During my years as a Unity
minister I've been asked the question, "What does Unity believe?" and I've
watched ministers debate the question whether to decide what Unity teaches or not. While
the debate was heated, it was decided not to decide. However, to some minds the question
has already been answered, at least in part. In the early years of the 1900's Unity chose
to respond to questions about its beliefs by publishing a Statement of Faith. In this and
following issues, we will examine the various points covered in the document.
Unity’s Statement of Faith first appeared in
Weekly Unity February 12, 1921 as twenty-seven separate paragraphs. There was so much
demand for such a document that it was reprinted in Weekly Unity a few weeks later on
April 16. This time it was enlarged to thirty-one paragraphs. The statement’s first
widespread circulation occurred the same month when it was published in the April issue of
Unity. It appears to have remained in this form until 1939–Unity’s golden
anniversary year–when it was reduced to thirty statements. It remained like that
until the 1960’s when it was dropped from publication.
I have tried to research the authorship of this document
and have found no definitive answer. A notation in the card files at the Unity library
Heritage Room says that the authorship is assumed to be Unity’s co-founder, Charles
Fillmore, though there is no definite proof that this is true. However, I cannot conceive
that such a strong statement of beliefs and what we teach could come at that time from
anyone but Charles Fillmore, at least not without his total agreement on such an important
statement of position as this. The 1921 Unity version included an afterword by the editor
which said that the Statement of Faith was condensed from Unity literature and covered all
doctrinal points formulated so far. Some of the Unity leaders (field ministers) felt that
issuing a statement like this would limit their growth. To which the editor responded:
"We have considered the restrictions that will
follow a formulated platform and are hereby giving warning that we shall not be bound by
this tentative statement of what Unity believes. We may change our minds tomorrow on some
of the points, and if we do, we shall feel free to make a new statement of faith in
harmony with the new viewpoint. However, we are assured that there will be no change in
fundamentals; the form of words may be clarified and the inner and outer meaning of the
Truth may be more clearly set forth."
The words we use to talk about Truth may change but the
principles will never change. Jesus said, "And you will know the truth, and the truth
will make you free." (John 8:32) Truth is not human knowledge nor what you hear
about it. It is not something which can be imparted but is something experienced. Truth is
all Divine Ideas which are absolute, unchanging, eternal, unconditional and unlimited.
Charles Fillmore said that practical Christianity and Truth stand upon the same foundation
and are interchangeable terms. The editor who commented on the Statement of Faith reminded
the readers that the only thing likely to change was the words used to describe Truth. Any
additions that might come would not be new Truths but an unveiling of what has always
been.
Statement of Faith
1. We believe in God, the one and only omnipotent,
omniscient, and omnipresent Spirit-mind.
Here is no equivocation. Not God and something in
opposition to God. In How I Used Truth, Emilie Cady said, "There is only God; all
else is a lie." There have been times when such a strong and unequivocal reminder of
Truth was necessary to bring me back to reality when faced with difficult appearances to
the contrary. This first statement contains three expressions which further convey an
understanding of God.
Omnipotent. God is Almighty! More important is the
concept that God is all power–the source of power and the power itself. Sometimes we
feel powerful, but only God is the source of the power we feel. We are filled with
God-power. If God is the only power in the universe, what is there to fear? What can
possibly overcome God or any expression of God?
Omniscient. Many times I have heard this defined as
"all-knowing" but this statement is not complete. God is more than just
knowledge imparted. God does not get knowledge from somewhere. God is the knower as well
as what is known. All knowledge. There is no place in the universe and no time in our
lives when we are ever separated from the knower or knowledge, from Mind and the ideas
inherent in Mind.
Omnipresent. There is no place we can go throughout the
universe where God is not. Psalm 139 says, "Whither shall I go from thy Spirit? Or
whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend to heaven, thou art there! If I make
my bed in Sheol, thou art there!" (139:7&8) When we are in our dark night of the
soul, in the midst of life’s greatest challenges, God is there. Sometimes we forget
and feel separate and alone. But these three "omnis" remind us that right where
we are, no matter how things look or what seems to be making its presence known, there is
only God. All the power, wisdom and intelligence of God are at all points throughout
creation. And that includes exactly where we are, and in whatever circumstances.
You may still be wondering what two points were dropped
in the 1939 version. The first was paragraph 28: We believe that all life is sacred
and that man should not kill nor be a party to the killing of animals for food; also that
cruelty, war, and wanton destruction of human life will continue so long as men kill
animals for food. And the second was paragraph 29: We believe that the misuse of
the generative function is responsible for the majority of human ills. Therefore, we
believe that purity and control of sex are essential to health and the final overcoming of
death.
To be continued next month.
Copyright © 2000 by Greg W. Neteler
Used with permission.
Messages from previous months