Robert J. Hellmann, author and teacher

Unique contribution to A Course in Miracles study
Focused. Clear. Insightful.
Applied to the issue of God and human suffering Audio teachings on A Course in Miracles included via this website
... and what is not happiness is evil. (ACIM, Lesson 66) The problem of evil is one of the most ancient and perplexing problems humankind has ever faced. It has both a practical and a theoretical dimension. The practical dimension stated simply is that we humans experience attack, suffering, and death. If this part of the problem were solved, we would be eternally loving and happy. The theoretical dimension involves paradox at best, and straight-out contradiction at worst. God, our supposed Creator, is said to be a perfect being, perfectly happy, knowing, powerful, and loving. But if God is perfectly loving, He wants His creations to be perfectly happy like Himself. And if He is perfectly powerful, His will is done and cannot be opposed. Therefore, His creations are perfectly happy. But we humans are not perfectly happy! In his book Robert Hellmann offers a radically new solution to this problem of evil based on the teachings in A Course in Miracles. After setting forth this solution, he confronts several crucial questions that must be answered for this solution to be intellectually acceptable. For example, if God did not create the world of bodies, what did He create? Who did make the world, and how did the maker of this world originate? If God created us perfect like Himself, implying that we have everything and lack nothing, for what could we have possibly asked? And if God does not know about our suffering in this world, then in what sense can we legitimately say that God is perfectly knowing? And, furthermore, in what sense is Divine Help available to us? How is salvation possible? On his way to answering these questions Mr. Hellmann illuminates the Course’s teachings on the nature of God and His creations; the origin of the ego, the body, and the world; the nature of the separation, the split mind, the ego and the Holy Spirit; the choices available to us in this world; and the Course’s teaching that forgiveness is for illusions and not for the truth. Mr. Hellmann goes on to show how the Course’s teaching on forgiveness provides a solution to the practical problem of evil.

What readers have said

"This is a remarkable book!...No other book on the subject (theodicy) has ever come close to answering this problem. Robert Hellmann does it brilliantly....Furthermore, he not only totally refutes the [Argument from Evil] but also queries his own arguments; that is, he asks, and answers, questions that might arise from his refutation...The enlightening end section of the book goes even further and sets out the basis for the premise of the book....God, Self, and Evil not only answers the problem of evil but shows how anyone can know the Presence of God and find the peace, joy and happiness that brings."- Denis Pickwell, Brisbane, Australia
"This book has helped me so much in my understanding of key concepts in A Course in Miracles. It shows how the Course gives the best answer to the 'problem of evil'. .. To see how A Course in Miracles explains this answer I highly recommend this book.”- Billy Ledford III
"God, Self, and Evil: A Miracle Theodicy was a very helpful and inspiring book. It is perhaps the clearest book I have read that deals rigorously with the key concepts of the Course. I am highly recommending that the members of the class I facilitate read it. - Jimmy Williams, Thousand Oaks, CA
"After reading God, Self, and Evil, I better understand what the Course itself is teaching. Many sentences in the Course were once somewhat obscure to me. After reading your book, they are now much clearer. I feel that my learning of the Course's thought system is progressing more rapidly now." -Judy Craig, South Mills, NC
This book is outstanding- I've read a lot of books about/based on ACIM and this is one of, if not the most, helpful. - Anonymous Amazon customer "I especially noted and appreciated the fact that the passages you quote from the Course so clearly support the claims you make as you move forward in developing this radically new theodicy." --Don Southern, Virginia Beach, VA
"I thank you for writing such a wonderful book... I am certain I will read it again and plan to make it a part of our study group."- Marilyn C.,Wells, Maine

What other authors have said

A hearty MAZEL TOV!!!! on your book. - Kenneth Wapnick, Temecula, CA,December, 2002 "I enjoyed your very clear and simple presentation. I enjoyed reading the book very much. This is a much-needed book in the Course Community. I intend to recommend it on our Website [Circle of Atonement]BOOK RECOMMENDATION: We at the Circle believe that the scholarly study of the Course can offer great benefits to its teachers and students. So, we are very happy to recommend a recent work of Course scholarship by Robert J. Hellmann: a book entitled God, Self, and Evil: A Miracle Theodicy.... We believe that this book is an excellent contribution to Course scholarship." -Robert Perry, Circle of Atonement
"I think God, Self, and Evil is quite simply one of the best books ever written on the Course. ...Reading it has deepened my own thinking about the problem of evil. I would recommend it to anyone, and have done so....The book is very clear and straightforward. You have a real knack for explaining difficult philosophical concepts in a way the ordinary reader can understand. I love the way you show the connection between theoretical and practical issues." -Greg Mackie, Circle of Atonement

Miracle Theodicy Resources for Understanding A Course in Miracles and for Applying It to the Problem of Evil
The Work of Robert J. Hellmann
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