Basic Tenets of Unity
"Our purpose is to help, teach and facilitate mankind to use, prove
and experience the eternal Truth taught by the Master."
~Charles Fillmore, co-founder of Unity
Unity’s founders called it Practical Christianity. Though most students look on the Bible as a metaphysical text, they take most of Jesus’ instructions literally, as in the prayer groups that many people take part in, because of the “When two or more of you are gathered” clause.
I meant to post one of my class papers that metaphysically analyzes a Bible story so that you could see what that process looks like. If there’s any interest, I’ll do so tomorrow and update this post with a link. For instance, Jerusalem represents peace. So when people go to Jerusalem, they are seeking peace. Charles Fillmore, has written extensively on metaphysical meanings.
We use no official Bible translation, but many students prefer the Lamsa Bible, translated by George Lamsa, whose native language was Aramaic.
The Five Basic Unity Principles
- There is only One Power and One Presence active in the universe and in my life, God, the Good, Omnipotent.
- Our essence is of God; therefore, we are inherently good. This God essence was fully expressed in Jesus, the Christ.
- We are co-creators with God, creating reality through thoughts held in mind.
- Through affirmative prayer and meditation, I connect with God and bring out the good in my life.
- Through thoughts, words and actions, we live in the truth we know.
A recent booklet, “Unity: A Path for Spiritual Living,” outlines core values, which it calls “non-negotiable ideals.”
Core Values
Spirit-Led: We are centered in God. Spirit leads our thoughts and actions as we co-create a world that works for all.
Integrity: We act from a place of wholeness and are ethical in all our actions. We keep our word.
Diversity: We believe that all people are created with self-worth. We promote greater understanding among people in a spirit of unity.
Transformation: We are a dynamic movement on the cutting edge of spiritual evolution. We teach universal principles that change lives.
Abundance:Living in the infinite flow of God’s good, we draw from God’s inexhaustible supple and wisely use our rich resources to serve the world.
Principles and values are kept broad to include as many people as possible. Many (including the co-founders) have been vegetarians, but it’s not a required practice. Some believe in reincarnation, but it’s not part of dogma. Tithing to “your source of spiritual nourishment” is valued and encouraged, but not required. You can find more information at the world headquarters, which has many publications both free and for sale. A beginning Unity text has always been Lessons in Truth by H. Emilie Cady. I do want to note that I have never seen a Unity church so small--even fewer than 20 people--that it did not have a bookstore.
Origins of Unity
In the late 1800s, a young mother, Mary Caroline (Myrtle) Fillmore, was dying of tuberculosis. She’d always been told her life would be cut short, and her husband and sons watched in anguish as it seemed more and more unlikely that she would enter her third decade, despite many doctors and many moves around the country in search of a healthier climate.
With her husband supporting her, Myrtle attended a metaphysical lecture that gave her a powerful message: " I am a child of God and therefore I do not inherit sickness." Although she came from a devout Methodist family, this idea was new to her, and she used this statement as she prayed and visualized herself into health. Within two years she rose from her sickbed and lived to be 86. Her amazed husband tried her method on his withered leg, which healed except for a slight limp, which no longer pained him. In 1889 they founded a small magazine to tell people about their new ideas of God, and they prayed with their subscribers.
Since the 1890s the Society for Silent Help, now Silent Unity, has been praying 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. At first, they received requests only by mail, but shortly after the turn of the last century, they added their telephone ministry. Someone always answers at (800)NOW-PRAY. Now, of course, you can submit your prayer requests online as well.
Although Charles and Myrtle did not intend to start a new denomination, eventually, at their students’ urging, they began holding Sunday services. In the 1930s they established their seminary in Lee’s Summit, Missouri.
Charles and Myrtle left many writings. Charles’ wrote mostly about theological matters, and Myrtle’s tend to be personal writings, the many letters that she answered, and material for her children’s magazine.
When Myrtle was an elderly lady, a gypsy offered to tell her fortune. She said she didn’t believe in such things, but she showed the woman her palm. The fortune teller couldn’t make sense of what she saw: Myrtle should have died 50 years ago, according to her lifeline.
When she was 86, Myrtle went to her friends at Silent Unity to say good-bye, because she was going to die soon. They exclaimed that (1) she wasn’t sick and (2) they needed her in the prayer, publishing, and teaching work. She brushed aside the first concern to address the second: “How do you know I couldn’t do more good if I passed on?” I always think of this statement when someone wonderful dies.
Until the 1990s, members of the Fillmore family have served as presidents of Unity.
Other Religions and Viewpoints
The role of women, GLBTs, and other religions has never been an issue at Unity. Women have been ministers from the beginning. (Myrtle was the first.) I don’t know if GLBTs were, only because I don’t know the orientation of all the early ministers, but they are prominent in the ministry and the pews now.
Charles Fillmore never taught that Unity is the only pathway to God. He had found truth in all the religions he studied. When I first moved to town and met with the Unity minister, I surveyed her bookcase. Next to the Bible were the Bhagavad Gita, Vedic scriptures, the Koran, and holy books from every tradition. Some of the activities in this church include Zen meditation, Sufi meditation, Native American drumming, Qigong, yoga, holographic sound meditation, Sahj Marg Meditation, and Course in Miracles study group, in addition to Unity classes, meditations, and prayer groups. We’ve heard sermons from Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, Gandhi’s grandson, and representatives from a rainbow of cultures and belief systems.
Unlike the U.S., Unity headquarters has a department of peace. Usually the head of this department mediates church quarrels. But during the runup to the Iraq war, he became tired of saying to reporters, “Unity has no position on outside issues.” He begged his bosses, “Can’t we at least join the discussion?” He then wrote and disseminated the Unity Peace Statement, which sets forth Unity’s attitude towards diveristy as well as war.
Unity Peace Statement
Unity stands for peace in the presence of conflict; for love in the presence of hatred; for forgiveness in the presence of injury.
Unity honors the many names for God, the many paths to God, the many ways to worship God; for there is only one power and presence of God and that God loves each one of us equally.
And so we urge all nations, their leaders, and their people to turn to God by whatever name for guidance during these challenging times and pursue peace, not war, for this is what honors the God of all our faith traditions.
Unity stands for peace in our lifetime.
Importart Social or Political Issues
Peace is obviously a big social issue. We always participate in the Season for Nonviolence. Unity churches tend to embrace progressive issues; you’re likely to find church programs that reflect the members’ passions because, according to the five principles, we “live in the truth we know.” Food bank drives; school supplies, Christmas gifts, and Easter baskets for the poor; fan drives in the summer for the elderly (the Southern version of winter coat drives);employment groups; and Habitat for Humanity are all staples of the Unity churches. Our church housed Katrina and Rita survivors, and next week a jazz concert to benefit firefighters, police, and other public servants is scheduled. Alternative healing services on a love offering basis are offered: Qigong, Tai Chi, yoga, EFT, Touch for Health, Reiki, and other light touch practices. You can schedule a personal healing service for yourself before surgery or whenever you feel it necessary. Each church develops its own services to the community. You won’t hear a sermon on electing specific politicians, though.
What I Want to Change and What I Most Like
As for what I want to change, I tend to think that other groups shouldn’t change for me; I’ll just go away. As the church I attend has grown, it seems that the sense of being a “band of brothers/sisters” on a spiritual path has faded, with more people being there for the parties and the cookies. Even though every member receives a call from a chaplain once a month, it doesn’t always seem as though we’re supporting individuals as well as we might. Maybe that’s become someone else’s job, or there’s just too many people, all smiling and being positive. When I’m distressed or sad, it’s easy for me to call Silent Unity for Prayer, but it’s hard for me to go to church, because I feel an obligation to be cheerful. I haven’t always felt supported in recent years, but I haven’t quite broken with the church, though I’m investigating Quakers and UCC.
I like the emphasis on prayer, healing, and taking Jesus at his word. I like that transformation is a cornerstone. I like the diversity and universal acceptance. I like the emphasis on healing and the focus on the positive aspects of life. In my early days I called it “Holy Mommy Church” because I felt so nourished. When I had fibromyalgia, I showed up each week and received free treatments. I pay it forward by becoming a Reiki Master and serving on the Healing Team. I haven’t attended regularly for over two years, but I still meet weekly with my prayer group and attend healing services. I participated in a prayer group before I attended my first service.
Thank you for your patience. I would have written less, but I didn’t have the time. Namaste to all, which Unity translates as, “I behold the Christ in you.”
