A Course in Miracles began with the sudden decision of two people to collaborate in achieving a common goal. Those two people were Schucman Helen and William Thetford, professors of medical psychology at the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Columbia University in New York City, is not really important who were these people, except that what happened shows that with God anything is possible. Both of them could be described as anything but spiritual. The relationship between them was difficult, often tense, and both were concerned about much of its reputation and acceptance both personally and professionally. Their lives, which for the most part were governed by worldly values, just agreed with what the Course postulated. Here is how Helen, the person who received the material describes itself:

Psychologist, educator, conservative intellectual and atheist ideology, was working on a prestigious academic institution, when suddenly something happened which precipitated a chain of events that I never would have predicted. The head of my department unexpectedly announced that he was tired of the feelings of anger and aggression that our attitudes reflected, and concluded: "There must be another way." As if he had been waiting for that signal, I agreed to help find him. Apparently this course is the other way.

Although its purpose was strong, had great difficulty in starting their joint venture. But he had been offered to the Holy Spirit the "small dose of good will" which, like the course itself would emphasize again and again, is sufficient to allow the Holy Spirit to use any situation for His purposes and infuse His power.

Continuing the story of Helen:

Three startling months preceding the start of the writing itself, during which Bill suggested I write down the dreams I was having high symbolism, as well as the strange images that beset me. Although by then I had grown accustomed to somewhat unexpected, yet I got a big surprise when I was writing: "This is a course in miracles." That was my first contact with the Voice. It was a voice that no sound, but I had a kind of rapid inner dictation which I wrote in a shorthand notebook. The writing was never automatic. He could stop it at any time and resume later. On many occasions made me feel very uncomfortable, but never thought seriously of it off. It seemed to be a special mission that somehow, somewhere, I had agreed to undertake. Ended up becoming a true collaborative venture between Bill and me, and I'm sure much of its importance lies in that fact. I wrote down what the Voice "said", and the next day read it to Bill and he was going to machine. I guess he also had a special mission, for without his encouragement and support I would never have been able to complete mine. In total the process took about seven years. First came the text, then the Workbook, and finally Teacher's Guide. The material was received only marginal changes have been made irrelevant. Text was added to the chapter titles and subtitles, and it omitted some of the personal reflections received at first. Moreover, the material has not been altered at all.

The names of the people who participated in the transcription of course not mentioned on the cover of the books because the course can, and must rest on its own merits. Its aim is not to lay the groundwork to start a cult more. Its sole purpose is to provide a way for some people to find their own Internal Teacher.