Book Review: The Disappearance of the Universe by Gary Renard

During 9 years from 1992 until 2001, Gary Renard was visited by two ascended masters called Arten and Pursah, who appeared to him in his living room in Maine. They came to give him a full introduction to the modern metaphysical masterpiece called A Course in Miracles (ACIM). The Disappearance of the Universe (DotU) is an entertaining transcript of that dialog, with many jokes and surprises throughout, yet with a striking tone that dispels many fantasies about the world and what we call life. It is a distillation of ACIM in language that anyone can understand, supplying wisdom and potent motivation for the awakening journey. The philosophy of ACIM is more radical than most of its readers realize and its implications can be shocking. DotU takes an uncompromising approach to this philosophy so the reader is left with little doubt about ACIM’s true intended meaning.

Assuming they have the appetite for it, DotU will be a much more impactful readthrough for the majority of Course students than the ACIM Text itself, which can seem obscure and oftentimes dry. ACIM Workbook meditations are powerful for many students but few will ever study the Text in sufficient depth to gain the understanding of the Course’s true meaning that they would gain by reading DotU. Gary’s book makes for a timesaving introduction to ACIM, a deepening of understanding for those already familiar, and a great motivational refresher. The ACIM Text will also become more meaningful after reading DotU.

That said, not everyone will appreciate this book. Gary is an INTJ, just like ACIM author Helen Schucman, and it shows in Arten and Pursah’s convictions. ACIM is a quintessentially INTJ interpretation of Chirst’s truth. In many ways it represents an ideal INTJ philosophy and may be less than fully accessible as a spiritual path to other personality types. Most Course students interpret ACIM through the lens of their own personality, taking what they find valuable and leaving much of the rest. DotU, however, insists upon upholding the precise philosophy ACIM presents as the only valid interpretation, not only of ACIM, but of Christ’s truth in general, and discourages any divergence from it. This serves well to protect the Course from being misinterpreted or “watered down”, but is unrealistic in terms of its relevance to most people. Like all “channeled” Jesus/Jeshua related material, DotU presents a view of the historical Jesus that is entirely aligned with the philosophy it espouses, largely projecting a past historical figure that behaved and believed in alignment with the book’s principles. There is no one “real” historical Jesus, as all the past is a projection from out of the present, so I take DotU’s remarks about Jesus as helpful stories that give weight and meaning to the philosophy, for teaching purposes.

INTJs more than anyone will appreciate DotU and feel a connection to Gary’s experience, not only over the 9 years of his life that the book covers, but going forward with their own ACIM studies and forgiveness journey after reading DotU. It made me a bit jealous to read about Gary’s early success with the Course and how well it fit him as a spiritual path, which I am actively forgiving. If believed, ACIM is one of the greatest philosophies in that it represents a complete, very practical, and highly focused path leading to full enlightenment. I felt a little left out because as an INTP, I can’t say I possess all the qualities that would make me as enthusiastic as Gary about applying the full teachings of ACIM in my life. I nonetheless believe I’ll do best to follow my most authentic path, however it looks, and even if I end up one of those Course students who just takes what he finds useful and leaves the rest. Having read DotU, however, I won’t be confused about the essential meaning and implications of the ACIM philosophy as intended by ACIM’s INTJ author, even if I don’t make all of its views my own.

Gary has since published 3 related books with another coming out this year, and I’m likely to return for more. His writing serves as a reminder of how ultimately unimportant are the many activities we choose that are less than true forgiveness, or the goals we set that are less than real awakening.

Note: The Universe is a Dream by Alexander Marchand is a philosophy comic book that draws many ideas from DotU and ACIM, with the benefit of visual learning and plenty of fun! Yet it won’t replace reading Gary’s 450 page book.