Changes

==Preface==

==Preface==

This Preface was written in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1977 1977], in response to many requests for a brief introduction to ''[[A Course in Miracles]]''. The first two parts - ''How It Came''; ''What It Is'' - [[Helen Schucman]] wrote herself; the final part - What It Says - was written by the [[process]] of inner dictation described in the Preface.

This Preface was written in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1977 1977], in response to many requests for a brief introduction to ''[[A Course in Miracles]]''. The first two parts - ''How It Came''; ''What It Is'' - [[Helen Schucman]] wrote herself; the final part - What It Says - was written by the [[process]] of inner dictation described in the Preface.

==How It Came==

==How It Came==

''A Course in Miracles'' began with the sudden [[decision]] of two people to join in a common [[goal]]. Their names were Helen Schucman and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Thetford William Thetford], Professors of Medical Psychology at [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbia_University_College_of_Physicians_and_Surgeons Columbia University's College of Physicians and Surgeons] in New York City. It does not matter who they were, except that the story shows that with [[God]] all things are possible. They were anything but [[spiritual]]. Their [[relationship]] with each other was difficult and often strained, and they were concerned with personal and [[professional]] acceptance and [[status]]. In general, they had considerable investment in the [[values]] of the world. Their lives were hardly in accord with anything that the Course advocates. Helen, the one who received the material, describes herself:

''A Course in Miracles'' began with the sudden [[decision]] of two people to join in a common [[goal]]. Their names were Helen Schucman and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Thetford William Thetford], Professors of Medical Psychology at [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbia_University_College_of_Physicians_and_Surgeons Columbia University's College of Physicians and Surgeons] in New York City. It does not matter who they were, except that the story shows that with [[God]] all things are possible. They were anything but [[spiritual]]. Their [[relationship]] with each other was difficult and often strained, and they were concerned with personal and [[professional]] acceptance and [[status]]. In general, they had considerable investment in the [[values]] of the world. Their lives were hardly in accord with anything that the Course advocates. Helen, the one who received the material, describes herself:

<blockquote>Psychologist, educator, conservative in theory and [[atheistic]] in belief, I was working in a prestigious and highly [[academic]] setting. And then something happened that triggered a chain of events I could never have [[predicted]]. The head of my department unexpectedly announced that he was tired of the [[angry]] and aggressive [[feelings]] our attitudes reflected, and concluded that "there must be another way." As if on cue, I agreed to help him find it. Apparently, this Course is the other way.</blockquote>

<blockquote>Psychologist, educator, conservative in theory and [[atheistic]] in belief, I was working in a prestigious and highly [[academic]] setting. And then something happened that triggered a chain of events I could never have [[predicted]]. The head of my department unexpectedly announced that he was tired of the [[angry]] and aggressive [[feelings]] our attitudes reflected, and concluded that "there must be another way." As if on cue, I agreed to help him find it. Apparently, this Course is the other way.</blockquote>