Today, we’re exploring a question brought to us by Lynn, a beloved member of my A Course in Miracles Workbook support group.
She asked something that many of you have likely wondered too:
QUESTION:
“Why does A Course in Miracles use male pronouns, and why doesn’t it bother you?”
Of course, I love this question because it opens the door to deeper understanding.
We will learn the of language in A Course in Miracles, but also, the profound spiritual purpose behind the Course itself.
(Prefer audio to reading? Click here)
Why Do Male Pronouns Bother Me?
MY ANSWER:
So let’s start at the top.
Why doesn’t it bother me that the Course uses only male pronouns?
Well, honestly, it doesn’t bother me because I trust Jesus and I trust the process through which the Course came through.
A Course in Miracles was a collaboration between Jesus and the scribe Helen Schucman and Dr. Bill Thetford.
And what emerged from their collaboration is what Bill called a “psychological masterpiece.”
It was given to us for a reason and exactly the way that it was needed to be.
The Course even says:
Either you will believe this Course entirely or not at all.
So for me, I’ve chosen to accept it entirely.
In doing so, I’ve experienced incredible joy, purpose, and miracles in my everyday life.
I would much prefer to assume that I might be the one who’s mistaken in something, rather than assume that the Course is flawed.
That way, I can ask for healing and correction in my own mind,.
This means I can better understand what it means, rather than telling Jesus what I think he should have said.
So it doesn’t bother me, because I trust that there’s nothing to be bothered by.
Jesus used these terms intentionally, and over time, their purpose has become very clear to me.
And since it makes sense to me, and it has brought me so much peace and transformation, I want to share this purpose with you, too.
Why Does The Course Use Male Pronouns?
So, why does the Course use male pronouns?
Rather than asking:
“Why female pronouns are not included?“
It’s definitely a more helpful inquiry to say:
“Why was the Course written with male pronouns only?”
And through deep study and contemplation of this, I’ve come to see that this was a deliberate choice.
And not one rooted in gender bias, but in symbolic clarity.
The Course was given as a correction to traditional Christian theology, not to attack it.
The Course gently clarifies and restore the original message of Jesus that had become distorted over time.
Male pronouns were chosen as a symbolic correction, not to promote hierarchy or patriarchy.
The male pronouns redefine terms that had been previously misunderstood, and to point us beyond form entirely.
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But, I Don’t Understand the Meaning of “Son of God”?
So let’s break it down.
What does the Son of God mean?
In A Course in Miracles, terms like son and brother are not referenced to gender.
They are symbolic expressions of the:
- One Self
- Child of God
- Light of God
- the Soul
- the collective spiritual being that we are and that God created us to be
Think of Son not as a male body, but like a sunbeam from the sun.
The sun is God.
The sunbeams are us, the sun.
We are radiant extensions of the Source.
It’s not about a physical identity.
It is about an essence and oneness.
So, just like the sun is God, we are the light beam of that sun.
We could never be separate from the sun itself.
This means when we think of ourselves as one with the sun, it makes sense that sun is actually more closely in alignment with light than it is a male body.
What Is The Purpose of Masculine Language in the Course?
If Jesus used “he” or “she” language throughout the Course, it would have made gender distinctions more real, which is the exact opposite of the Course’s purpose.
A Course in Miracles invites us to transcend the body, not focus more on it or to ping pong different gender choices in the language that’s used.
Because the Course is not about gender.
It’s about Spirit.
It is about the Light.
It is about identity beyond the form, beyond male and female.
In the Spirit, we are all one.
We are all one with the sun and we are the sun beams that come from the sun.
We could never be separate.
Can You Make It Even Simpler For Me?
Here’s some practical simplicity.
If both male and female pronouns were used throughout the Course, it could become twice as long and far more difficult to read.
Keeping the language simple and consistent allows us to move past form quickly and go straight into the heart of the message.
And if using male pronouns feels uncomfortable at first, it’s perfectly okay to internally say “daughter”, when you see Son, or “sister”, when you see Brother.
I did this for a while, too.
In fact, for some time, I even replaced the word God with love to help soften the language and let the message reach my own heart.
Eventually, my own meaning of these words was healed, and now they feel deeply intimate and beautiful to me, exactly the way they are.
Masculine Language Is Not A Scribal Error?
I wanted to point out one final thing here.
Including only male pronouns and excluding female pronouns is not a scribal error.
So just to be clear, this was not a mistake.
Jesus told Helen she was a near-perfect scribe, and that he would correct any scribal errors retroactively, which he did when she was more receptive and more open.
The masculine language was intentional, purposeful, and spiritually symbolic.
So instead of trying to change the Course, we’re invited to let the Course change us.
To allow the Spirit to reinterpret even the language itself inside our mind.
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I Am A Spirit Not A Body Of Form?
So in summary, male pronouns in A Course in Miracles are symbolic, not literal.
They are meant to correct past religious forms, not reinforce it.
You are free to interpret the words in a way that helps you receive the teaching.
But A Course in Miracles teaches spirit over form, oneness over duality, always.
And most importantly, it invites us to heal our minds—not try to change the book.
Closing Thoughts and Invitation
Thank you so much for being here.
And thank you for your willingness to ask questions like this and to go deep into the understanding of what A Course in Miracles means.
Because in this sense, something as simple as a pronoun can be reinterpreted by Spirit for your own healing and awakening.
And just like A Course in Miracles tells us:
“I am not a body. I am free. For I am still as God created me.”
If you have any more questions, don’t hesitate to send them at the link below.
And while you’re down there, don’t forget to subscribe to my YouTube channel, so you never miss a message or a miracle.
Wishing you a joyful and lovely weekend with your friends and family.
May your heart remain open to the truth.
May peace and love guide you on your journey. 💖
If this message resonated with you, feel free to share it with others.
Much love to you, Beautiful Soul. ✌️
Britney
>>> If you find this topic interesting, click here, to watch a YouTube Video I launched last Wednesday.
P.S. ASK ME ANYTHING: If you have any questions or need clarity about A Course In Miracles, I’m here to help! Simply submit your question through this form.