ANSWER: Before elaborating on the answer I would like to clarify something. The Course is nothing but a vehicle, one out of many, through which the Holy Spirit made the information available to us. As the information is being understood, the ultimate goal of The Course is not for us to dissect and memorize what we are learning so that we can blurt out information, but for us to practice the teachings so that we can experience our own awakening. That's why The Course reminds us to practice the course and not to let theology delay us. And what is theology? It is trying to understand everything.

Speaking for myself, I have chosen to teach The Course, not so that I can become highly intellectual about it but so that I can share it with others who resonate with the message. And that is because teaching is not only something I really enjoy, but it also comes natural to me. You could say that teaching is congruent with my life's purpose.

So as a teacher of The Course, my job is not to condemn or attack others for having a different point of view but to share my understanding of it as I continue to practice what The Course teaches. And yes, if I feel that someone is deviating from what I feel The Course is saying I can state my case without having to make anybody wrong, not because I am right but because I feel inspired to share my point of view. And by the way, I only do so if I am in a situation where teaching is appropriate like in A Course in Miracles' study group, one on one or in a gathering where I have been asked to share my understanding of The Course.

The key for me however, is to make sure that I am not coming from a place of judgment. And that is because the ego wants to judge, to separate, it wants to create conflict.

Now to answer the question, many scholars of The Course are so caught up in the intellectual understanding of the teachings that they forget to do the most important thing, which is to practice the exercises taught in The Course. So in making others wrong, all they are doing is creating more separation, even within The Course In Miracles' community. And by the way, I have been guilty of that, especially during my early stages of reading and learning The Course.

Now let's go one layer deeper. If I am a teacher of The Course who truly practices the exercises The Course suggests, and who truly understands what A Course in Miracles is really about, what am I doing every time I launch an attack on my brother, i.e. another teacher? I am launching an attack on myself. What am I doing every time I judge my brother? I am judging myself.

I remember visiting a website on A Course in Miracles where the facilitator said on video that the purpose of his site was to protect the teachings of The Course. Then it occurred to me that that is exactly what the ego wants. It wants us to protect the words, the teachings, in other words, the symbols from others who may want to distort the information.

Yet, what they have forgotten is that there are no "others" out there. So they are protecting the teachings of The Course from their own projection. That being the case, they will project more people who will challenge their beliefs about what The Course is saying in order for them to have a reason to protect the teachings. It becomes a never-ending cycle.

That is an example of the ego wanting to teach A Course in Miracles. Yes, their intentions may be good, but the "theology" has gotten in the way of the practice. Remember that The Course is an individual self-study program. The reason being is, since we are all one, if I am saved, so is the world because the world I see out there is only in my mind.

End of answer.

Below are just some of the many people, authors, teachers, friends, who although we may have different beliefs, we have one thing in common. We share our love and respect towards one another and the rest of humanity. Some may tell a different story, some may sing a different song, but what brings us all together is the love within our home. Remember, "All we need is love." -The Beatles

Nick Arandes was part of the self-help movement for close to 20 years. Published 4 books, produced CDs and DVDs, wrote countless articles and touched the lives of many people worldwide before becoming homeless, broke and diagnosed with a thyroid tumor. Then something happened that forever changed his life! A miraculous turn of events led him to the teachings of A Course in Miracles. As a result of putting the principles of The Course into practice, and experiencing a powerful inner transformation, he published What Happens When You Let God. To find out more about Nick's work, or to order your copy of the book, simply log on to: www.TruthAndMiracles.com