UNITY
FAQ's
Twenty
Questions and Answers about Unity
-
What
is Unity?
-
What
are the basic tenets of the Unity teachings?
-
Does Unity believe in the divinity of Jesus
Christ?
-
What
are Unity's distinctive characteristics?
-
What is the Association of Unity Churches?
-
What
is Unity School of Christianity?
-
Who
are Unity students?
-
What
is the relationship of Unity to other churches?
-
Is
there any connection between Unity and Unitarianism?
-
Is Unity an offshoot of Christian Science?
-
What
is the place of the Bible in Unity?
-
Does Unity practice baptism and communion?
-
What
is the significance of the blood of Jesus Christ?
-
What
about the Crucifixion?
-
Does Unity accept the virgin birth?
-
Does
Unity look for the Second Coming of Jesus Christ?
-
How
does Unity regard the Trinity?
-
What
does Unity teach about sin and salvation, heaven and hell?
-
Does
Unity believe in reincarnation?
-
What are the advantages
of attending Unity?
Twenty
Questions and Answers about Unity
Published by the Association of Unity Churches
P.O. Box 610, Lee's Summit, Missouri 64063
Phone: (816) 524-7414 | Fax: (816) 525-4020
www.unity.org
Rev. 1/00
1. What is Unity?
Unity is positive, practical Christianity. It
teaches the practical application in everyday life of Jesus Christ, as
interpreted in the light of modern-day experience by Unity School of
Christianity and the Association of Unity Churches. Unity is a way of life
that leads to health, prosperity, happiness, and peace of mind. The
Association of Unity Churches, in cooperation with Unity School of
Christianity, has established centers of study and worship throughout the
world where people study and practice the Unity way of life. 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 and
emotionally caring ways.
We strive through our ministries, publications,
and programs to reach out to all who seek Unity support and spiritual
growth. It is imperative that our ministries and 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 and 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 and other
languages; and respect for the wonderful variety of human commitments and
relationships.
We encourage ministries, teachers, and others within Unity to honor the
strength of diversity within their spiritual communities. It is with love
and in celebration of our unity, in the midst of our wondrous diversity,
that we affirm this position.
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2. What are
the basic tenets of the Unity teachings?
First:
God, Divine Mind, is the Source and 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
and 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 and thereby
became the Christ or Jesus Christ. He was a Teacher who demonstrated the
importance of thoughts, words, and deeds in shaping the life and 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 and
affirmations. Unity teaches that repeated use of statements of Truth
(denials and affirmations) establishes right patterns of thinking, feeling,
and acting. This is one way individuals use the creative power of God to
take dominion over mind, body, and affairs.
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3. Does
Unity believe in the divinity of Jesus Christ?
Yes, Unity teaches that the spirit of God dwelt
in Jesus, just as it indwells every person; and that every person has the
potential to express the perfection of Christ, as Jesus did, by being more
Christ-like in everyday life.
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4. What are
Unity's distinctive characteristics?
Unity students are encouraged to align with the
spirit of the Christ within for personal guidance and direction that will
best enhance their spiritual growth. The Unity ministry provides a safe and
sacred space for study, participation, fellowship, support, transformation
and 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
affirms the freedom of each individual to advance spiritually according to
his or her own level of understanding. Respect for and 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.
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5. What is
the Unity Association of Unity Churches?
The Association of Unity Churches is comprised of approximately 900 member
ministries and satellite ministries on the North American Continent and
Puerto Rico; through the International Services Department of Unity School
there are approximately 100 international ministries informally affiliated
with the Association of Unity Churches. 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, and youth development, including Sunday school and 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.
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6. What is Unity School
of Christianity?
Unity School is the world headquarters for the Unity movement founded by
Charles and Myrtle Fillmore. After Myrtle Fillmore's remarkable healing
utilizing prayer and 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 teachings of the practice of prayer, through classes and
correspondence, led to the establishment of Silent Unity, the Unity School
for Religious Studies Continuing Education Program and Ministerial Education
Program and Retreat programs. Through its threefold ministry of prayer,
publishing, and education, Unity School serves millions of people in more
than 150 countries. Unity School publishes inspirational magazines, books,
audio- and videocassettes, CDs, and pamphlets for adults and children.
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7. Who are Unity students?
Unity students are those individuals who have found a deeper understanding
of God, of themselves, and of their world through the practical methods
presented in the Unity teachings. Often this has come about as a result of
some very trying and seemingly hopeless experience. Unity students include
many who are readers of the various publications; others attend Unity
services and classes, finding in such attendance a spiritual "home" in which
they are strengthened in their spiritual unfoldments. They are from all
walks of life, and of all races, creeds, and nationalities.
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8. What
is the relationship of Unity to other churches?
Unity puts into practice a true ecumenical approach. Unity sees itself as a
vehicle for instruction, inspiration and 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, and peace. Therefore, it
freely shares its teachings with all churches. Unity believes in the oneness
and freedom of all people. Emphasis is always on the similarities rather
than the differences in the human spiritual expression.
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9. Is
there any connection between Unity and Unitarianism?
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 and
political action.
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10. Is Unity an
offshoot of Christian Science?
No. Unity and 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 and Christian Science, including the
importance of prayer, the practice of spiritual healing, and some
fundamental theological points. Also, both have great publishing operations.
However, the application of principles, the methods of teaching, and the
organization of the two movements are quite different.
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11. What is the
place of the Bible in Unity?
The Bible is Unity's basic textbook. It is accepted as a body of history, as
a moral and ethical teaching, and as a great literary work. Beyond this,
Unity finds deep significance in the Bible through its metaphysical
interpretation, wherein names of places and people and 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 and helpful guide for today's experiences. The
Bible reveals the spirit of Truth and the word of God. Holy Spirit, working
individually through those who study scripture and listen within, is the
final authority in spiritual awakening.
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12. Does Unity
practice baptism and 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 and spiritual process
that takes place within the individual as he or she aligns with the spirit
of God.
Spiritual communion takes place through prayer and meditation in the
silence. The word of Truth is symbolized by the bread, of 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 teachings and their practical application.
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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 and 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 and teachings show us the way.
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14. What about the Crucifixion?
Unity teaches that the cross symbolizes the crossing out of all false
beliefs. Here again, emphasis is on life and living, through the
resurrection rather than on the Crucifixion.
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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.
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16.
Does Unity look for the Second Coming of Jesus Christ?
Unity understands 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.
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17. How does Unity regard
the Trinity?
Unity interprets the religious terms Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
metaphysically, as three aspects of mind action: mind, idea, and expression.
This is the process through which all manifestation takes place.
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18. What does Unity teach about sin and salvation, heaven and hell?
Sin is our separation from God in consciousness, caused by our belief in the
the "devil" or a power other than God, the good. This belief leads to our
unwise use of our God-given powers and abilities. Salvation is now — not
something that occurs after death. It happens whenever we turn our thoughts
(repent) from fear, anxiety, worry, and doubt, to thoughts of love, harmony,
joy, and peace. The "fall" takes place in consciousness whenever we fall
into negative habits of thinking.
Heaven and hell are states of consciousness, not geographical locations. We
make our own heaven or hell here and now by our thoughts, words and deeds.
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19. Does Unity believe
in reincarnation?
Many Unity students accept that 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 and
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 re-embodied into lower form of life is not accepted by Unity.
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20. What are the
advantages of attending Unity?
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 and successful life, is
experienced at Sunday services and 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 and support groups, and 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 and 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.
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