Exploring A Course in Miracles

What if one of Christianity's core teachings is actually holding people back from love? In this episode of Exploring A Course in Miracles, Emily and Robert Perry sit down with Brian Recker, author of Hell Bent, to explore how the doctrine of hell shapes belief, behavior, and our image of God—and why it undermines a truly love-based spirituality. Brian shares his journey from a fundamentalist upbringing to becoming an evangelical pastor to ultimately questioning the fear-based theology he once preached. Together, they discuss the lingering impact of early religious conditioning, the hidden role hell still plays in modern Christianity, and what it could look like to rebuild the Christian story on a foundation of love.
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Since 1993, our purpose has been to help with both the theory and practical application of A Course in Miracles. We are the publisher of the Complete and Annotated Edition of the Course (known as the "CE"), which is available as a revised hardcover*, ebook*, and via Audible.
Our work grows out of our commitment to be as faithful as possible to what A Course in Miracles says, years of dedication to walking this path ourselves, and a desire to see the Course's purpose realized in the lives of students and in the world.
You are invited to download the free ACIM CE App to read, search, or listen to the Course wherever you are in the world, by following the instructions at https://acimce.app/


Whether you are new to ACIM or you've been a student for many years, you are welcome to join our online community and learning platform to access a vast collection of resources designed to help you understand and apply Course teachings in everyday life: https://community.circleofa.org/


To submit a question or suggest a topic for a future podcast episode, please email [email protected].
If you enjoyed this podcast, please consider subscribing and leaving a review, as this will help us reach other listeners. You are also welcome to make a donation to help support our work at circleofa.org/donate.
*Amazon affiliate links

Everywhere we look in our world there are so many tragedies it's easy to ask, "Where is God in all of this?" Does He even know about our suffering and, if He does, why doesn't He do more? These are the questions that cut right to the heart of our deepest doubts and struggles with religion and spirituality. But this is also where A Course in Miracles can help, because the Course offers a series of teachings that - when you put them together - provide an answer to this long-standing question that actually makes sense. If you've ever wondered how a loving God could allow so much pain, you won't want to miss this Sunday Gathering message from Emily Perry.
___________________________
Since 1993, our purpose has been to help with both the theory and practical application of A Course in Miracles. We are the publisher of the Complete and Annotated Edition of the Course (known as the "CE"), which is available as a revised hardcover*, ebook*, and via Audible.
Our work grows out of our commitment to be as faithful as possible to what A Course in Miracles says, years of dedication to walking this path ourselves, and a desire to see the Course's purpose realized in the lives of students and in the world.
You are invited to download the free ACIM CE App to read, search, or listen to the Course wherever you are in the world, by following the instructions at https://acimce.app/


Whether you are new to ACIM or you've been a student for many years, you are welcome to join our online community and learning platform to access a vast collection of resources designed to help you understand and apply Course teachings in everyday life: https://community.circleofa.org/


To submit a question or suggest a topic for a future podcast episode, please email [email protected].
If you enjoyed this podcast, please consider subscribing and leaving a review, as this will help us reach other listeners. You are also welcome to make a donation to help support our work at circleofa.org/donate.
*Amazon affiliate links

In this episode of Exploring A Course in Miracles, Robert and Emily explore the meaning of Holy Week through the lens of A Course in Miracles. Holy Week marks the final days of Jesus' life—from his entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, to the crucifixion on Good Friday, to the resurrection on Easter Sunday. It's a week that didn't just shape Christianity—it changed the course of human history. But what does it mean for us now? In this conversation, we explore:
The deeper spiritual meaning behind the events of Holy Week
How A Course in Miracles reinterprets the crucifixion and resurrection
What it looks like to live these teachings in your own life
___________________________
Since 1993, our purpose has been to help with both the theory and practical application of A Course in Miracles. We are the publisher of the Complete and Annotated Edition of the Course (known as the "CE"), which is available as a revised hardcover*, ebook*, and via Audible.
Our work grows out of our commitment to be as faithful as possible to what A Course in Miracles says, years of dedication to walking this path ourselves, and a desire to see the Course's purpose realized in the lives of students and in the world.
You are invited to download the free ACIM CE App to read, search, or listen to the Course wherever you are in the world, by following the instructions at https://acimce.app/


Whether you are new to ACIM or you've been a student for many years, you are welcome to join our online community and learning platform to access a vast collection of resources designed to help you understand and apply Course teachings in everyday life: https://community.circleofa.org/


To submit a question or suggest a topic for a future podcast episode, please email [email protected].
If you enjoyed this podcast, please consider subscribing and leaving a review, as this will help us reach other listeners. You are also welcome to make a donation to help support our work at circleofa.org/donate.
*Amazon affiliate links

In this episode of Exploring A Course in Miracles, Robert and Emily Perry explore an often overlooked dimension of the Course's history: the influence of Black voices and Black religious culture. Recorded during Black History Month, this conversation brings forward connections that have rarely been discussed in the Course community. From Helen Schucman's early spiritual formation in a Harlem Baptist church to the appearance of African American cultural influences within the Course itself, the episode uncovers surprising threads woven into the story of A Course in Miracles. Among the topics discussed:
The profound influence of Idabel, the Black Baptist housekeeper who helped shape Helen Schucman's early spiritual life
How an African proverb entered the Course through a remark by an elevator operator
The connection between the Course and James Weldon Johnson, a Harlem Renaissance writer and civil rights leader
Helen Schucman's poem "Glory Train," inspired by the tradition of Black spirituals
What the teachings of A Course in Miracles may offer in conversations about equality, healing, and spiritual liberation
This episode also reflects on the unique way the Course presents a vision of radical spiritual equality—a vision that rejects hierarchy and affirms that everyone without exception is equal in God's eyes.
___________________________
Since 1993, our purpose has been to help with both the theory and practical application of A Course in Miracles. We are the publisher of the Complete and Annotated Edition of the Course (known as the "CE"), which is available as a revised hardcover*, ebook*, and via Audible.
Our work grows out of our commitment to be as faithful as possible to what A Course in Miracles says, years of dedication to walking this path ourselves, and a desire to see the Course's purpose realized in the lives of students and in the world.
You are invited to download the free ACIM CE App to read, search, or listen to the Course wherever you are in the world, by following the instructions at https://acimce.app/


Whether you are new to ACIM or you've been a student for many years, you are welcome to join our online community and learning platform to access a vast collection of resources designed to help you understand and apply Course teachings in everyday life: https://community.circleofa.org/


To submit a question or suggest a topic for a future podcast episode, please email [email protected].
If you enjoyed this podcast, please consider subscribing and leaving a review, as this will help us reach other listeners. You are also welcome to make a donation to help support our work at circleofa.org/donate.
*Amazon affiliate links

In this sermon, Emily Perry explores the difference between true forgiveness and spiritual denial. When Course ideas like "this world is an illusion" or "there is nothing to forgive" are used casually, they can sound like avoidance—or even cruelty—in the face of real suffering. So how do we hold the Course's lofty metaphysics without bypassing pain, suppressing emotions, or dismissing injustice? Drawing on key passages from the Text and Workbook, Emily offers a practical three-stage framework that is an invitation into a mature, grounded spirituality: one that looks directly at what hurts, refuses to camp in it, and opens to the Holy Spirit's genuine healing. ___________________________
Since 1993, our purpose has been to help with both the theory and practical application of A Course in Miracles. We are the publisher of the Complete and Annotated Edition of the Course (known as the "CE"), which is available as a revised hardcover*, ebook*, and via Audible.
Our work grows out of our commitment to be as faithful as possible to what A Course in Miracles says, years of dedication to walking this path ourselves, and a desire to see the Course's purpose realized in the lives of students and in the world.
You are invited to download the free ACIM CE App to read, search, or listen to the Course wherever you are in the world, by following the instructions at https://acimce.app/


Whether you are new to ACIM or you've been a student for many years, you are welcome to join our online community and learning platform to access a vast collection of resources designed to help you understand and apply Course teachings in everyday life: https://community.circleofa.org/


To submit a question or suggest a topic for a future podcast episode, please email [email protected].
If you enjoyed this podcast, please consider subscribing and leaving a review, as this will help us reach other listeners. You are also welcome to make a donation to help support our work at circleofa.org/donate.
*Amazon affiliate links