Channeling Jesus.
Channeling first became popular as part of the “spiritual” culture in the 1970s. The first I can remember is Seth, followed by Lazarus. Ramtha, Mafu, and many others. Most were identified as disembodied cosmic spirits who expounded all sorts of cosmic nonsense and even advertised ice cream on television. However, people hungry for meaning in their lives latched on to these spirits enthusiastically. Until the late 1980s no one claimed to channel Jesus. After A Course in Miracles became popular, with Helen Schucman claiming to hear the voice of Jesus, many new voices of Jesus began to arise. Even one existing channel named Raj suddenly claimed he was really Jesus. Unfortunately, most channels do not understand their own process or where the voice comes from. And while there may be a cosmic consciousness to which one might be connected, more often it is only another voice within one’s own head.
Recently I received an e-mail from another of these different Jesuses claiming to have new phases for A Course in Miracles. Even a cursory reading of the initial e-mail clearly demonstrates that the voice is not the same voice that dictated A Course in Miracles. The concepts are different, the phrasing is different, the attitude is different. When I responded to this e-mail with questions about the veracity of the voice I received a very defensive e-mail attempting to justify, defend and explain this new voice. The fact that the voice felt a defensive e-mail was necessary is another illustration of its questionable nature.
In reading A Course in Miracles it becomes obvious that the source of the material is beyond most human comprehension. It is cohesive and without contradiction. The thought system it proposes is whole and thoroughly and completely developed. On the other hand, the ideas proposed by most of the other Jesuses are usually just a rehash of popular new age so-called “spirituality” and lack the cohesiveness and depth of A Course in Miracles. For that reason I suggest each individual reader apply a certain level of discrimination. If there are ideas or concepts which seem somehow in conflict or in opposition to one’s understanding of A Course in Miracles that the material be examined with a critical eye. For example, in the e-mail I recently received there was mention of concepts like “spiritual progress,” “spiritual development,” and “spiritual path.” None of these phrases appear anywhere in A Course in Miracles. This is a very quick clue to the fact that the voice speaking these words is not the same voice that dictated A Course in Miracles.
Helen Schucman kept an almost invisible public profile and sought no credit or fame from scribing A Course in Miracles. Unfortunately, virtually all of these other voices of Jesus do not follow the same policy. They are, quite obviously, seeking recognition and/or income. This is another clue to their lack of veracity. A Course in Miracles stands on its own and requires no additional external teachers or guides. The difficult part is that it asks one to do it on his own without external guidance. A Course in Miracles is about learning to listen to internal guidance, something which most 21st century people find most difficult. Following an external guide or guru seems a much easier path, but it is not the way of A Course in Miracles.
Beware of false prophets!