Lighthouse

Lighthouse Trails Inc

  • HOME
  • ABOUT/CONTACT
  • STORE
  • RESEARCH JOURNAL
  • TOPICAL BOOKLETS
  • FREE E-NEWSLETTER
  • RESEARCH ARCHIVE

Understanding the Difference: Biblical Atonement or New Age At-One-Ment?

Understanding the Difference: Biblical Atonement or New Age At-One-Ment?

April 19, 2014 by Lighthouse Trails author
Print Friendly, PDF & Email

by Warren B. Smith

And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.—Matthew 24:4–5

In 1965, Columbia University Professor of Medical Psychology, Helen Schucman, heard an “inner voice” saying, “This is a course in miracles. Please take notes.”1 Schucman’s initial resistance was overcome when the “inner voice,” identifying itself as “Jesus,” told her the purpose of the course:

The world situation is worsening to an alarming degree. People all over the world are being called on to help, and are making their individual contributions as part of an overall prearranged plan. Part of the plan is taking down A Course in Miracles, and I am fulfilling my part in the agreement, as you will fulfill yours. You will be using abilities you developed long ago, and which you are not really ready to use again. Because of the acute emergency, however, the usual slow, evolutionary process is being by-passed in what might best be described as a “celestial speed-up.”2

Baffled by her assignment, but nevertheless obliging, the skeptical Schucman diligently took dictation from this “inner voice.” In the seven and a half years of cumulative dictation that became A Course in Miracles, Schucman’s “Jesus” presents a whole new way of looking at the world. Using Christian terminology, sophisticated psychology, and convincing authority, Schucman’s “Jesus” teaches a completely different gospel than the one found in the Bible. His New Age/New Gospel wholly contradicts the Bible’s Gospel of Jesus Christ. Schucman’s “inner voice,” while claiming to be Jesus, actually opposes everything for which the Bible’s Jesus stands.

In brief, A Course in Miracles teaches that all is love. And while the Course teaches that the opposite of love is fear, it explains that fear is just an illusion based on wrong thinking. It states that the world we see is merely the projected manifestation of our own illusive, fearful thoughts. As each one of us learns to correct our fearful, wrong thinking, it will change not only how we see the world, but also change the world we see. The purpose of the Course is to facilitate this change in perception.

According to the Course, love is all there is. And because God is love, God is therefore in everyone and everything. It states God is sinless, perfect, and “at one” with all creation and that we, as a part of God, are also sinless and perfect in our “oneness” with Him. It teaches that man’s only “sin” is in not remembering his own perfect, sinless, divine nature. The only “devil” is our illusion that we are separate from, and not a part of, God. The Course tells its readers that a “sense of separation from God is the only lack you really need correct.”3

The Course also teaches that while “Christ” is in Jesus, so “Christ” is in everyone—and that the “Christ” in everyone is their divine connection with God and with each other. The Course further teaches that a “slain Christ has no meaning.”4 It states that wrong thinking has produced the misperception that man is a “sinner” and that he needs an external Christ to save him from his “sins.” The Course teaches that salvation has nothing to do with Jesus’ death on the cross. Salvation comes from what the Course calls the “Atonement” (“at-one-ment”) process.

This “Atonement,” or “atoning,” is when each person remembers and affirms and experiences their “oneness” (at-one-ment) with God and creation. The “Atonement” is the Course’s key to undoing “fear” and dispelling the illusion that man is “separate” from God. The Course stresses that the healing of the world is dependent upon each person’s fulfilling their Atonement “function” to teach this “oneness” to the world. When everyone comes to understand that “all is love and all is God,” then “inner peace” and “world peace” will finally happen. Only “fear” and the illusion of “separation” stand in the way of man’s attaining this peace for himself and his world. (For more on this and the “false christ,” read False Christ Coming: Does Anybody Care?

Notes:
1. Robert Skutch, Journey without Distance: The Story behind “A Course in Miracles” (Berkeley, CA: Celestial Arts, 1984), p. 54.
2. Ibid., p. 60.

Related Articles:

Social/Political Activism and the New Age by Ray Yungen

The Angel of Light’s “Plan” for World Peace by Tamara Hartzell

Makes No Sense for Contemplatives to Celebrate Easter

Posted in: New Age movement, pantheism & panentheism Tagged: A Course in Miracles, at-one-ment, atonement, Department of Peace, Marianne Williamson, Oprah, Schucman, Warren B. Smith

Search the Research

Categories

  • A Global Spirituality (542)
    • Chrislam (32)
    • Ecumenism (174)
    • One-World Religion (88)
  • Book/Film Reviews (595)
    • A Course in Miracles (3)
    • Book/Music Excerpts (266)
    • JESUS CALLING (66)
    • THE SHACK (60)
  • CHILDREN AT RISK! (562)
    • Abortion (55)
    • Child Abuse (79)
    • Children and Homosexuality (21)
    • Children and Meditation (89)
    • Education (51)
    • Homeschooling at Risk (28)
    • Kids and the Occult (19)
    • Transgenderism (74)
  • Christian Organizations (132)
  • Christian Publishers/Bookstores (72)
  • Churches in Crisis! (850)
    • Alpha Course (9)
    • Assemblies of God (26)
    • Bethel Church (Redding) (17)
    • Calvinist/Reformed (103)
    • Charismatic (40)
    • Christian & Missionary Alliance (18)
    • Concerns for Calvary Chapel (192)
    • Free Methodist (2)
    • Mennonites (7)
    • Saddleback (243)
    • Southern Baptist Convention (30)
      • Beth Moore (3)
    • Wesleyan Church (3)
    • Willow Creek/Hybels (59)
  • Conference Alerts (109)
  • Contemplative Spirituality (967)
    • Contemplative Churches (64)
    • Contemplative Colleges (192)
    • Contemplative Denominations (271)
    • Contemplative Organizations (103)
    • Contemplative Practices (239)
      • Enneagram (1)
      • Labyrinths (3)
      • Lectio Divina (67)
    • The Ancient Mystics (76)
  • Defending the Faith (861)
    • Creation/Evolution (59)
    • Discernment (48)
    • Persecution (158)
    • Spiritual Deception (290)
    • The Preaching of the Cross (112)
    • The Word of God (194)
  • General Information (287)
    • RESOURCES (215)
  • Health (187)
    • Mindfulness (43)
    • Reiki/Energy Healing (35)
    • Shepherd's Bible Verse Tea (1)
    • YOGA (88)
  • Hinduism (37)
  • Homosexuality (359)
    • Same-Sex Marriage (163)
    • Transgenderism (82)
  • Interspirituality (187)
  • Israel (142)
  • LETTERS TO THE EDITOR (308)
  • Missions (129)
    • BRYCE HOMES FOR WIDOWS & CHILDREN INTERNATIONAL (95)
  • Music (45)
  • Native Spirituality (39)
  • New Age movement (390)
    • Oprah Winfrey (25)
    • Paganism (17)
    • pantheism & panentheism (94)
    • Roma Downey (13)
  • New Evangelicalism (104)
  • On Christian Faith (259)
    • Encouragement (30)
    • The Gospel (68)
  • Publishing News (68)
  • Purpose Driven Movement (272)
    • Rick Warren (133)
  • Remembering Communism (48)
  • Remembering the Holocaust (115)
  • Road to Rome (251)
    • The New Evangelization (94)
  • Signs of the Times (1,003)
    • Canada (48)
    • Dominionism (13)
    • Eschatology (96)
    • False Signs and Wonders (62)
    • FOR MILLENNIALS (19)
    • FREEDOM (169)
    • Hate Crime Laws (67)
    • Islam (70)
    • Politics (330)
    • Pornography/Sexual Abuse (48)
    • The "New" Sciences (25)
  • Spiritual Formation (188)
  • The Emerging Church (491)
    • The New Missiology (33)
    • Universalism (29)
  • The New (False) Spirituality (102)
  • The New Spirituality (210)
  • The Role of Meditation (261)
    • Mystical Practices (103)
  • World in Crisis (181)
  • YEARS IN REVIEW (69)

RSS Recent Posts

  • The New Evangelization From Rome December 11, 2019
  • Ouija Angel Boards December 11, 2019
  • The New Gnostics in Today’s Church December 9, 2019
  • “Despite Common Core Promises, U.S. Kids Repeat Poor Performance On Latest Global Test” December 5, 2019
  • Southern Baptist Convention Adopts “Critical Race Theory”—A Dangerous Marxist “Solution” That Will Not Work December 2, 2019

Lighthouse Trails Writers

  • anita dittman
  • berit kjos
  • bill randles
  • carl teichrib
  • carolyn a. greene
  • caryl matrisciana
  • catherine brown
  • cedric fisher
  • chris lawson
  • david dombrowski
  • diet eman
  • egerton ryerson young
  • gregory reid
  • harry a. ironside
  • jim fletcher
  • john foxe
  • john lanagan
  • judson casjens
  • kevin reeves
  • l. putnam
  • larry debruyn
  • linda nathan
  • lynn lusby pratt
  • maria kneas
  • mary danielsen
  • michael tays carter
  • mike oppenheimer
  • mike stanwood
  • nanci des gerlaise
  • paul proctor
  • ray yungen
  • roger oakland
  • ruth hunt
  • sandy simpson
  • tamara hartzell
  • tony pearce
  • trevor baker (songwriter)
  • warren b. smith

Calendar

December 2019
S M T W T F S
« Nov    
1234567
891011121314
15161718192021
22232425262728
293031  

Archives

  • The New Evangelization From Rome
    by Lighthouse Trails Editors on December 11, 2019 at 2:05 pm

    The New Evangelization From Rome LTRP Note: The following is an extract from Roger Oakland’s booklet, The New Evangelization From Rome—Or Finding the True Jesus Christ. By Roger Oakland When Christians speak of evangelism, they are usually referring to efforts to fulfill the Great Commission. Just before ascending to heaven, Jesus commissioned every believer to proclaim the good news when ... [Read more...] The post The New Evangelization From Rome appeared first on Lighthouse Trails Inc.

  • Ouija Angel Boards
    by Lighthouse Trails Editors on December 11, 2019 at 3:21 am

    <strike>Ouija</strike> Angel Boards “While most children in the seventies knew enough truth to place divination in the forbidden realm of the occult, today’s children—who often feel more comfortable with occult games than biblical truth—see nothing wrong with pagan practices.”—Berit Kjos By Lynn Lusby Pratt “Well, would you try to Christianize a Ouija board?” When I’ve asked that question, ... [Read more...] The post <strike>Ouija</strike> Angel Boards appeared first on Lighthouse Trails Inc.

  • The New Gnostics in Today’s Church
    by Lighthouse Trails Editors on December 9, 2019 at 1:29 pm

    The New Gnostics in Today’s Church By Bill Randles(Author of the new release, War Against the Saints) I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth. (1 John 2:21) The church is undergoing perhaps her final assault from within, as she has been beset with ... [Read more...] The post The New Gnostics in Today’s Church appeared first on Lighthouse Trails Inc.

  • “Despite Common Core Promises, U.S. Kids Repeat Poor Performance On Latest Global Test”
    by Lighthouse Trails Editors on December 5, 2019 at 1:51 pm

    “Despite Common Core Promises, U.S. Kids Repeat Poor Performance On Latest Global Test” LTRP Note: The following news story is posted for informational and research purposes. If you would like to read more about Common Core, see Berit Kjos’ article, “A ‘Common Core’ For a Global Community.” If you know a family whose children are in public school, please consider sharing a copy of Kjos’ article with them. ... [Read more...] The post “Despite Common Core Promises, U.S. Kids Repeat Poor Performance On Latest Global Test” appeared first on Lighthouse Trails Inc.

  • Southern Baptist Convention Adopts “Critical Race Theory”—A Dangerous Marxist “Solution” That Will Not Work
    by Lighthouse Trails Editors on December 2, 2019 at 8:43 pm

    Southern Baptist Convention Adopts “Critical Race Theory”—A Dangerous Marxist “Solution” That Will Not Work On November 25th, Lighthouse Trails received a link to a YouTube documentary titled “The Stain of Albert Mohler”(1) that documents how the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) passed a resolution (Resolution 9) this past summer (2019) which adopts “Critical Race Theory” (a theory that claims to be a solution to ending racism but according to critics ... [Read more...] The post Southern Baptist Convention Adopts “Critical Race Theory”—A Dangerous Marxist “Solution” That Will Not Work appeared first on Lighthouse Trails Inc.

  • Letter to the Editor: Reminder About Study Showing Adverse Effects of Meditation
    by Lighthouse Trails Editors on December 2, 2019 at 2:13 pm

    Letter to the Editor: Reminder About Study Showing Adverse Effects of Meditation Dear Lighthouse Trails: This article came up in a feed, and I thought it might be a useful reminder to your readers. It’s a 2017 shallow academic re-run of what LHT has devotedly and thoroughly covered in depth for years! I imagine a title like: “Study Names 59 Categories of Unexpected and Unwanted Side Effects ... [Read more...] The post Letter to the Editor: Reminder About Study Showing Adverse Effects of Meditation appeared first on Lighthouse Trails Inc.

  • World Leader of Salvation Army Meets With Pope Francis/Vatican to Discuss Ecumenical Plans
    by Lighthouse Trails Editors on December 2, 2019 at 1:50 pm

    World Leader of Salvation Army Meets With Pope Francis/Vatican to Discuss Ecumenical Plans According to a November 2019 posting on the Salvation Army website titled, “World Leader of The Salvation Army General Brian Peddle meets His Holiness Pope Francis,” it appears that the Salvation Army is part of the growing ranks of evangelical organizations in the race toward unity at all costs. The post from the Salvation Army ... [Read more...] The post World Leader of Salvation Army Meets With Pope Francis/Vatican to Discuss Ecumenical Plans appeared first on Lighthouse Trails Inc.

  • A Word About Salvation Versus “the Contemplative Way”
    by Lighthouse Trails Editors on December 1, 2019 at 1:18 pm

    A Word About Salvation Versus “the Contemplative Way” By Ray Yungen Knowing Jesus Christ is not merely religion or spirituality but is rather a personal relationship with Him. Romans 10:2 speaks of those who have a “zeal for God but not according to knowledge.” Many contemplative writers describe a spiritual despondency they suffer before turning to mystical prayer as a remedy, and consequently ... [Read more...] The post A Word About Salvation Versus “the Contemplative Way” appeared first on Lighthouse Trails Inc.

  • Being Thankful Through It All
    by Lighthouse Trails author on November 28, 2019 at 8:27 am

    Being Thankful Through It All By Warren B. Smith In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. (1 Thessalonians 5:18) Thankfulness is our attempt as believers to express the inexpressible—the amazing gratitude we feel for the amazing grace bestowed upon us by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He not only ... [Read more...] The post Being Thankful Through It All appeared first on Lighthouse Trails Inc.

  • Ironside: “If Only I Could Be Sure I Was in the Right Church.”
    by Lighthouse Trails Editors on November 24, 2019 at 2:40 pm

    Ironside: “If Only I Could Be Sure I Was in the Right Church.” LTRP Note: The following is from Harry Ironside’s book Full Assurance. By Harry Ironside A comment put to me: “If I could only be sure I was in the right church, I would feel secure; but there are so many different churches that I get all confused and upset.” My response: The church is not ... [Read more...] The post Ironside: “If Only I Could Be Sure I Was in the Right Church.” appeared first on Lighthouse Trails Inc.

Show Buttons
Hide Buttons

"Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name [Jesus Christ] under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." Acts 4:12

HOME ABOUT US RESEARCH JOURNAL BOOKLET TRACTS RESOURCES OUR WEBSITES

Copyright 2002-2019. Lighthouse Trails Publishing, Inc.