by Osama Bin Laden. Not particularly helpful, wouldn't you agree?

This takes us to number three: a religion regarded as unorthodox or spurious. Well this certainly clears things up. Or does it? The problem we have is, regarded as unorthodox or spurious according to whom? It all depends on one's point of view. There is no doubt most mainstream churches regard the Latter Day Saints (Mormons) as a cult. Likewise with the Jehovah's Witnesses. Why is that? Primarily because these groups don't adhere to the more traditional interpretations of the Bible that the so-called mainstream churches do. Some people consider the Seventh-Day Adventists as a cult. Of course the Seventh Day Adventists believe that everyone except themselves is pretty much a cult, so it cuts both ways. Moreover, before you can use this definition you first have to determine what you mean by orthodox and you have to define spurious. As you can see it can quickly become quite a project, one definition leading to another and then another ad infinitum.

So where does that leave us? I believe we are left with the more common, if less scholarly, definition. Perhaps the most often cited sign of a cult is a group of people - often associated with one or more of the above definitions - that are under the direction and control of a charismatic leader. We all know the stories of Jim Jones and the jungle, David Koresh and Waco, and Marshall Applewhite and Heaven's Gate but to name a few. But realistically, could we not use this definition to describe just about any religious organization? Think about it... assuming you go to some kind of service, why do you attend the church you do? The most common answer I get is, "I just connect with the minister." Would that not qualify as following a charismatic leader?

Note, however, that cult like control does not necessarily have to include religion, the most famous example being Charles Manson.

Now we can look at A Course in Miracles and see where it stands.

Is it a form of " formal religious veneration"? While it is entirely possible that a group could use it in this way, the Course itself is more of a self-study program than anything else. One can study the Course for an entire lifetime without ever mentioning it to another human being. The focus of the ACIM is to put you in touch with your Inner Voice or Holy Spirit. It really has nothing to do with formal worship.

Is it "a system of religious beliefs and rituals"? I guess you could say that. There is certainly a religious tone to the volume, and if you wanted to define its daily Workbook exercises as "rituals" you would get little argument from me, although I would call them exactly what they are intended to be: exercises in Mind development.

Is ACIM "a religion regarded as unorthodox or spurious"? Ah, there's where it gets tricky, doesn't it? It really depends on your particular belief about such things. If you believe that every faith or religion that is not yours is a cult, then there is nothing I or anyone else can say that will change your mind. But, then again, how does everyone else see you? How does everyone else regard your faith? Feeling a bit uncomfortable yet? That's okay; just hang in there, I'm about to let you off the hook.

But before I do, let's talk about the last definition, the so-called charismatic leader. Is there one in ACIM? If there is they are quite well hidden, because I've been a student of the Course for years and I've never met them. Sure, we have our share of teachers that some would label as expert or guru, but that is not how I see them; they're simply people that are a tad further along in their journey than the rest of us and they choose to leave a bit of wisdom behind. But that does not make them a leader by any stretch of the imagination. Gary Renard, for example, is one of my personal "heroes" and is probably responsible for bringing more people into awareness about the Course than any other person, but that doesn't mean that I would drink a cup of tainted Kool-Aid or kill myself in hopes of catching a passing comet just because he said so. (Although I might just hop a flight to Hawaii if he invited me, but I'd still be mostly interested in the beaches.)

Can A Course in Miracles be used in a cult-like setting? Sure it could. In fact, there have been allegations laid against such a group known as the Endeavor Academy in Wisconsin. And while I'm not here to pass judgment on E.A. - I don't even know them - it does go to show that ACIM could potentially be used. But is that really so different than, say, the Bible? It's a known fact that David Koresh could tap dance through the scriptures like Fred Astaire on meth, but I don't see too many churches throwing out the Bible because of it.

Earlier I promised I would let you off the hook. Here's how...

Imagine a giant wall standing before you that stretches as far and wide as the eye can see. And in this wall there are thousands of windows. One window is labeled Christianity. One is labeled Judaism. Some are marked as Baptist, some as Buddhist. One says Fred, another says Nancy. And so forth. Each of these windows is a person's particular belief system, their faith. But here's the interesting thing. On the other side of this Great Wall is a Flame. This Flame we'll call Love. Now we can call it God, Universe, Spirit, Peace or any number of other names; perhaps as many names as there are windows. But every single window is seeing the same Flame. Sure, we might each see it from a different perspective, a different point of view (it is a big wall, after all) but it's really just Love. And isn't that what we're all really after? Not conflict. Not judgment. Certainly not anger and hatred. We all just looking for a little bit of Love.

So is A Course in Miracles a cult? No more so than any other window, my friend, including yours.

James Goolsby is a Minister-in-Training with Pathways of Light, a non-profit organization promoting A Course in Miracles. To get instant access to all of his thoughts on ACIM, including articles, podcasts, and video, as well as an online journal of his ministry training, visit his blog http://www.ACIMInsight.com.

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