What Is Unity?

Unity is a positive, practical approach to Christianity. We believe that human consciousness is intrinsically inseparable from the Spirit of God within, and that the effective, daily application of universal principles of Truth, as taught and exemplified by Jesus Christ, will promote a way of life that leads to health, prosperity, happiness, and peace of mind.

 [for more information, see Summary of Unity Beliefs, or Unity in Nutshell]

What are Unity’s basic teachings?

We encourage you to explore and apply Unity teachings based on your own spiritual understanding. We believe this spiritual understanding is enhanced through reflective prayer and meditation. The five basic ideas that make up the Unity belief system are:

1. God is the source and creator of all. There is no other enduring power. God is good and present everywhere.
2. We are spiritual beings, created in God’s image. The spirit of God lives within each person; therefore, all people are inherently good.
3. We create our life experiences through our way of thinking.
4. There is power in affirmative prayer, which we believe increases
   our connection to God.
5. Knowledge of these spiritual principles is not enough. We must live them.
    
   [for more detailed explanation of these principles, see Five Basic Unity Principles]

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. 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.

What is the place of the Bible in Unity teachings?

Unity finds deep significance in the Bible through its metaphysical interpretation.  We do not read the Bible literally, but rather look for the underlying allegorical meanings and spiritual principles in Bible passages and how they apply to every day issues in our modern lives. Through the study of Unity Truth principles regarding our oneness with God and the metaphysical power of thought, the Bible is made more meaningful to individuals. The Christ spirit within each individual, as they study Scripture and listen within, is the final authority in Biblical interpretation and spiritual awakening.

Does Unity believe in the divinity of Jesus Christ?

Yes, Unity teaches that the spirit of God lived in Jesus, just as it lives in every person. Every person has the potential to express the perfection of Christ, as Jesus did, by being more Christ-like in everyday life. 

Thus we recognize Jesus Christ as our Way-Shower.  He perfectly expressed His oneness with God, but he did not present himself as a unique being. Rather He called us to follow his example, to recognize and apply the same spiritual power within ourselves that he was able to express in his life.

What is the significance of the blood of Jesus Christ and the Crucifixion?

We interpret the blood of Jesus metaphorically as the pure spiritual energy of God's life force and consciousness.  Regarding the concept of the "spilled blood," of Jesus as the "ransom of many," the emphasis in Unity is not so much on the death of Jesus as on his life. We believe his death did not relieve us of the necessity of working out our own salvation, but the example of his life and teachings shows us the way to work out our salvation. 

We believe that achieving our salvation (that is, our full spiritual expression and communion with God, the state of being that Jesus called "the kingdom of heaven") can be achieved through the daily application of the metaphysical laws of God-aligned thought and affirmative prayer demonstrated by Jesus, and by making consistent choices in our daily lives that allow the creative power of God to flow through us.

Does Unity look for the Second Coming of Jesus Christ?

Unity understands the Second Coming as the individual unfoldment and expression of the Christ consciousness within each individual. This is not an event to be anticipated in the future. It is happening here and now, through prayer, meditation, study, and application.

What Does Unity teach about Sin and Salvation, Heaven and Hell?

Sin is our living with a false sense of separation from God. This belief leads to unwise and harmful actions and misuse of our God-given powers and abilities. Salvation is now - not something that occurs after death. It happens whenever we turn our thoughts from the false sense of separation (and resulting feelings of fear, anxiety, worry, and doubt), to thoughts which affirm our oneness with God (and resulting feelings of love, harmony, joy, and peace). The "fall" takes place in consciousness whenever we fall into negative and false 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.

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 demonstrate perfect expression of our Christ nature within. 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.

What is the organization called “Unity”?

The Unity movement was 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, and the first issue of the Daily Word (daily devotional) was published in 1924. The teaching of the practice of prayer, through classes and correspondence, led to the establishment of Silent Unity (prayer service) in 1890, the Unity School for Religious Studies Continuing Education Program and Ministerial Education Program, and the Retreat programs at Unity Village. Unity publishes many inspirational magazines and books.  You may also hear the Unity organization referred to as Unity School of Christianity, or Unity World Headquarters. It is located at Unity Village near Kansas City, Missouri.

[for more information, see Unity Beginnings, or Unity in Nutshell]

What is the “Association of Unity Churches”?

The Association of Unity Churches is comprised of approximately 1000 member ministries and 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, and youth education, 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.

Is Unity a denomination?

Some aspects of the Unity movement are denominational and some are not. For example, there are more than 900 Unity churches and study groups affiliated with Unity's sister organization, the Association of Unity Churches. This is a denominational aspect of Unity. In addition, the Unity Institute at Unity Village trains approximately 60 students every two years to be Unity ministers. This is also denominational. However, the majority of the work done by Unity at Unity Village involves prayer, publishing, and education services to people of all faiths. These nondenominational aspects include the prayer ministry of Silent Unity, Daily Word (Unity's nondenominational daily inspirational magazine), Unity Magazine (a bi-monthly magazine of articles on spiritual topics applied to modern life), retreats, and continuing education classes that are open to everyone and teach Unity principles in nondenominational settings.