Customer Reviews

A Course in Miracles in 5 Minutes: Personally Using the Principles of a Course in Miracles to Change

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I don't care what the above reviewer's experience was with this book - I guess we're all different because God as my witness this book did it for me! Okay, so I agree the title is misleading, but this book allowed me for the first time to personally experience and know that my world is a mirror of my stuff and see the benefit I'd get out of doing the practically impossible for me, "Course in Miracles." Guys I'm telling you this book has made a real impact in my daily experience. This, my first review -- it's my tithe to the world. I had this book lying around for my house for about a year before I came across the negative review above and decided to peek into it one evening just to see how bad I got rip-off...Sweet Jesus, my eyes are open and now I can see.

says the Course....wow! The original "Course in Miracles" changed my life!

Really amazing perspective from the Christ himself....If you can begin to phathom that Jesus (or God) has not stopped talking to us- we've just stopped listening! Thank heavens the authors had the courage to listen to their inner voices.

So, yeah, the original book is a mouthful. If Jerry can help you weed through it, then why not? I had to pray everytime I began reading the course, just to ask that Spirit open my heart and brain to understand the Shakespearean Pentemeter. It worked. I worked the course and it worked for me.

And Jerry, well if this is the same guy that lead the group in Houston, Tx for years, he's a great speaker. And if his book is anything like his talks, you'll "get it". It may take longer than 5 minutes, and if you want the whole enchilada, go for the original. But don't pass up a great opportunity to narrow down the info and read a super-condensed version. Having an appetizer is a fantabulous idea! Thanks Jerry and God bless!

We live in an age of "quick fixes." Everywhere you look you see books that promise results in 30, 19, 12, 6, days. And now we have this book promising that you can learn A COURSE IN MIRACLES in only five minutes.

People often complain about A COURSE IN MIRACLES because they say the wording is too dense and complicated, and the sentence structure is confusing. In A COURSE IN MIRACLES IN 5 MINUTES, Jerry Sears says that he thinks the Course reads like the text to a college course. The only thing is, that's what the Course intends to be: the "text" of a course. That's why A COURSE IN MIRACLES is divided into three books, the first book named the "Text," the second book named the "Workbook For Students," and the third book named, "Manual for Teachers." And the classroom in which we are supposed to study the Course is this very world: the Course says that this world is the classroom in which we learn the lessons of forgiveness.

I really see nothing "wrong" with books written on A COURSE IN MIRACLES that have the intention of helping us to understand the Course and what it is saying. But A COURSE IN MIRACLES IN 5 MINUTES seems to imply that the Course itself is sort of unsure of what it is saying, or at least that it could have said it better. I don't agree with that. I think the Course is difficult to get through on purpose: because it is worded in a way that *forces* us to work harder and look at the deeper implications of its message, and its style encourages us to let go of our need for "quick fixes." Eventually, the Course teaches us to let go of our individual identity itself. I'm not saying, "Don't read A COURSE IN MIRACLES IN 5 MINUTES." I am saying, "Read it if you want. But if you want the full message of the Course, read A COURSE IN MIRACLES itself."

I found this book interesting in parts, particularly the author's autobiographic information about his struggles to overcome the divisions within his family (his mother was Jewish, his father was Catholic. He never met his father, but was rejected by his father's family because of religious differences), and to deal with the bigotry he faced as a child (he attended religious schools where he faced persecution for being Jewish). In fact, I found his personal story much more interesting than his take on Course principles. I think the author would do well to consider a purely autobiographical work and leave out references to the Course. I think this book might be helpful and perhaps inspiring if the Course student were to read it purely as a "supplement" to their study, as a way to see how a fellow student has come to terms with life and what he thinks of the Course. But I certainly would not recommend using this book as the only source of information on the Course. My opinion is that no book can replace the Course. (The author of A COURSE IN MIRACLES IN 5 MINUTES agrees that no book can "replace" A COURSE IN MIRACLES, which makes me wonder why he chose a title that seems to imply the opposite.)

In the past 20 years, I think I've tried to do ACIM at least four times. I've never gotten very far. When I saw this at my local library, I figured I didn't have much to lose. I'm so grateful that I picked it up. Jerry really makes the Course accessible, and has inspired me to try again. Each chapter has a few exercises (think four or five questions) which examine your beliefs now...and then you come back to them later. It's really helpful. For example, you might look at "How My Perception Flows from my Self Image." Then you'll have a feeling (When I think that someone doesn't like me...).... the Course Answer (I remember that this is my perception only, flowing from my own feelings about myself) and a Positive Gift ("I am thankful for this reminder of who I really am (Holy, Loving, Child of God), no matter how painful.) I highly recommend this. It could stand on its own, but would be more powerful if done with the Course.

It was a good overview of "A Course in Miracles" program if you are going to study the program. Which I am in the process of doing over this year. But, it did not go into the total depth of the program which is good. Religion is a complex topic. It is truly an overview.