Unity Center - Anyone Know?

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-09-2005
Unity Center - Anyone Know?
9
Thu, 10-12-2006 - 3:10pm

I have one 5 blocks from my house and pass it everyday. I wonder if it's an actual denomination or indepedent? There are unity centers all over, but are they associated??


Thanks in Advance!! April

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~MissApril
iVillage Member
Registered: 08-09-2005
Thu, 10-12-2006 - 3:22pm

Woops! I found some things on my own:


Unity espouses ‘practical Christianity’ in which its followers study ways to apply the teachings of Jesus to their daily lives. Through these teachings, Unity followers believe that God is a universal presence and divinity exists in all people. The teachings are based on five basic principles:



  1. God is the source and creator of all. There is no other enduring power (omnipotence; omniscience). God is good (omnibenevolence) and present everywhere (omnipresence). (Also see Panentheism).
  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.

The Christian Bible is the central text of Unity, which interprets the Bible metaphysically. Unity students believe that the teachings of the Bible are allegorical lessons from which spirituality is attained. For example, the twelve disciples each symbolize one of twelve spiritual powers that man possesses.


Unity is unique as a Christian church because of its approach to prayer. Considered the domain of Eastern religions, meditation plays a significant role in Unity thought. Followers of Unity rely on both prayer and meditation as vehicles for communicating with God and becoming spiritually centered. Silent Unity maintains a 24-hour-a-day prayer vigil, with staff available at all times to accept prayer requests by phone, fax, letter, e-mail or via the Unity website. Positive thinking is another important tenet in Unity.


Unity also distinguishes itself from other Christian churches in its basic approach to sacraments. Elaborate rites and symbols are absent from Unity churches. Communion, baptism and other rituals are relatively sparse with more emphasis placed on the spiritual over the symbolic (i.e. water in baptism). Unity sometimes uses rose petals for baptism, instead of water.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unity_Church


~MissApril
iVillage Member
Registered: 06-23-2003
Thu, 10-12-2006 - 3:47pm
I haven't been to one yet but I plan on attending one very soon. And they have some neat classes there too!
iVillage Member
Registered: 08-09-2005
Thu, 10-12-2006 - 3:58pm

I bet they do with meditation and what not. The founder believed in spiritual healing through affirmation, so I wonder if they do classes on that as well??


Let me know what you think of it after attendance!!


CLF is doing an online class on meditation with tracks and guidance. I'm thinking about taking it :-)

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~MissApril
iVillage Member
Registered: 06-23-2003
Thu, 10-12-2006 - 4:02pm
My local center has stuff like yoga, dream study, shamanic journeying, a course in miracles, metaphysics - stuff like that. I like their emphasis on meditation too.
iVillage Member
Registered: 08-09-2005
Thu, 10-12-2006 - 4:43pm

That sounds more like Unitarian Universalists. I didn't see anything about Shamanism with the Unity Church. Sounds cool!

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~MissApril
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-22-2003
Thu, 10-12-2006 - 6:29pm

I've been going to a Unity Church off and on for years.


iVillage Member
Registered: 08-09-2005
Fri, 10-13-2006 - 7:37am
Ahhhh, see? Same reason I haven't been back to the local UU. Their minister slept with a 16yr old member of the congregation when he was 'counseling' her, then they've had interims for the last several years, and they just now have a longterm minister. I totally understand :-) Well, I don't know what happened at your church...lol...but I think I understand.
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~MissApril
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Sat, 10-14-2006 - 8:09pm
I love Unity church. Been to 3 of them. They are not always near people's homes. I now go to one in Dover, NH. Love the minister, known him for years. It is small and cosy. I jined a book group at their house onmanifesting as i want to manifest for my xango business and it also gives me more exposure to people for business plus new friends. a win-win place for me to be. Unity to me is just pure spirituality, feel good when going. You are lucky to have a unity church near you. leila
iVillage Member
Registered: 01-31-2006
Wed, 10-18-2006 - 11:02pm

I have been to Unity churches for years, have been in 3 different ones. Unfortunately, the closest one to me is now 45 minutes away, so don't get there very often. All Unity ministers have attended ministry school in the central campus in Missouri. They have extensive training in Metaphysical teaching of the Bible, affirmations, meditations, etc.
It is similar to UU in tolerance of all religions and not believing in hell/ satan, but is much more Christian focused.
A typical service is rather similar to a traditional Christian service, but the content is considerably different, and they have a silent meditation time that is very soothing.
Hope you enjoy, if you go! Wish I had one 5 blocks from me!