Are
You Looking for a Spiritual Home?
If
you consider yourself to be spiritual but not religious...
So
do most of us. We are aware that sometimes religious beliefs divide us
rather than bring us together as children of God. We focus on creating a
safe and loving place for each to pursue their spiritual journey.
If
you are asking questions and seeking answers when old-time religion no
longer makes any sense...
We
are too. Most of us believe that scripture is not only about the Old
Testament times and about Jesus' life but is about more. We believe it
is also about us, here and now and when viewed in that light can add
wonderful new insight to Jesus' teaching for our daily lives.
If
you sometime feel your spirit wants more...
Most
of us have felt that way before and have found others here who share
their thirst. Here
we believe that we are all created in the spiritual image and likeness
of the creator. Therefore we recognize the Christ in each other. We may
not always demonstrate that presence but as we learn and grow we seek
the good in all of our experiences. As spiritual beings having an
earthly experience, life becomes a journey of exploration. You are
invited to come explore with us.
From
Rev. John Shelby Spong, retired Episcopal Bishop of Newark:
The
Unity Movement is a branch of Christianity to which I have in recent
years become deeply attracted, as it quite self-consciously seeks to
redefine the Christian faith outside the categories of sin, guilt,
rescue and control. Its theology begins in Matthew Fox's concept of
"Original Blessing" rather than with the traditional concept
of "Original Sin." It sees and encourages personal growth and
the call to full humanity. It proclaims a Christianity built on love and
inclusion. It affirms each person as he or she is and then seeks to
provide both the community and the resources to help that person grow
into being all that he or she can be. Unity sees Christianity as a
religion of acceptance not judgment, of expanding life not controlling
behavior. The Unity movement contains much of what I believe will mark
the Christian Church of the future.
Also, in answer to a question on his website about what he thought of Unity, Bishop Spong answered,
I think it is one of the most exciting movements within Christianity in the world today.
I had never heard of Unity until about ten years ago. While on a lecture tour of Alaska, I received an invitation to speak at the Unity Church of Anchorage. My response was that "these people don't know how to spell Unitarian!" I had, however, already spoken at the Unitarian Church in Anchorage, meeting there the Rev. Dr. Richard Gay who was, and is, one of the finest clergy I have ever encountered, so I was in some wonderment about what Unity was. I went and that was the first of many enriching experiences I have had with the Unity Movement across the United States and throughout the world.
Unity traces its roots to Mary Baker Eddy and what we once called the Christian Science movement. It has, however, evolved well beyond its origins. It is distinctively Christian but they have managed to escape the traditional Christian obsession with sin, guilt, rescue and control. They teach the goodness of God's creation, the capacity of human beings to grow spiritually and they avoid dated concepts like sacrifice and the sacredness of shed blood.
I have found their clergy to be bright, well trained, open and positive. Their Spiritual Center and Training School is in Lee's Summit, Missouri. The things that attract me to Unity are their dedication to education; the consistently high quality of their music; their commitment to affirm their children rather than to make them feel inadequate; their care for one another and the joy that permeates Unity worship. I don't know that Unity will be the future of Christianity but I do believe that the Christianity of the future will have many of the marks of Unity within it. I find that many people are like you, they discover Unity when they awaken to what Christianity can be and compare it to what they experience in many churches on Sunday morning.
I remain committed to reforming the church of my birth but I am deeply grateful for what Unity has done for me and for the way that Unity has enriched my
life.
On May 28, 2008 he replied
to a Q&A:
Question and Answer
With John Shelby Spong
Michael
Gill, from New York City, writes:
I
am among those who agree with you in regard to the great need for transformation within
traditional Christianity — indeed, a new reformation is overdue and necessary for the
Christian tradition to survive the 21st century. I believe that Jesus came not to change
any of the Hebrew scripture or its tradition but rather to reaffirm its true meaning in
revealing the spiritual nature of human life through his own demonstration within
humanity. As such, his example created something new. Have you ever considered officially
joining a New Thought community such as Unity Church of Practical Christianity? I believe
these communities closely reflect the spirit of the Christian message and serve humanity
well in providing a way in which we may experience and live Christian principles more
fully. Thank you so much for the wonderful work you are doing.
Dear
Michael,
Thank
you for your letter. No, I have never considered joining a church other than my own. I am
deeply committed to the Episcopal Church and the Anglican Communion. Of course, both have
their faults and I do not spare either in my critical remarks, but I don't believe one can
change anything from the outside. Only those who are insiders can do what I do to
facilitate transformation.
Having
said that, I am not only familiar with but deeply touched by the Unity movement. I would
guess that I do three or four events a year in Unity churches in the United States. I love
this contact, feel enriched by it and treasure my relationship with this Church.
The
Unity movement is grounded in the goodness of creation not in the aberration of that which
traditional Christianity has come to call "the fall." They are more in touch
with Matthew Fox's Original Blessing than they are with the Church's teaching of original
sin. They are therefore more life affirming than life denying.
Unity
is deeply committed to education and sponsor classes and lectures constantly. The
attention they give to their children is inspiring. The music in the various Unity
Churches is normally spectacular. It is always a moving worship service for both my wife
and me.
I
don't know that Unity will be the Church of the future, but I do believe that the themes
of the Unity Movement will be part of the Christian Church of the future. For those
looking for a new way to be a Christian and for a church that will allow them to be who
they are, I recommend Unity with great enthusiasm, if you can find one where you live.
Since you live in New York City, I might add that Unity New York, which meets on Sunday
Morning in Symphony Hall (Broadway and 91st), is one to which I am particularly drawn.
Paul Tenaglia is their pastor and a spectacularly gifted man and the singing group known
as "Spiritus" is worth flying to New York from anywhere just to hear them
perform.
John
Shelby Spong
We
welcome you to come visit us.
We
Believe...
We
encourage people to explore and apply Unity teachings based on their 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:
-
God
is absolute good, everywhere present.
-
Human
beings have a spark of divinity within them, the Christ spirit
within. Their very essence is of God, and therefore they are
inherently good also.
-
Human
beings create their experiences by the activity of their thinking.
Everything in the manifest realm has its beginning in thought. This
is the Law of Mind Action...thoughts held in mind produce after
their kind, i.e., negative beliefs produce negative results and
positive beliefs produce positive results.
-
Prayer
is the creative thinking that heightens the connection with God-Mind
and therefore brings forth wisdom, healing, prosperity and
everything good.
-
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.
Joint
Statement for Peace -
Unity
and the Association of Unity Churches
Unity
stands for peace in the presence of conflict; for love in the presence
of hatred; for forgiveness in the presence of injury.
Unity
honors the many names for God, the many paths to God, the many ways to
worship God; for there is only one power and presence of God and that
God loves each one of us equally.
It
is therefore the position of The International Association of Unity
Churches and Unity to urge all nations, their leaders, and their people
to turn to God by whatever the name for guidance during these
challenging times and pursue peace, not war, for this is what honors the
God of all our faith traditions.
Unity
stands for peace in our lifetime.
written
by Rev. Gary Simmons
More Information on Unity
What
is Unity?
History
of Unity
FAQs
(Frequently Asked Questions) about Unity
For Unity prayers and affirmations, click on Say
a Prayer.
For
more information on Unity churches in North Texas, click on:
Unity Churches
For
more information on Unity headquarters and Unity School of Christianity,
visit: www.unityworldhq.org
For
more information on Unity publications and locations of churches, visit:
www.unity.org/
http://members.tripod.com/~uniticsonline/sitemap.html
To
order the Daily Word magazine, visit (and click on Daily Word):
www.unity.org/
For
talks by Unity and other new thought ministers and speakers (audio),
visit:
http://websyte.com/unity/talks/
www.wisdommedia.com/
www.unitydallas.org
- recordings of Sunday services, Rev. Ellen Debenport, Rev. Ed Townley,
Rev. Kurt Condra and guest speakers
For
Unity distance learning classes from Unity Institute, click on Classes.
Currently
available (more to come) are:
