The useful application of ACIM's teachings is also a spot of contention. Though some individuals record positive transformations and personal growth from following a course, the others discover the methods to be ineffective or even harmful. The course's increased exposure of forgiveness and enjoy is remarkable, but experts fight that it can be very simplistic and naïve, declining to address the complexities of individual relationships and the necessity for limits and accountability. Furthermore, the course's size and rigorous character may be frustrating for some people, leading to burnout or disillusionment. Authorities suggest that enough time and energy required to complete ACIM might be better used on more empirically supported beneficial techniques or spiritual disciplines that have a proven track record of effectiveness.

The broader affect of ACIM on the spiritual and self-help areas is also worth considering. The course has inspired an important following and has been built-into numerous New Age and spiritual movements. Nevertheless, their influence can be seen as a double-edged sword. On one hand, a course in miracles it's presented a platform for individuals seeking spiritual development and inner peace. On the other hand, its teachings may contribute to a culture of religious bypassing, where people use religious methods to avoid working with personal and cultural issues. This may result in a form of escapism, where in fact the concentrate on spiritual ideals distracts from the necessity of interesting with and addressing real-world challenges.

More over, the industrial accomplishment of ACIM and its related materials raises moral concerns. The proliferation of workshops, publications, and seminars predicated on ACIM is visible as capitalizing on individuals' spiritual wants and vulnerabilities. Critics fight that the commercialization of spirituality can cause the exploitation of seekers, who may invest significant time and money into methods that ultimately don't produce on the promises. This commercialization also can contribute to the dilution of the course's teachings, as different interpretations and changes proliferate, probably ultimately causing confusion and misapplication of the principles.

Another critical element to consider may be the exclusivity and dogmatism that could occasionally accompany the ACIM community. While the course it self promotes universal enjoy and forgiveness, just how it's shown and practiced by some adherents may lead to a feeling of spiritual elitism. This will produce an "people versus them" thinking, wherever those that follow ACIM are regarded as enlightened, while people who don't are viewed as misguided or unenlightened. Such attitudes could be divisive and counterproductive to the course's supposed targets of peace and unity. Experts disagree that true spiritual development should foster inclusivity and humility, rather than creating a hierarchical variance involving the spiritually awakened and the unawakened.