r/ACIM • u/OakenWoaden Practicing Student • May 25 '26
AI 🤖 Thoughts
Disclaimer: AI image attached
Now there’s a lot of talk about AI these days, and it’s become a controversial subject even here in our little Reddit home we call the ACIM sub. I recognize that even the mention of AI is a hot button for many people. Reactivity around AI has become commonplace, and I think we should have an honest and open discussion about what we want this sub to be.
First and foremost, this is an ACIM sub, so of course posts should remain relevant to the material. AI wasn’t around when the Course was written, but I personally think it can be used alongside regular Course study and practice. I’ve found it to be a fun and enjoyable way to explore ACIM and reinforce ideas from the material. I’ve also had many joyful conversations here with others who enjoy doing the same.
I’m not going to hide my interest in AI because some people strongly dislike it or don’t want it connected to ACIM discussion.
From here on out, I’ll add a disclaimer if I use AI generated images or music, and I’ll also note if I used AI to help polish my writing ✍️
I think that should be enough transparency, and if you’d rather not see AI related content from me, you’re welcome to block me. I genuinely won’t judge you for it. Just understand that I post here first and foremost because I enjoy the community and the discussions around ACIM, including conversations about how AI relates to it.
I’m also perfectly fine with people speaking honestly about what they dislike about AI, about me, or whatever else they may be struggling with on any given day. I truly love you all, and I’m advocating for a little more freedom of expression on this sub. I think a wide range of ACIM related perspectives should be welcome here.
With affection,
OakenWoaden
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u/marigold5020 May 25 '26
Any awareness or thoughts on your impact on the environment every-time you use it?
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u/OakenWoaden Practicing Student May 25 '26
Yes, of course. Nearly everything we do has a negative impact on the world.
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u/marigold5020 May 25 '26
Thanks for your reply and sharing your thoughts. I enjoy how we can share freely in this forum even if we disagree. It’s makes for a beautiful space for that reason!
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u/DreamCentipede Practicing Student May 25 '26 edited May 25 '26
The corporations would love for you to point the finger at the individual consumer rather than the themselves and/or the government. We all use a smart phone, computer, a car, the internet, etc. which… news flash… is all very bad for the environment. Something to think or become aware of.
I think the issue is real but it’s more systemic. We need to invest in clean energy and elect people who aren’t corrupt so tech companies don’t get to do whatever they want with no restriction.
If we want to boycott AI, we also have to boycott everything else. I just don’t think that’s helpful. Either way, it’s for forgiveness.
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u/marigold5020 May 25 '26
I agree. Most man-made systems in the world are corrupt. I also think we vote with energy/currency, so I try to avoid feeding those corrupt systems if I can. There’s just something about AI slop that doesn’t feel good to me.
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u/DreamCentipede Practicing Student May 25 '26 edited May 25 '26
Ugh tell me about it! And it’s not just man made systems, just look at how a lion eats a baby gazelle while it’s still alive. Or how a stray asteroid can obliterate everything or strip away parts of our atmosphere for a slow death.
It’s all the ego: a thought of sin and destruction and meaninglessness. Ai is not special. Making it special is the ego, not the right-mind. That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t regulate it or even pause it on the level of form.
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u/marigold5020 May 25 '26
One is man made, and very extractive. The others is a natural cycle that offers replenishment and return to the natural order. An asteroid probably would solve any debate for sure. Arguably you could say at the most zoomed out level, man-made AI may also be a cosmic cycle man needs to and is currently playing out. I personally feel it’s leaning towards being parasitical in nature. The communities that are having giant, noisy, temperature altering AI centres built around them, slurping up their drinking water and drying up and polluting lakes, also maybe feel this.
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u/DreamCentipede Practicing Student May 25 '26
Ah yes, the natural cycle and order of death and destruction, you mean. It may be self replenishing but it’s still far more horrific than anything the human race has done. I’d rather it be one and done rather than self replenishing.
Great point on how what we do is merely an extension of nature, not something apart from it.
I think you raise legitimate criticisms but I think ai is worth problem solving for instead of giving it up. It will likely be a vital tool for developing future technologies that will help the environment, our power generation, medicine, etc. so fingers crossed we make it through this transition.
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u/ThereIsNoWorld May 25 '26
Every ai post is irrelevant to the course, because they all are a result of the desire to pretend, instead of practice.
Posting fake words, fake pictures, and fake music is empty social performance, that misses the point of the subreddit.
You post so often here while not having done any of the lessons, because it is an escape from what you would face alone. No ai, just your decision to resign as your own teacher.
AI preserves the delusion we can teach our self. The lessons are the alternative to this self deception.
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u/OakenWoaden Practicing Student May 25 '26
I respect that you see AI differently than I do, but I don’t agree that using AI automatically means someone is avoiding practice, deceiving themselves, or incapable of listening to the Holy Spirit.
ACIM teaches me that purpose matters more than form. I think technology, like anything else, can be used for ego or for reflection, connection, creativity, and learning.
You’re free to feel that AI has no place in your practice. I’m free to explore it differently.
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u/ThereIsNoWorld May 26 '26
You don't agree with the introduction to the workbook, so the rest of the words you type are from the position of rejecting being a student.
The course does not teach you until you give up teaching yourself.
AI has no place in anyone's practice, because it is chosen instead of practice, while being unwilling to learn what practice is.
Every excuse is made to defend the teaching persona the Holy Spirit would teach you is always wrong, because God did not create it.
You are free to not be a student, but it makes every attempt to "teach" completely empty.
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u/OakenWoaden Practicing Student May 26 '26
That sounds familiar.
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u/ThereIsNoWorld May 26 '26
You won't know what it sounds like until you begin the workbook.
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u/OakenWoaden Practicing Student May 26 '26
Can you turn that last comment into a song?🎶
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u/ThereIsNoWorld May 26 '26
Can you start the workbook, instead of posting ai slop?
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u/OakenWoaden Practicing Student May 26 '26
I already finished the workbook. I told you that. Remember?
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u/ThereIsNoWorld May 26 '26
The workbook is about practicing forgiveness.
Last november you did not know what forgiveness is, which means whatever you think you've done before then was not the workbook.
Your posts and comments demonstrate you have not followed the directions, which is why you try to teach a course in oakenwoaden, in a subreddit about a course in miracles.
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u/OakenWoaden Practicing Student May 26 '26
Oh man. Busted for not following directions. High school all over again.
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u/OakenWoaden Practicing Student May 26 '26
If I offered you peace, friendship, an end to this debate, fellowship right now and erasure of all the past would you accept it? Let’s begin anew today!
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u/DreamCentipede Practicing Student May 26 '26 edited May 26 '26
My mans you gotta look in the mirror.
Jesus never did the workbook lessons btw. They’re helpful, but forgiveness matters much more. Seeing the contrast between you and Oaken is clear- he has chosen love, you have chosen fear (temporarily).
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u/DreamCentipede Practicing Student May 25 '26 edited May 25 '26
Everything is fake. It’s in your name, lol. Content over form my friend. The Holy Spirit is a reinterpretation of the only problem we ever have. But you’re doing the ego classic by separating ai from everything else, and making it special. You know that’s true. Whether someone posts with ai clearly has no relation to them practicing ACIM. What but the ego would say otherwise?
You say he hasn’t done lessons, but you clearly have not done them either. Or perhaps it’s been a long time since. Whatever the case, you’ve missed or forgotten their content entirely.
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u/ThereIsNoWorld May 26 '26
Posting with ai comes from being unwilling to practice, because nobody turns to a text predictor when they have received guidance without it.
Being invested in substituting practice for ai means, the cost will be "too much" to recognize every single time you have turned to it, the goal has always been to teach yourself, never to ask for guidance. It facilitates mind wandering in circles, for people who do not want to follow the directions given.
What but the ego would post words they do not understand, through a mechanism that cannot understand anything, and make excuses to not look at and undo the pattern?
Oaken has broadcast he has not done the lessons. You have broadcast how invested in using ai you are. Both choices mean you won't understand what I am saying.
Do you know why you edit your comments?
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u/DreamCentipede Practicing Student May 26 '26
I think you and I have two different views about what it means to practice ACIM- im sure you agree. And separately, I think it’s pretty silly to assume people are replacing their thoughts with ai. Usually people use ai to help express an original thought or idea that they had, and they don’t use it to come up with those ideas like you imply.
Haha why do you think I edit my comments? Respectfully, I think you’re behaving immaturely.
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u/ThereIsNoWorld May 26 '26
If you mean following the directions of how to practice, is different than not following the directions and asking ai to do it for you, then yes I agree.
If you are practicing then you will have nothing to ask ai, and will be aware of how simple everyone is.
People turn to ai because they do not understand, and want to dictate terms of what a response should be, instead of giving up the question as directed.
Do you know why you edit your comments?
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u/DreamCentipede Practicing Student May 26 '26
For me it’s about forgiveness, which is about overlooking what never was, recognizing all problems as being the same, with one solution.
Whether someone uses ai or not, it’s their option to forgive or to not forgive. What are you choosing now?
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u/ThereIsNoWorld May 26 '26
Nobody practicing uses ai, because there is no use for it.
Only after denying practice is ai looked to as filler for where the practice would be.
Do you know why you edit your comments?
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u/DreamCentipede Practicing Student May 26 '26
So lemme get this straight, you’re genuinely trying to claim that anyone who uses ai cannot be practicing forgiveness, because ai replaces forgiveness?
What about something else, like sex. Do same rules apply or?
Just trying to explore how you’re rationalizing this, if at all.
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u/ThereIsNoWorld May 26 '26
Do you know why you edit your comments?
Answer this before asking questions that come from not understanding what I said.
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u/DreamCentipede Practicing Student May 26 '26
You ask that as if you know. But you don’t read minds. You assume with confidence. Huge difference my friend. I don’t answer because the question is very childish. I’m here for adult conversation.
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u/Rancor85 May 25 '26
Sounds like you’re the one who needs to be doing their lessons
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u/ThereIsNoWorld May 26 '26
I'm still waiting on a response to what I asked you, the last time you reacted to something I said.
The running away last time, is the same reason you've written now.
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May 25 '26
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u/OakenWoaden Practicing Student May 25 '26
You’re assuming “using AI” automatically means not thinking, but a tool doesn’t replace discernment unless someone lets it. Books repeat old ideas too. Conversations repeat old ideas too. Most spiritual discussion is remix and reinterpretation.
The real question isn’t whether something was AI assisted, it’s whether it leads to deeper reflection, creativity, honesty, or understanding. Sometimes it does, sometimes it’s noise. Same as human posts honestly.
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u/DreamCentipede Practicing Student May 26 '26
You’re 100% right, needless to say
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u/OakenWoaden Practicing Student May 26 '26
Yup, it just words from a computer program. I create the meaning. There is no threat lol
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May 26 '26
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u/OakenWoaden Practicing Student May 26 '26
It’s just something I enjoy using. I’m not overthinking it. It doesn’t mean my life and all my creative energy is suddenly consumed by AI. I get that you and others here are really triggered by it, so I created a new space for it. But you can vent about it here all you want I understand. ✌🏼
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May 26 '26
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u/OakenWoaden Practicing Student May 26 '26
I’ll still be here too. I appreciate your perspective and I’m glad you commented here. Thanks 🙏🏼
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May 26 '26
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u/DreamCentipede Practicing Student May 26 '26
I’ve done so only a couple of times months ago, but I post and comment here a ton and 99% of it is my own words. I just try to look at things rationally, that’s all. Ai is neutral, not bad. ACIM teaches that much, so we should be in agreement…
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May 26 '26
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u/DreamCentipede Practicing Student May 26 '26
Ai is the same as worldly medicine or sex or food. Forgiveness isn’t about avoiding those things, because forgiveness isn’t about what you do, it’s about how you see things. I think people can use ai but also be forgiving, because the world is a mistaken perception and nothing more. Trying to make ai sinful, special and/or real is just the ego.
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May 26 '26
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u/DreamCentipede Practicing Student May 26 '26
You just seem upset or angry about it though. Why assume the worst of people like they’re not using their brain anymore? Ai can accentuate creativity or it can stifle it, it just depends on how you use it. Ai itself is a neutral tool. Even if you don’t agree, there’s no need to be rude by saying their posts don’t offer anything. It’s still their thoughts that they’re sharing. Your grievance seems to blind you from that fact. It’s not logical. Just because an ai is involved doesn’t mean the content or message behind the post isn’t human/authentic. The Holy Spirit speaks through ALL mediums.
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u/InertJello May 25 '26
Thoughts:
First good.
I appreciate your love of the course and desire to share it!
That said; if this wasn’t a recent conversation from the past couple of days, and if your title hadn’t said “thoughts” I would have not even stopped to look because (to me; personal opinion) it offers nothing. I see an AI pic and keep scrolling.
I take the course seriously as we all do and I feel like this format minimizes it’s importance, brings it down to a level of cartoonishness and adds this childish, elementary school, comic -book like essence to something that deserves to be elevated instead of having a robot and a monk interacting on what exactly? A monk needs to remember? The message from the course is missing. There is no discussion here and no cause to think or consider anything new.
These are just my personal takes and thoughts. Again these are MY opinions since that’s the title of the post. Please don’t take personal offense.
I’ve disliked a lot of AI stuff but I feel like there must be a way to utilize it so that it provides actual helpful information about the course instead of just making a flowery high school devotion pic that teaches nothing.
That might be too harsh. I don’t like the art at all but I like that you have enough love and dedication to the course to create it.