This post is continuing the thread of comparing and contrasting the books “A Course in Miracles” and “Steps to Knowledge.” I don’t seek to prove anything in particular in this thread, I plan to put information that is kept in different places in one place.
Data points can be seen as similar or different depending on the scope in which they were viewed. For example, both A Course in Miracles and Steps to Knowledge were written in the 20th Century, but one was published in 1976, and the other was published in 1989. I’m going to give the data, and leave the decision about the significance to you.
I am using the ACIM website, the New Message from God website, and the introduction to Steps to Knowledge as data sources.
Who: Helen Schucman (1909-1981) was the scribe of A Course in Miracles. Marshall Vian Summers is the messenger of Steps to Knowledge.
Where: A Course in Miracles was scribed in New York City. Steps to Knowledge was received in Albany, New York. (What is it about New York?)
When: A Course in Miracles (the text, the workbook for students, and the manual for teachers) was scribed over a period of almost seven years (October 1965 to September 1972). Steps to Knowledge was received over a period of 20 days (May 26, 1989 to June 14, 1989). I find that significant.
How: Helen Schucman describes her experience:
“The Voice made no sound, but seemed to be giving me a kind of rapid, inner dictation which I took down in a shorthand notebook. The writing was never automatic. It could be interrupted at any time and later picked up again. It made obvious use of my educational background, interests and experience, but that was in matters of style rather than content. Certainly the subject matter itself was the last thing I would have expected to write about.”
The shorthand was later transcribed by William Thetford.
Steps to Knowledge was originally recorded on audio cassettes, and later transcribed. Marshall Summers describes various days of his recording Steps:
May 27: “Felt so much pressure. Two intense sessions of recording. Felt really “out there” afterwards. It was difficult to be with people.”
June 1: “49 Steps in 4 hours with several breaks. Very powerful.”
June 8: “77 Steps today. Felt the Presence all day. I could not do much after this.”
For Whom: The voice dictating A Course in Miracles identified itself to her as the voice of Jesus. The voice speaking through Marshall identifies itself as the voice of a group of unseen spiritual teachers who describe themselves as Teachers of the Greater Community.
I hope this helps.
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