IS THERE A "THETFORD VERSION" OF THE COURSE?
No, there is not and never was any "version" of the Course which was referred to by anyone associated with the scribing and publishing of the Course as the so-called "Thetford Version."The idea of a "Thetford Version" was invented by members of the CIMS and some of their collaborators -- people who were not directly involved with the scribing and publishing of the Course and who only came to it many years after it was first published in 1975, the CIMS itself being established in the year 2000 after the HLV had been illegally obtained and distributed on the Internet.
Bill Thetford himself never spoke of a "Thetford Version" and no doubt would have been dismayed to hear of such a term. In fact, Bill had little patience for such detail work as editing a manuscript required. Interestingly, even thought he served as Associate Editor for the Journal of Abnormal Psychology, because of his dislike for editing work, Helen Schucman actually did the journal editing for him. Helen too never used the term "Thetford Version," and could hardly have been expected to use it, having referred to it on occasion as "my course." Helen and Bill worked closely together in the first round of editing which resulted in what is called "The Hugh-Lynn Version," in recognition of the fact that a copy of that version was given to Hugh Lynn Cayce, the son of Edgar Cayce and Director of the Association for Research and Enlightenment at the time, as a gift of appreciation for his consulting with Helen and Bill.
Interestingly, when the final editing for publication was done, it was Bill who insisted that the number of "miracle principles" found at the beginning of the HLC version of the text be reduced from 53 to 50 for the final version -- another piece of information that illustrates the ludicrous nature of the claim that somehow Bill's authority was overridden in the editing which produced the first published edition of the Course.
In 1985 there was a "Ten Year Celebration" of the Course held in Honolulu. Bill Thetford, who had remained active in study groups using the published Course, spoke at that celebration. Wayne Davidson of Seattle attended the Honolulu gathering and gave the following first-hand account regarding Bill's statements about the work that Helen did in the final editing of the Course for publication.
Bill talked about this at the 10 year (1985) Honolulu celebration gathering. Bill's version was that after Ken came on the scene he felt he was being guided by Jesus to leave to Helen, Ken and Jesus the further work needed to make the ACIM ready for publication and wider distribution. In fact the guidance came in response to a prayer to Jesus for clarity on what Bill's continuing role might be. Bill said he felt relieved and felt the relief was a direct reflection of his Joining with Jesus. He even had a sense that Jesus was smiling and complimenting Bill on fulfilling his role so well and with such devotion. Bill said he was always consulted by Helen and Ken to take a look at what they had accomplished but soon realized that was totally unnecessary because he could se the hand of Jesus in the work.So, the question arises, how did anyone ever come up with the phrase "Thetford Version?" The answer has to do with the political intent of the CIMS and willingness on the part of its members and sympathizers to distort historical reports. For an authoritative account of the scribing, editing and publishing of A Course in Miracles see Wapnick's Absence from Felicity, especially chapter 12 of that book which is published on the Web.Also see Ken Wapnick's discussion of the "Hugh Lynn Cayce Version (HLV)" of the ACIM text.
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GO TO EXCERPTS FROM A 1984 INTERVIEW WITH BILL THETFORD =>
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