HOW IT ALL BEGAN
~ The Story of the First Four ~
In the spirit of collaboration may we honor our path together, and share our gratitude for those who have been instrumental in bringing A Course in Miracles to the world.
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Since 1975 the Trustees of the Foundation for Inner Peace have prayerfully overseen the translation and dissemination of 3 million Course books into 26 languages around the world. With great joy, we celebrate the life’s work of Helen, Bill, Ken, and Judy joined by Bob and Whit. We are so grateful for their love and devotion!
SCRIBES OF A COURSE IN MIRACLES
Complimentary Ego Dynamics
A Course in Miracles is a pathway of relationship and the first followers, the scribes of The Course, were given an assignment by Jesus to heal their often tempestuous relationship while getting in touch with their internal Teacher.
Helen Cohn Schucman (born Helen Dora Cohn, July 14, 1909 – February 9, 1981) was an American clinical psychologist and research psychologist. She was a professor of medical psychology at Columbia University in New York from 1958 until her retirement in 1976. Schucman is best known for having "scribed" with the help of colleague William Thetford the book A Course in Miracles (1st edition, 1975),[1][2] the contents of which she claimed had been given to her by an inner voice she identified as Jesus. However, at her request, her role as its "writer" was not revealed to the general public until after her death. read more on Wikipeadia
We recommend this book to get to know Helen better:
Absence from Felicity: The Story of Helen Schucman and Her Scribing of "A Course in Miracles" By Kenneth Wapnick, Ph.D.
This biography of Helen Schucman—the scribe of ACIM focuses on the lifetime conflict between her spiritual nature and her ego, and the relationship of this conflict to her scribing of the Course. The book includes extensive excerpts from Helen's own recollections, the personal messages she received from Jesus, and her dreams and letters.
William Thetford (April 25, 1923 – July 4, 1988) was an American psychologist, medical psychologist and professor. He is best known for his collaboration with Helen Schucman in typing the original manuscript and being on the editing team for A Course in Miracles (ACIM), a self-study curriculum in spiritual psychology.[1] He died in 1988, aged 65, in Tiburon, California, after having made his involvement with the ACIM material and its study the most central focus of his life. read more on Wikipeadia
We recommend this book to get to know Bill better:
Never Forget to Laugh: Personal Recollections of Bill Thetford, Co-Scribe of A Course in Miracles by Carol M. Howe
This frst-hand account chronicles the life and spiritual journey of Bill Thetford, a brilliant, accomplished psychologist, and one of the world's foremost authorities on ego development. Bill's own path to awakening provides a timeless guide to releasing grievances, replacing them with grace and peace of mind.
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ACIM ORIGIN
A Course in Miracles ~ Answer to a Call for Love
The story is often retold that it was into this environment of inter-relational strain between Thetford and Schucman that the ACIM material was in a sense first “invited” into this world. Thetford exclaimed, “There must be another way!” Expecting a typically condescending response from Schucman, the studied silence that followed his speech was then followed by a most surprising "Yes Bill and I'll help you find it."
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Kenneth Wapnick
ABOUT - the Guided editor of A Course in Miracles
Kenneth Wapnick (February 22, 1942 - December 27, 2013) received his Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology in 1968 from Adelphi University. He was a close friend and associate of Helen Schucman and William Thetford. writing, teaching, and integrating the principles of ACIM with his practice of psychotherapy.
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This background in psychology and spirituality led to his introduction to Dr. Helen Schucman in 1972 just before he was about to become a Trappist Monk. The following year, Ken began working closely with both scribes, noting afterwards that it was no accident the three people closest to the Course were all psychologists. "When I saw the Course and began reading it, I realized it was the perfect way to use all my background and skills. ...the perfect way of integrating both psychology and spirituality. ...and I knew that this was my life’s work"
Ken and Helen shared a deep friendship with each other, and a mutual love for Jesus. Together, they edited the Course and readied it for publication. Helen knew Kenneth would "ensure that the Course's message would be treated with fidelity, and that its life in the world would be a dignified and loving one" —Absence From Felicity. To that end, Kenneth and his wife, Gloria, formed the Foundation for A Course in Miracles in 1983 as an academy of learning for students of the Course.
This section is still being compiled READ MORE: https://facim.org/
https://centerforacourseinmiracles.org/#/kenneth/
Judith Skutch Whitson
ABOUT - the Guided publisher of the Course
Judith Skutch Whitson (April 12, 1931 – October 19, 2021) grew up in a Conservative Jewish family, in Brooklyn, New York. She graduated with a BA from Hood College. She then attended Columbia University School of Journalism and was on the faculty of New York University. In the mid-sixties, Judy immersed herself in the field of consciousness. In 1972, Judy met Astronaut Dr. Edgar Mitchell, and he asked her to serve on the Board of the then-nascent Institute for Noetic Sciences. Through her friendship with John E. Fetzer, she was a Founding Board Member of the Fetzer Institute. She served on each Board for over 20 years.
In 1975 she met the scribes of A Course in Miracles, Dr. Helen Schucman and Dr. William Thetford. They became close friends and entrusted her with their manuscript, which became “A Course in Miracles.” Though she wasn’t yet a publisher, her role was to publish the material and introduce the Course to the world. Since then, it has been translated into 27 languages, with 3 more translations in progress. More than 3 million copies have been distributed globally.
Judy and her second husband, Robert Skutch, founded the Foundation for Parasensory Investigation, which focused on consciousness research. This eventually evolved into the Foundation for Inner Peace whose function is to publish, distribute, and discuss A Course in Miracles. Judy and “Bob” remained co-founders, colleagues, and close friends at the Foundation for Inner Peace for over 45 years. Judy’s third husband, William Whitson, worked remarkably well with Judy and her second husband Bob for over 40 years. “Whit” was Spirit-charged with overseeing the ACIM translation program. The triumvirate, which Judy referred to as the “three-legged stool,” was the working foundation for their Foundation for Inner Peace. READ MORE: https://acim.org/memorials/
Judith was completely dedicated to Course principles. Forgiveness was her way to happiness and she remained a devoted friend to Bill Thetford throughout his life. Her daughter Tamara Morgan, is now President of the Foundation for Inner Peace.