Unity is small
sect of
Christianity based in Unity Village,
Missouri.
Created and developed by Myrtle and Charles Fillmore in the late
1880s, Unity attempts to address peoples'
spiritual needs through
collective, silent
prayer and
communion with an
omnipresent god.
Unity's Mission Statement, as quoted from their website (http://www.unityworldhq.org), is as follows:
Unity School of Christianity is a center of spiritual light for people of the world. We are dedicated to letting this light shine so brightly that people become more aware of their spiritual nature and express it in their daily lives. We address physical, mental, and emotional needs through affirmative prayer and spiritual education. We serve those who seek inspiration and prayer support as well as those who use Unity teachings as their primary path of spiritual growth.
Though Unity identifies itself as Christian, a few elements distinguish it from most mainstream denominations and non-denominational fundamentalist sects so prevalent in the United States. Firstly, it does not conceive God as a specific entity, nor does it recognize the corporeal being of God in the person of Jesus of Nazareth. Unity conceives God pantheistically; that is, God (often referred to as "The Universe") exists everywhere, and everything that exists is a part of God. As such, every person has some part of God inhabiting him or her, and God is referred to as "Mother and Father God."
Secondly, prayer is not seen as beseeching a higher power for a boon; rather, it is visualizing a desirable state of affairs and claiming it for one's own. The idea is that by voicing or writing down some need or desire makes it more "real," thus motivating the person praying to shape events around him or her. This reshaping of events creates a good environment in which the desirable state of affairs can come about. To put it simply, "The Universe helps those who help themselves."
Thirdly, Unity does not claim exclusivity of correctness in its doctrine. Many mainstream and fundamentalist Christian sects use the Bible verse John 14:6, "Jesus said to them, 'I am the way, the truth, and the light. No one comes to the Father but by me,'" to assert that church doctrine regarding belief in Jesus as Messiah as the only correct way to receive the rewards of heaven. Unity, however, tends to view all religions and viewpoints of God as but spokes on a wheel, the hub of which is enlightenment and oneness with the Universe. Services often include a mix of New Age thought, traditional Native American spirituality, and words from the New Testament. While most Christian sects deify Jesus of Nazareth, Unity tends to view him only as a wise teacher, with none of the qualifications of godhood beyond what everyone else has.
Because of the simliarity between the names Unity and Unitarianism, the two are often confused. Some Unitarians may hold a few of the same beliefs as adherents of Unity, but the heterogeneous nature of Unitarianism seems to dictate that some Unitarians will also vehemently disagree with Unity's doctrines.