BASIC IDEAS OF THE UNITY BELIEF SYSTEM     

The purpose of this section is to give you an overview of the basic ideas of the Unity belief system which include beliefs and teachings.

What the Unity Wings Symbolize

The following explanation of the emblem - which can be found at Unity Village, in the literature, and in many Unity churches worldwide - comes from the writings of Charles Fillmore: "The winged globe or sun disk as a religious symbol had its earliest use in Egypt, but it is found in various forms in the religions of other races. It represents the relation existing between Spirit, soul, and body. Soul gives wings to the body. Spirit is the enveloping principle, like the atmosphere in which both soul and body exist, and from which they draw their original inspiration. "The winged globe is also a symbol of the earth and its soul. "As man develops spiritual consciousness, he attains the realization of the soul as the wings of the body. Artists paint their angels with wings, representing in this way their freedom from physical fetters. But the soul does not have wings like a bird. The life activity of the soul is quickened by Spirit until it rises above the thoughts of matter and floats free in the fourth dimension, which Jesus called the kingdom of the heavens."

This section is from an article written by Connie Fillmore, President of Unity School of Christianity in a booklet titled, Keys to the Kingdom: Five Fundamentals of Truth.

First Idea I Second Idea I Third Idea I Fourth Idea I Fifth Idea

1.    Good God -- God is absolute good, everywhere present.

2.    Divine Descendants -- Human beings have a spark of divinity within them, the Christ Spirit within. Their very essence is of God, and therefore they are also inherently good.

3.    Mind Manifests -- Human beings create their own experiences by the activity of their thinking. Everything in the manifest realm has its beginning in thought.

4.    Prayer Power -- Prayer is creative thinking that heightens the connection with God-Mind and therefore brings forth wisdom, healing, prosperity, and everything good.

5.    Live Truth Principles -- Knowing and understanding the laws of life, also called Truths are not enough. A person must also live the truth that he or she knows.

This section was adapted from The Quest: A Journey of Spiritual Rediscovery.

First: We believe that there is only one Presence and one Power in this universe--God, the good. This truth is at the very heart of Unity. There is only one Presence. There is only God. Therefore, God is omnipresent. This universal presence is an aspect of God. Since God is all, there can be nothing outside of God. There can be no place where God is not. Everything is part of God. Therefore, God is more than omnipresent; God is Omnipresence! "There is only one presence and one power active in the universe and in my life, God the good, omnipotent."     You can only know the God of your own experience. Knowing God is a very simple and natural experience. There is only one Presence and one Power: God, and God is good. We don't make divine order happen. It is already established in our lives.

 

	Second: Human beings have a spark of divinity within them, the Christ spirit. Their very essence is of God, and therefore they are also inherently good. Thus God is individualized in each person and in the universe as the Christ.   As a wave is part of the ocean, you are part of God. You have been created to be the hands, the feet, the voice, the eyes, the ears, and the heart of God. You are spirit (the Christ within you) is your true identity. The soul is where you do the work, where you make the changes. The soul is pivotal and can look within as well as to the outer. The conditions of your life mirror the condition of your soul.
	Third: Human beings create their experiences by the activity of their thinking. Everything in the manifest realm has its beginning in thought. God operates in the universe according to this law of mind action: "Thoughts held in mind produce after their kind." Everything begins with an idea.   Your thoughts are the blueprint for your life. Your thoughts today create your world of tomorrow. Change your thoughts and you will change your world. Through the power of your thinking, you are continuously drawing kinds of events into your life. You have absolute control over your reactions.
	Fourth: Prayer is creative thinking that heightens the connection with God-Mind and therefore brings forth wisdom, healing, prosperity, and everything good. Prayer is talking to God. Meditation (the silence) is listening to God.   Times of prayer provide you with sustenance and renewed strength. The reason for praying is more important than the method. Your whole life is a prayer, and life-prayers are always answered. "Miracles" are natural out workings of the law. Having your thoughts, feelings, words, and actions all "in sync" is your strongest prayer. The highest use of prayer is the announcing of your intention to open yourself to God's will. Prayer is a way to express your thanks for past, present, and future blessings. Prayer is not to change God. It is to change you. In meditation, in the silence, you meet God, you listen to God. In the stillness, you move beyond the intellect into the realm of spiritual knowing.
	Fifth: Knowing and understanding the laws of life, also called Truth, are not enough. A person must also live the truth that he or she knows. We must walk the talk, using the spiritual tools of release and affirmation during daily prayer and meditation.   God can work best when you show your willingness by moving into action. Truth teachings must be applied to every situation in your everyday life. A desire without a deed is a dead end. Once you receive your guidance, it is time to move into action. Spirit will show you the path, but you must walk that path.