The realistic application of ACIM's teachings can also be a place of contention. Though some people report good transformations and personal development from following a class, the others find the techniques to be useless or even harmful. The course's increased exposure of forgiveness and enjoy is admirable, but authorities fight that it can be excessively easy and naïve, declining to handle the complexities of human associations and the necessity for boundaries and accountability. Additionally, the course's period and intense character could be frustrating for some individuals, resulting in burnout or disillusionment. Experts claim that the time and energy expected to accomplish ACIM could be greater used on more empirically reinforced therapeutic practices or religious professions that have a proven track record of effectiveness.

The broader impact of ACIM on the spiritual and self-help towns can also be value considering. The course has encouraged a significant subsequent and has been built-into various New Age and spiritual acim audio movements. But, their impact is seen as a double-edged sword. On a single give, it's offered a structure for people seeking spiritual growth and internal peace. On another give, its teachings may donate to a lifestyle of religious bypassing, where people use spiritual concepts to avoid working with personal and social issues. This could result in a form of escapism, where the focus on spiritual attitudes distracts from the prerequisite of participating with and handling real-world challenges.

Furthermore, the industrial accomplishment of ACIM and its connected products improves ethical concerns. The expansion of workshops, books, and seminars predicated on ACIM is seen as capitalizing on individuals' spiritual needs and vulnerabilities. Experts disagree that the commercialization of spirituality can cause the exploitation of seekers, who may invest significant time and money into techniques that eventually do not produce on the promises. That commercialization may also contribute to the dilution of the course's teachings, as various interpretations and changes proliferate, probably leading to confusion and misapplication of the principles.

Another critical element to take into account could be the exclusivity and dogmatism that can often accompany the ACIM community. As the course itself promotes universal enjoy and forgiveness, just how it is taught and practiced by some adherents can cause an expression of religious elitism. This could develop an "people versus them" mindset, where people who follow ACIM are regarded as enlightened, while people who don't are seen as misguided or unenlightened. Such attitudes could be divisive and detrimental to the course's proposed objectives of peace and unity. Experts fight that correct religious development should foster inclusivity and humility, as opposed to creating a hierarchical distinction involving the spiritually awakened and the unawakened.