The following message is a series of lessons prepared by Dr. John D. Rankin (a truth student, minister, writer, teacher and finally Bishop Of The Antiochene Catholic Church). The purpose of these lessons is to introduce you to basic Unity teachings through study and practice of truth, and to prepare members for intelligent spiritual participation in the collective life of our church.
- HOW TO STUDY EACH LESSON
• Assemble your materials, a Bible, a notebook and a pen.
• Affirm your power to learn and grow.
o Use one of these students prayers:
“Jesus Christ, You are my teacher. I am now open, receptive, responsive and obedient to your instruction and guidance."
"Spirit of Truth within me, reveal the Truth I need to know."
• If there are test questions, read them so that you will know the ideas and information to look for.
• Read the lesson carefully. Look up Bible references given and make them in your Bible. Or put them in your note book.
• If there are test questions, answer them.
WHAT UNITY IS AND ISN’T
1. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND:
The Unity movement was founded in 1889 by Charles and Myrtle Fillmore, to promulgate the practical discoveries they had made through their independent metaphysical research and to promote such research among open minded people of all faiths. The first public effort in this direction took the form of a magazine published under the title MODERN THOUGHT.
This public effort was the direct outgrowth of a personal experience of spiritual healing which Myrtle Fillmore received through a vivid and prayerful realization of a simple truth, ‘I AM A CHILD OF GOD, AND THEREFORE I DO NOT INHERIT SICKNESS.”
The very simplicity of such a realization led them to believe that theirs was a discovery that could blend with the various progressive teachings being generally promoted at that time, which included spiritualism, occultism, mesmerism, etc. HOWEVER, within a few months after commencing publication of the magazine, Charles Fillmore came to a conclusion which as ever since served as a basic policy of the Unity Movement
[NOT THAT WE CONDEMN ANY SYSTEM, BUT WE FIND BY EXPERIENCE THAT CONCENTRATION IS NECESSARY TO SUCCESS AND WE WISH TO CONFINE THESE PAGES TO THAT SPECIFIC DOCTRINE, AND HOLY GHOST POWER, TAUGHT AND DEMONSTRATED BY JESUS CHRIST].
The name Unity was received in meditation by Charles Fillmore in the spring of 1891 while he and his wife and a few students were praying together silently and has since been used continuously as the inspired banner under which universal Truth with a distinctly Christian emphasis has been taught and practiced.
A document, now prized by many Unity students, known as the Dedication and Covenant was written in 1892, and although it was not made public until 1942, it expresses the spiritual convictions which have sustained the Unity Movement at its best. The text of this document, originally written in longhand by Charles Fillmore and also signed by Myrtle Fillmore, is as follows.
“We, Charles Fillmore and Myrtle Fillmore, husband and wife, hereby dedicate ourselves, our time, our money, all we have and all we expect to have to the Spirit of Truth and through it to the Society of Silent Unity. (Unity’s prayer branch) It being understood and agreed that the said Spirit of Truth shall render unto an equivalent for this dedication, in peace of mind, health of body, wisdom, understanding, love, life and an abundant supply of all things necessary to meet every want without our making any of these things the object of our existence. In the presence of the conscious mind of Christ Jesus, this 7th day of December, 1892.”
2. WHAT UNITY IS:
UNITY IS AN INDEPENDENT REVELATION OF TRUTH. Charles and Myrtle Fillmore studied many religions and philosophies, but what they have transmitted to us consists of those principles, ideas and attitudes which they found confirmed by their own individual illumination in prayer and by their own demonstration in practice. It is not in any sense a “splinter group” or sectarian offshoot of some other group.
UNITY IS AN ATTEMPT TO RETURN TO FIRST CENTURY ORIGINAL CHRISTIANITY in both its simplicity and its power. As Mr. Fillmore described it:
“Unity is the Truth that is taught in all religions, simplified and systematized so that anyone can understand and apply it. Students of Unity do not find it necessary to sever their church affiliations. The church needs the vitalization that this renaissance of PRIMITIVE (original) CHRISTIANITY gives it.”}
UNITY IS A WAY OF LIFE, STUDY AND PRAYER, i.e., a way to apply the teachings of Jesus and the power of His apostles to modern life. Unity, therefore, does not require acceptance of any particular creed or dogma; rather, in a scientific spirit, it puts forth its teaching as working premises to be tested by actual use, and accepted on the basis of their demonstrated effectiveness, rather than on billiard faith. Unity is a way of living from the resources of your real, inmost Self. It is a way of studying patiently and persistently and affirmatively, knowing that the High Good one desires in his heart is already yours.
UNITY IS SPECIFICALLY CHRISTIAN. Recognizing the truth, beauty and goodness to be found in all living religions, we yet find no peer for Jesus Christ, Who opened to common people the Way to God, through the combined potency of His life and teachings. Unity teaches hat Jesus Christ is alive and in the world today as Spiritual Presence, guiding humanity to its divinely intended glory and God-likeness, our Savior, our Lord, our Christ, our Older Brother, our Best Friend and Teacher.
3. WHAT UNITY IS NOT:
UNITY IS NOT CHRISTIAN SCIENCE. It is true that the Fillmore’s studied under Emma Curtis Hopkins, an illustrious Truth teacher who was at one time Mary Baker Eddy’s protégé and editor of her Christian Science Journal. However, it was only after Mrs. Hopkins established an independent metaphysical school that the Fillmore’s received instruction from her. Unity resembles Christian Science in its emphasis on the all-ness of God, the science of healing and the power of right thinking. On the other hand, Unity differs clearly from Christian Science in many ways. Unity affirms that man is the expression of God, rather than a mere reflection of God. Unity encourages its students to seek their healing directly from the Divine Source, yet believes that visible means of healing may be employed without condemnation (medical, holistic, etc.) so long as one recognizes that all healing comes ultimately from God and God only. Unity does not see matter as Spirit’s opposite, but as Spirit’s expression; i.e., the visible evidence of a Creative Power in the universe.
UNITY IS NOT SPIRITUALISM. This needs to be said, since a number of spiritualistic organizations included the name Unity in their titles, especially in years gone by. From their own research, the Fillmore’s found that the spiritualistic or psychic plane is an actual plane of human experience, but that it tends to distract from one’s oneness with Infinite Mind, and fosters dependence on the finite minds of mediums, however well-intentioned they may be. Even if actual souls are contacted by such means, they are not necessarily any wiser or safer guides than those we know in the body. Spiritualism has too often proved to be a detour with a disintegrating (not to say shattering) effect on human consciousness. Truth integrates; i.e., draws into a unity the phases of life and experience, rather than dividing one’s life into fragments. We need to remember that we grow to be like that upon which we think. SPOOKY THINKING MAKES FOR SPOOKY LIVING!
UNITY IS NOT UNITARIAN. Unity is Trinitarian. That is we believe that God is three-in-one: Father, Son and Holy Spirit; one God, known to us in three distinct ways. You are one being, yet you reveal yourself as a mind; your mind reveals itself as having ideas; your ideas reveal themselves by their expression. Still, your mind, ideas, and expression are really and truly one, while they are really and truly three. Since we are often asked wherein we differ from the Unitarians, the following summary may prove helpful:
a) Unity affirms the Trinity; Unitarians deny it.
b) Unity affirms the power of prayer to alter outer conditions; Unitarians would affirm that prayer has power only to alter the individual’s own mental processes.
c) Unity affirms that Jesus Christ is God’s Perfect Idea (“Son”) in Perfect Expression. Unitarians would affirm only that He was an unusually inspired teacher, who more than likely succumbed to temptation as often as the best of us.
d) Unity affirms that the Bible is a divinely authorized guide to successful living when spiritually interpreted. Unitarians would be prone to see the Bible more as a collection of Hebrew myths with little or no meaning for modern man, plus a few passages of superbly noble literary and ethical quality.
e) Unity affirms the necessity of transforming the individual by spiritual means; Unitarians as a whole would rather affirm the greater necessity of reforming society by political means.
4. SOME DOCTRINAL POINTS:
VEGETARIANISM: Charles and Myrtle Fillmore believed that a strictly vegetarian diet enabled them to practice a higher degree of love toward creation and thereby to attain a higher degree of spiritual unfold-ment. At one point in Mr. Fillmore’s life, however we find him following inner guidance to include fish in his diet (and we note that Jesus ate a breakfast of fish with His disciples after the resurrection). As with many things Unity truth students are encouraged to follow THEIR INDIVIDUAL GUIDANCE RATHER THAN MERELY CONFORMING TO SOMEONE ELSE’S STANDARD. It is certain that neither Jesus nor Paul were vegetarians. It is not a basic question, after all; it is an individual matter which each one decides for him-self. There is no question of judging oneself or another as being a “good” Unity Student on the basis of his diet.
BAPTISM: Historic Christian churches make much of the rite of baptism. You will not be surprised to know that Unity, emphasizing the inner and spiritual side of all things as the important side, emphasizes the spiritual meaning of baptism as necessary to a life in tune with God. The spiritual meaning of baptism is “to put off the old” way of thinking and feeling negatively and selfishly; and to “put on the new” way of thinking and feeling positively and generously. The baptism which John conferred was a water baptism, symbolizing the cleansing of the inmost heart and mind. The baptism which Jesus conferred was the baptism with the Holy Spirit, which was utterly invisible, except in its effect on the life and power of those who receive it. It is an interior experience utterly independent of all forms and ceremonies. Yet many Unity churches do receive new members through a formal though simple ceremonial “spiritual baptism” The heart of the service is the prayerful repetition of the words of Jesus Christ for each one: “Receive ye the Holy Spirit” The heart of the service is the prayerful repetition of the words of Jesus Christ for each one: “Receive ye the Holy Spirit.” Many have found a most blessed experience of the presence of God in this service; and it is a most thrilling occasion for the one who administers it. Yet, like the other form of water baptism, it can do for you only what you are ready to meet God do in and through you.
Parents who wish to have their infants or children dedicated to God in a formal way will find in the Unity christening service a joyous affirmation of the child’s oneness with God, and , and of God’s infinite love for the child (here at Unity of Austin, we offer for infants and children, a service which confirms in love and honor the child’s name, blesses and commits the community to be present to the parents of the child, and welcomes the child to this earth plane with love affirming that God’s love is eternal and never withheld.)
COMMUNION: As a baptism, Unity teaches the necessity of participating in the spiritual meaning of communion, and considers the outer observation as a secondary matter. What Jesus wanted of His disciples at the first Lord’ Supper was that they remember Him and that they have a real sharing of His Being and that they be expecting a complete demonstration of His power (kingdom). We find that we can do these things through practicing the presence of God in prayer and meditation; and we believe the fundamental purpose of communion is fulfilled in us when we do this.
A Unity Communion service is basically a prayer service designed to strengthen the individual’s personal practice of private communion with God in prayer. Therefore, the outer form employing physical bread and wine is not always used in Unity. We think of the bread as being a symbol of the Substance of life that Jesus had, and we eat that bread whenever we prayerfully think of His words. We think of the wine as being a symbol of Jesus’ blood; that is, His pure life stream of boundless love. This we drink spiritually when we let the power of His kind of love work in our minds and hearts. To do this is to have real communion with the Christ-Presence in the world today.
We look down on no one, and most certainly we dare not look down on (or disapprove of) those who believe in the necessity of outer observances to fulfill the teachings of Jesus. But we are called to insist on the necessity of discovering and using the inner experience of His Presence and Power.
SUPPLEMENTARY READING:
Bible References:
Matthew 26:17-20, 26-28 the first Communion Service
John 6: 26-60 Jesus Teaches Spiritual Communion
Revelation 3:20 Invitation to Spiritual Communion
John 9-22 Jesus Confers Spiritual Baptism
Matthew 3:11 John Foretells Spiritual Baptism
Isaiah 8:19-22 Wisdom is of Spirit, not “Spirits”
John 14: 25, 26 Spirit Stimulates Memory
John 16: 12-15 Spirit Unfolds Truth Infinitely
Pamphlets:
“Adventure called Unity”
“Vegetarianism”
Supplementary Reading (optional)
“Story of Unity” (all published under title “House of Faith”
“Unity’s Seventy Years of Faith and Works (out of print)