Twenty Questions & Answers
What in the world IS Unity?
These are the 20 most asked questions about Unity's Teachings & Beliefs:
01
What is Unity?
Unity is positive, practical Christianity. It teaches the practical application in everyday life of the principles of Truth taught & exemplified by Jesus Christ, as interpreted in the light of modern-day experience by Unity (School) & the Association of Unity Churches. Unity is a way of life that leads to health, prosperity, happiness, & peace of mind. We believe that all people are created with sacred worth. Therefore, we recognize the importance of serving all people within the Unity family in spiritually & emotionally caring ways. We strive for our ministries, publications, & programs to reach out to all who seek Unity support & spiritual growth. It is imperative that our ministries & outreaches be free of discrimination on the basis of race, gender, age, creed, religion, national origin, ethnicity, physical disability, or sexual orientation. Our sincere desire is to create spiritually aware organizations that are nondiscriminatory & that support diversity. In our effort to reach out to all people as did our Way-Shower, Jesus Christ, we support: the modification of our facilities to make them accessible to all people, regardless of physical challenges; the translation of our materials into Braille & other languages; & respect for the wonderful variety of human commitments and relationships. We encourage ministers, teachers, & others within Unity to honor the strength of diversity within their spiritual communities. It is with love & in celebration of our unity, in the midst of our wondrous diversity, that we affirm this position.
02
What are the Basic Tenets of the Unity Teachings?
First: God, Divine Mind, is the Source & Creator of all. There is no other enduring power. The nature of God is absolute good; therefore, all manifestations partake of good. What is called "evil" is a limited or incomplete expression of God or good, Evil's origin is ignorance.
Second: We are spiritual beings, ideas in the Mind of God, created in God's image & likeness. The ideal expression for every human being is the pattern every person is seeking to bring forth. Each individual manifests the Christ in his or her own unique fashion. The perfect expression of the Christ is, therefore, different for each person.
Third: Jesus was a special person in history who expressed perfection & thereby became the Christ, or Jesus Christ. He was a Teacher who demonstrated the importance of thoughts, words, and deeds in shaping the life & world of the individual.
Fourth: Jesus' teaching was based on prayer, which to Him was conscious communion with God. Preparation for prayer involves the use of the spoken word, the creative power of God, which is made practical through denials & affirmations. Unity teaches that repeated use of statements of Truth (denials & affirmations) establishes right patterns of thinking, feeling, & acting. This is one way individuals use the creative power of God to take dominion over mind, body, & affairs.
03
Do Unity Ministry Teachers Believe in the Divinity of Jesus Christ?
Yes. Unity church leaders teach that the spirit of God dwelt in Jesus, just as it indwells every person; & that every person has the potential to express the perfection of Christ, as Jesus did, by being more Christ-like in everyday life.
04
What are Unity's Distinctive Characteristics?
Unity students are encouraged to align with the spirit of the Christ within for personal guidance & direction that will best enhance their spiritual growth. The Unity ministry provides a safe & sacred space for study, participation, fellowship, support, transformation & awakening to the joy of living in God's world. Each Unity ministry is supported by the freewill offerings of those who share its vision. Unity ministries, in turn, support the Association of Unity Churches & the regions in which they are located. Unity affirms the freedom of each individual to advance spiritually according to his or her own level of understanding. Respect for & faith in the spirit of God in every person makes it unnecessary to set down fixed creeds or impose limiting beliefs. Each individual is encouraged to follow the Unity teachings in determining personal responses in his or her life.
05
What is the Association of Unity Churches?
The Association of Unity Churches is comprised of approximately 1000 member ministries & satellite ministries throughout the world. Each ministry is under the leadership of a licensed or ordained Unity minister, or authorized spiritual leader. The emphasis in Unity organizations is on spiritual activities, such as worship services, healing meetings, prayer groups, counseling, study classes, & youth education, including Sunday school & programs for young people of all ages. Since acknowledging God's presence in each person is part of Unity's spiritual purpose, social functions are also an important part of Unity organizations.
06
What is Unity?
The Unity movement was founded by Charles & Myrtle Fillmore. After Myrtle Fillmore's remarkable healing utilizing prayer & affirmations, many who were seeking help became interested in how she accomplished this healing. From small prayer circles in living rooms, Unity grew. The first issue of Unity magazine was published in 1889. The teaching of the practice of prayer, through classes & correspondence, led to the establishment of Silent Unity, the Unity School for Religious Studies Continuing Education Program & Ministerial Education Program & the Retreat programs, "Unity" publishes inspirational magazines & books.
Charles and Myrtle Filmore
07
Who are Unity Students?
Unity students are those individuals who have found a deeper understanding of God, of themselves, & their world through the practical methods presented in the Unity teachings. Often this has come about as a result of some very trying & seemingly hopeless experience. Unity students include many who are readers of the various publications; others attend Unity services & classes, finding in such attendance a spiritual "home" in which they are strengthened in their spiritual unfoldment. They are from all walks of life, & of all races, creeds, & nationalities.
08
What is the Relationship of Unity Ministries to Other Churches?
Unity puts into practice a true ecumenical approach. Unity sees itself as a vehicle for instruction, inspiration, & prayer support for spiritual seekers, regardless of their religious affiliation. Rather than a denomination, locked in tight parameters that restrict, Unity views itself as an ever-expanding expression of love, light, & peace. Therefore, it freely shares its teachings with all people. Emphasis is always on the similarities rather than the differences in the human spiritual expression.
09
Is There a Connection Between the Association of Unity & the Unitarian Church?
No, there is no connection, although there is sometimes confusion because of the similarity of the names. Many beliefs are held in common, including the importance of individual freedom in the quest for Truth. This very freedom, however, makes it difficult to determine the basic differences. In a very general way, it might be said that the two differ mainly in their beliefs regarding Jesus Christ and the Trinity. Unity places great emphasis on spiritual healing, while this is not practiced by Unitarians as a rule. In turn, Unitarians place great emphasis on social & political action.
10
Are Unity churches an offshoot of the Christian Science Church?
No. Unity & Christian Science, as well as many other New Thought groups, had their beginnings in the latter part of the nineteenth century. Many of the leaders in these groups studied under the same teachers. There are similarities in the teachings of Unity & Christian Science, including the important of prayer, the practice of spiritual healing, & some fundamental theological points. Also, both have some great publishing operations. However, the application of principles, the methods of teaching, & the organization of the two movements are quite different.
11
What is the Place of the Bible in Unity Teachings?
The Bible is Unity's basic textbook. It is accepted as a body of history, as a moral & ethical teaching, & as a great literary work. Beyond this, Unity finds deep significance in the Bible through its metaphysical interpretation, wherein names of places & people & their experiences symbolize the unfoldment of human consciousness. Through the study of Unity, the Bible is made more meaningful to individuals. Scripture comes alive when it is understood as a clear & helpful guide for today's experiences. The Bible reveals the spirit of Truth & the word of God. Holy Spirit, working individually through those who study Scripture & listen within, is the final authority in spiritual awakening.
12
Do Unity Ministries Practice Baptism & Communion?
Yes, symbolically. Whereas baptism by water represents the cleansing of the consciousness, spiritual baptism signifies the inflow of the Holy Spirit. No person can truly baptize another. Baptism is a mental & spiritual process that takes place within the individual as he or she aligns with the spirit of God. Spiritual communion takes place through prayer & meditation in the silence. The word of Truth is symbolize by the bread, or the body of Jesus Christ. The conscious realization of God-life is symbolized by the wine, or the blood of Jesus Christ. Unity practices communion by appropriating, or partaking of the spiritual energy represented by these elements. In Unity services, ritual is de-emphasized as a general rule, so that full attention may be devoted to the teaching & their practical application.
13
What is the Significance of the Blood of Jesus Christ?
The blood of Jesus Christ represents the spiritual energy of God-life that purifies or redeems the body through a cleansing & renewal of the consciousness by the spoken word. Regarding the "spilled blood," or the "ransom of many," the emphasis in Unity is not so much on the death of Jesus as on His life. He did not relieve us of the necessity of working out our own salvation, but His example & teachings show us the way.
14
What About the Crucifixion?
Unity teaches that the cross symbolizes the crossing out of all false beliefs. Here again, emphasis is on life & living, through the resurrection rather than on the Crucifixion.
15
Does Unity Accept the Virgin Birth?
Unity accepts the virgin birth as an experience in the spiritual unfoldment of each individual. Thus the virgin birth is spiritually interpreted as the birth of the Christ consciousness (the awakening of the awareness of God's Spirit within) in the purified soul.
16
Does Unity Look for the Second Coming of Jesus Christ?
Members of the Association of Unity Churches understand the Second Coming as the individual expression of the Christ consciousness. This is not an event to be anticipated in the future. It is happening here and now, through prayer, meditation, study, and application.
17
How does the Association of Unity Churches Regard the Trinity?
Unity interprets the religious terms Father, Son, & Holy Spirit metaphysically, as three aspects of mind action: mind, idea, & expression. This is the process through which all manifestation takes place.
18
What Does Unity Teach About Sin & Salvation, Heaven & Hell?
Sin is out separation from God in consciousness, caused by our belief in the "devil" or a power other than God, the good. This belief leads to our unwise use of our God-given powers & abilities. Salvation is now - not something that occurs after death. It happens whenever we turn our thoughts (repent) from fear, anxiety, worry, & doubt, to thoughts of love, harmony, joy, & peace. The "fall" takes place in consciousness whenever we fall into negative habits of thinking. Heaven & hell are states of consciousness, not geographical locations. We make our own heaven or hell here & now by our thoughts, words, & deeds.
19
Does Unity Believe in Reincarnation
Many Unity students accept the concept of reincarnation (re-embodiment after a period of soul rest). This allows us to attain new understandings in a new life experience, so that we can eventually express perfection & demonstrate eternal life. This is our ultimate goal. Unity's real emphasis is on regeneration, not reincarnation. When we achieve this goal, as Jesus did, it will no longer be necessary to reincarnate. The belief that we could ever be reembodied into a lower form of life is not accepted by Unity.
20
What are the Advantages of Attending a Unity Ministry?
To attend Unity is to be assured that one will be kept constantly in the remembrance of his or her own inner Christ potential. This awareness, plus the practical principles for living a happy & successful life, is experienced at Sunday services & weekday classes. By joining with others, it is possible for the local Unity ministry to provide expanding services, such as Sunday school, a radio and/or TV ministry, community outreach, prayer & support groups, & counseling. It is very helpful for individuals to have a place where they can be involved in putting these teachings into practice in serving others. Through the local ministry's affiliation & participation in the Association of Unity Churches, such individuals are part of a global movement which forms a base on which to stand as we build a better world together.
