Helen Schucman
Encyclopedia
Helen Schucman was an American clinical and research psychologist from New York City
. She was a professor of medical psychology
at Columbia University
in New York
from 1958 until her retirement in 1976. Schucman is best known for having "scribed" the book A Course in Miracles
(1975), the contents of which she claimed to have been given to her by an inner voice she identified as Jesus
. However, her role as its "writer" was not revealed, as per her request, until her death.
in 1909 to Sigmund and Rose Cohn. Though her parents were Jewish they were non-religious, however she always had an interest in religion
, from Catholicism, Judaism to Southern Baptist. She also had a brother, Adolph, who was 14 years her senior. It was her family maid and governess Georgia, a Baptist here, who was her deepest religious influence while growing up. At age 12, she visited Lourdes, France in 1921, where she said to have a spiritual experience. The following year she was baptized as a Baptist
at a Baptist church. . She did her B. A. from New York University
(NYU), (1931–1935), where she met Louis Schucman, a fellow student in 1932, and whom she later married in 1935. Louis owned a bookstore and during the early years of their marriage, Helen worked at the store. Growing restless, in her early forties she returned to NYU to study psychology, here she first did her M.A., 1952, followed by a Ph. D. (1952–1957).
Schucman was a clinical and research psychologist, who held the tenured position of Associate Professor of Medical Psychology
at the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons
at the Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center in New York City. During her tenure at Columbia University
, Schucman worked with William Thetford
, whom she first met in early 1958.
A Course in Miracles (ACIM) was "scribed" by Schucman between 1965 and 1972 through a process of inner dictation. She experienced the process as one of a distinct and clear dictation from an inner voice, which earlier had identified itself to her as Jesus. Schucman's scribing of A Course in Miracles began with these words: "This is a course in miracles, please take notes."
Wouter Hanegraaf distinguishes Shucman's process as a type of channeling that articulates revelation, clarifying that "... in cases of inner dictation in which the medium hears a voice dictating messages, (s)he writes down [these messages] in a fully conscious state." Hanegraaf continues by specifically characterizing Shucman's case as spontaneous channeling, indicating that "...[o]ver the years the voice proved to be remarkably consistent, stopping the dictation when interrupted [by Shucman's daily activities] and continuing at the next opportunity." Hanegraff also references specific dialogue between Shucman and Thetford citing author Robert Skutch, among other authors, including Kenneth Wapnick, whom Hanegraaf indicates as a "good" source for complete discussion on this subject.
During this time, Schucman worked in a collaborative venture with William Thetford in scribing A Course In Miracles
(ACIM) and also with its initial edits. The main transcription process took seven years, from 1965 through 1972, during which time she would take down the notes in shorthand, then each day read back these notes to Thetford, who would type them out while she read them. After all the ACIM material had been initially transcribed it was then edited for publication by Schucman and the other two primary editors, Thetford and Kenneth Wapnick.
Schucman also wrote two supplemental ACIM pamphlets by the same process as well as a collection of poetry later published as The Gifts of God. Following the transcription and editing, Schucman began to reduce the level of her direct involvement in the ACIM related effort and was never as heavily involved with teaching or popularizing the material as were its editors, Bill Thetford and Kenneth Wapnick.
In 1980 Schucman was diagnosed with advanced pancreatic cancer
. After a prolonged illness, she died of related complications at age 71 in 1981. Her name as the writer of ACIM was revealed only after her death, and later a collection of her poems, The Gifts of God, was published by the Foundation for Inner Peace.
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. She was a professor of medical psychology
Medical psychology
Medical psychology is a very broad field and has been defined in various ways. The Academy of Medical Psychology's definition applies to both the practices of consultation and prescribing in Medical Psychology, when allowed by statutes...
at Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
from 1958 until her retirement in 1976. Schucman is best known for having "scribed" the book A Course in Miracles
A Course in Miracles
A Course in Miracles is a self-study curriculum that aims to assist its readers in achieving spiritual transformation. The book describes a non-dualistic philosophy of forgiveness and includes what are meant to be practical lessons and applications for the practice of forgiveness in one's daily life...
(1975), the contents of which she claimed to have been given to her by an inner voice she identified as Jesus
Jesus
Jesus of Nazareth , commonly referred to as Jesus Christ or simply as Jesus or Christ, is the central figure of Christianity...
. However, her role as its "writer" was not revealed, as per her request, until her death.
Early life and education
Schucman was born Helen CohnCohn
Cohn is a common Jewish surname and may refer to:* Al Cohn* Arthur Cohn, Swiss film producer* Daniel Cohn-Bendit * Dan Cohn-Sherbock* Edwin J Cohn **...
in 1909 to Sigmund and Rose Cohn. Though her parents were Jewish they were non-religious, however she always had an interest in religion
Religion
Religion is a collection of cultural systems, belief systems, and worldviews that establishes symbols that relate humanity to spirituality and, sometimes, to moral values. Many religions have narratives, symbols, traditions and sacred histories that are intended to give meaning to life or to...
, from Catholicism, Judaism to Southern Baptist. She also had a brother, Adolph, who was 14 years her senior. It was her family maid and governess Georgia, a Baptist here, who was her deepest religious influence while growing up. At age 12, she visited Lourdes, France in 1921, where she said to have a spiritual experience. The following year she was baptized as a Baptist
Baptist
Baptists comprise a group of Christian denominations and churches that subscribe to a doctrine that baptism should be performed only for professing believers , and that it must be done by immersion...
at a Baptist church. . She did her B. A. from New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
(NYU), (1931–1935), where she met Louis Schucman, a fellow student in 1932, and whom she later married in 1935. Louis owned a bookstore and during the early years of their marriage, Helen worked at the store. Growing restless, in her early forties she returned to NYU to study psychology, here she first did her M.A., 1952, followed by a Ph. D. (1952–1957).
Career
Medical psychology
Medical psychology is a very broad field and has been defined in various ways. The Academy of Medical Psychology's definition applies to both the practices of consultation and prescribing in Medical Psychology, when allowed by statutes...
at the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons
Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons
Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, often known as P&S, is a graduate school of Columbia University that is located on the health sciences campus in the Washington Heights neighborhood of Manhattan...
at the Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center in New York City. During her tenure at Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
, Schucman worked with William Thetford
William Thetford
William Thetford was trained as a psychologist and remained professionally active in this field throughout his life. Thetford worked in a collaborative venture with Helen Schucman in writing and providing some of the initial edits for A Course In Miracles , a self-study curriculum...
, whom she first met in early 1958.
A Course in Miracles (ACIM) was "scribed" by Schucman between 1965 and 1972 through a process of inner dictation. She experienced the process as one of a distinct and clear dictation from an inner voice, which earlier had identified itself to her as Jesus. Schucman's scribing of A Course in Miracles began with these words: "This is a course in miracles, please take notes."
Wouter Hanegraaf distinguishes Shucman's process as a type of channeling that articulates revelation, clarifying that "... in cases of inner dictation in which the medium hears a voice dictating messages, (s)he writes down [these messages] in a fully conscious state." Hanegraaf continues by specifically characterizing Shucman's case as spontaneous channeling, indicating that "...[o]ver the years the voice proved to be remarkably consistent, stopping the dictation when interrupted [by Shucman's daily activities] and continuing at the next opportunity." Hanegraff also references specific dialogue between Shucman and Thetford citing author Robert Skutch, among other authors, including Kenneth Wapnick, whom Hanegraaf indicates as a "good" source for complete discussion on this subject.
During this time, Schucman worked in a collaborative venture with William Thetford in scribing A Course In Miracles
A Course in Miracles
A Course in Miracles is a self-study curriculum that aims to assist its readers in achieving spiritual transformation. The book describes a non-dualistic philosophy of forgiveness and includes what are meant to be practical lessons and applications for the practice of forgiveness in one's daily life...
(ACIM) and also with its initial edits. The main transcription process took seven years, from 1965 through 1972, during which time she would take down the notes in shorthand, then each day read back these notes to Thetford, who would type them out while she read them. After all the ACIM material had been initially transcribed it was then edited for publication by Schucman and the other two primary editors, Thetford and Kenneth Wapnick.
In 1980 Schucman was diagnosed with advanced pancreatic cancer
Pancreatic cancer
Pancreatic cancer refers to a malignant neoplasm of the pancreas. The most common type of pancreatic cancer, accounting for 95% of these tumors is adenocarcinoma, which arises within the exocrine component of the pancreas. A minority arises from the islet cells and is classified as a...
. After a prolonged illness, she died of related complications at age 71 in 1981. Her name as the writer of ACIM was revealed only after her death, and later a collection of her poems, The Gifts of God, was published by the Foundation for Inner Peace.
Legacy
Absence from Felicity: the story of Helen Schucman and her scribing of "A Course in Miracles" is the only biography of Schucman. It was written by her longtime friend Kenneth Wapnick. After Schucman's death, Wapnick founded the Foundation for A Course in Miracles, the organization that holds the copyright to A Course In Miracles.Writings
(contains 114 poems that share the spiritual content of the Course as well as the prose poem "The Gifts of God," which summarizes the teachings of the Course)External links
- Helen Schucman at A Course in Miracles website
- Detailed Biography and Interview