

Exploring A Course in Miracles
Circle of Atonement
Exploring A Course in Miracles offers in-depth conversations on Course-related topics from Robert and Emily Perry. To learn more about Circle of Atonement offerings for your A Course in Miracles journey, including our Complete and Annotated Edition (CE) of A Course in Miracles and our Course Companions online learning community, please visit www.circleofa.org.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Apr 18, 2025 • 27min
Palm Sunday: Lessons from A Course in Miracles
Palm Sunday marks the beginning of Holy Week—a time that many of us remember with tradition and reverence. In the Gospel story, Jesus enters Jerusalem to shouts of “Hosanna!” as palm branches are laid at his feet. But A Course in Miracles invites us to see this moment in a new light—not just as the beginning of Jesus’ final days, but as the beginning of everyone’s spiritual journey home to God. In this message, Robert Perry explores what Holy Week means through the lens of the Course. Rather than focusing on death and sacrifice, the Course shifts the message to forgiveness, innocence, and resurrection—not only for Jesus, but for each one of us… and especially for the people standing right beside us. What if the people in your life—yes, even the difficult ones—are walking their own sacred path to resurrection? What if you could either delay or speed their journey by the way you see and treat them? And what if, in offering them lilies instead of thorns, you were saving yourself as well? ___________________________ 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 paperback*, 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 info@circleofa.org. 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

Apr 17, 2025 • 35min
Holding Yourself Aloof from the Path
Have you ever felt like you’re standing at a distance from your spiritual path—disengaged, resigned, or quietly doubting whether you’re really up to the task? In this Sunday Gathering sermon, Robert Perry explores one of the most beloved prayers in A Course in Miracles—the “Accepting the Atonement” prayer—and the powerful story behind it. Originally given to Bill Thetford as a direct response to his own disengagement from the Course, this prayer speaks to the passive ways we hold ourselves back from healing, love, and the return to God. Drawing from rarely discussed guidance in the Course and newly uncovered context, Robert shows how Jesus lovingly called Bill out of his withdrawal and into full engagement with the path – and how he invites us to do the same. ___________________________ 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 paperback*, 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 info@circleofa.org. 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

Mar 31, 2025 • 33min
What Do We Do With Our Anger?
In a world that is increasingly consumed by fear, injustice, and division, many of us are left asking: What do we do with our anger? In this sermon from a recent Sunday Gathering, Emily Perry draws inspiration from Martin Luther King Jr.’s timeless message in “A Knock at Midnight” and explores how A Course in Miracles invites us to respond to anger in a spiritually-grounded way. Through practical insights and personal stories, we’ll look at: • How conventional views of anger shape our thinking • What the Course teaches about the roots of anger • A 3-step healing process for transforming anger into love • Why miracle-mindedness—not rage—is our true source of strength If you’re feeling the darkness of our time and longing to be a light within it, this message is for you. ___________________________ 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 paperback*, 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 info@circleofa.org. 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

Mar 31, 2025 • 60min
Staying Sane in a World Gone Mad
In this episode of Exploring A Course in Miracles, Robert & Emily Perry dive into the question so many of us are asking: How do we stay spiritually grounded in a world that feels increasingly unhinged? Drawing from Course teachings, Robert & Emily introduce a 3-step process for navigating these turbulent times with clarity, compassion, and conviction. This conversation challenges the idea that spiritual practice means disengagement from the world. Instead, it affirms that Course students are called to show up—clear-eyed, open-hearted, and rooted in love. ___________________________ 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 paperback*, 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 info@circleofa.org. 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

Mar 26, 2025 • 58min
What Does ACIM Say About the Bible?
For many spiritual seekers, A Course in Miracles and the Bible seem like two completely different paths. And yet, the Course references the Bible more than anything else—with nearly 900 biblical quotes and allusions throughout its 2,000 pages. So what does the Course actually say about the Bible? How does it affirm, reinterpret, or even correct biblical teachings? And what does this mean for students of the Course today? In this episode of Exploring A Course in Miracles, Emily and Robert dive deep into: How the Course grants authority to the Bible—especially the Gospels Why Jesus urges students to read the Bible and examine his credentials The Course’s reinterpretation of key biblical passages (e.g., “Vengeance is Mine,” “God is not mocked”) How Jesus reframes the meaning of his crucifixion and resurrection The bigger picture: how the Course aims to recover the Bible’s true message of love Whether you’ve struggled with the relationship between A Course in Miracles and the Bible or you’re just curious to learn more, this conversation is one of the most important we’ve ever had. ___________________________ 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 paperback*, 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 info@circleofa.org. 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

Mar 3, 2025 • 32min
Above All Else, I Want to See
In this episode, Emily Perry explores the theme of Workbook Lesson 27 from A Course in Miracles: “Above all else I want to see.” [CE W-27:1] This lesson invites us to embrace a shift in perception, emphasizing the importance of seeing the world through spiritual vision rather than through the distorted lens of the ego. In this Sunday Gathering sermon, you’ll learn how the Course encourages us to “undo” our current way of seeing, how to “restore” the spiritual sight that already resides within us, and the vital role of determination in achieving the Course’s goal of spiritual vision. This sermon was delivered at a recent Sunday Gathering, which is free and open to all and held on the 2nd and 4th Sundays of each month. We wholeheartedly invite you to join us for a future Sunday Gathering. To learn more and join, visit community.circleofa.org. ___________________________ 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 paperback*, 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 info@circleofa.org. 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

Feb 24, 2025 • 1h 2min
What We Learned from the 28-Day Relationship Challenge
In this episode, Emily and Robert Perry from the Circle of Atonement reflect on what they learned from their recent 28-Day Relationship Challenge. This challenge, hosted for the members of the Circle's Course Companions community, focused on applying the ten characteristics of a spiritually advanced teacher of God from the Manual for Teachers of A Course in Miracles to transform relationships. The challenge was inspired by the realization that when we want change in our relationships, we often focus on changing others rather than ourselves. Emily and Robert took on the task of embodying the Course's definition of a spiritually advanced teacher for 30 days, trusting the Course's methods and principles and letting go of the usual impulse to control. Here, they share insights on how characteristics like trust, tolerance, gentleness, defenselessness, patience, and generosity can deeply impact how we show up in relationships. They discuss the challenges and rewards of applying these traits, such as how embracing defenselessness can bring peace to difficult situations or how practicing patience stems from trusting that the outcome is certain. Tune in for a deep dive into how these profound teachings can transform your relationships and lead to the ultimate goal of the A Course in Miracles curriculum: forgiveness. Want to try the 28-Day Relationship Challenge yourself? The replays and handouts from the challenge are available in the Course Companions program. You can find more details at CourseCompanions.com. ___________________________ 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 paperback*, 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 info@circleofa.org. 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

Feb 17, 2025 • 34min
Life Together: ACIM Perspective on Spiritual Community
In this sermon, Emily Perry explores the idea of spiritual community through the lens of A Course in Miracles. Drawing parallels with Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s Life Together, Emily covers key teachings on spiritual love versus human love, emphasizing the importance of seeing each other as divine rather than idealized, and the role of service in fostering true community. Through practical examples from Bonhoeffer’s “ministries,” such as the Ministry of Listening and the Ministry of Bearing, this sermon encourages us to commit to a life of love, forgiveness, and mutual support, embodying the vision of a beloved community. ___________________________ 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 paperback*, 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 info@circleofa.org. 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

Jan 20, 2025 • 53min
Is A Course in Miracles Self-Study?
The hosts challenge the notion of A Course in Miracles as merely a self-study course. They argue for the importance of teacher-student relationships to unlock the course's deeper meanings. Insights into miracles reveal a shift from fear to love, while the historical context of self-study is scrutinized. The discussion highlights how personalized guidance accelerates spiritual growth, emphasizing the vital role teachers play in enhancing understanding and fostering meaningful learning experiences.

Jan 15, 2025 • 31min
Jesus and the Disinherited: A Course in Miracles' Perspective (Sunday Gathering Sermon)
Join Emily Perry for an exploration of "Jesus and the Disinherited through the lens of A Course in Miracles." Inspired by Howard Thurman’s seminal work that shaped the spiritual foundation of the American Civil Rights Movement, this sermon dives into the profound connections between Jesus' teachings, nonviolence, and social justice. In this message, you'll discover how Thurman’s insights illuminate Jesus as a figure of liberation for the oppressed, offering a path from fear, deceit, and hate to faith, integrity, and love. You'll also learn the ways Thurman's wisdom overlaps with the teachings of A Course in Miracles, particularly in its call to transcend inner darkness with love and forgiveness as a force for personal and collective transformation. If you've ever wondered how spirituality can meaningfully address social injustice or how faith can inspire true transformation, this message is for you. This sermon was delivered by Emily Perry at a Circle of Atonement Sunday Gathering, held on the 2nd and 4th Sundays of each month. To join us for a future Sunday Gathering, visit community.circleofa.org and click on "My Events" once you're inside. ___________________________ 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 paperback*, 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 info@circleofa.org. 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