“I come here because we respect one another,” said Sabina, a participant in A Course in Miracles gathering in upstate New York. The group meets once a week to support and encourage one another on their spiritual journey to find inner peace. They’ve been meeting since 2005 and take the time to read one paragraph at a time out loud from Dr. Helen Schucman’s,  A Course in Miracles book. Each reading is then followed by a brief silence and a sharing of thoughts on what was just read.

The backgrounds of the participants are varied yet they find in common the ability to take personal responsibility and stop blaming the world and other people for the problems that crop up in life.

Alice thinks of the dedicated time as, “a time to remember what my spiritual self knows.” All members of the group are seen as equal. Although Chris guides the group, she respects teaching and learning as a relationship.

Teaching and learning coincide.

“I give you sound learning, so do not forsake my teaching.” (Prov. 4:2)

From Science and Health, “We become more respectful and caring as we get to know the divine nature better and love Soul understandingly. The struggle over physicality will be replaced by a rejoicing in the affluence of our God. Religion will then be of the heart and not of the head.”