Anyone here affiliated with the Unity Church

[mrgorth]

Not the Unitarians but Unity:
http://www.unity.org

Anyone have any good news or bad news about them?

[Maat]

1. I am affiliated with a faith that is in the same family.

I'm with the Church of Religious Science.

In general, Unity is very legitimate, and is not a cult.

Both of the above faiths are New Thought Churches (NOT New Age, which is externally-oriented). "As you have a new thought, so shall you have a new experience." All of these churches (Divine Science, CRS, and Unity, Christian Science) evolved at about the same time. Many of their founders had studied the great philosophers and Master Teachers, everyone from Jesus to Thoreau and Emerson.

The main difference is that Unity is a Christian-oriented philosophy, whereas, in CRS, we believe that Jesus was a Master Teacher (to the max, if you will), and we study all of the Master Teachers, regarding them as equal. Basically, Unity has a more "Christian" flavor (not trying to be offensive - just clear).

Both are considered to be into "metaphysics." Don't be scared - I'm a law graduate and a retired social worker, in my 40's. I have a Master's Degree in Psychology. All this is is good cognitive-behavioral psychology, in that it encourages the parishioner to use the power of his or her mind.

Of course, I said "generally" up above, because, although I encourage DUers to attend various services at various progressive churches (and, yes, Unity is one), I prefer that each DUer take a look at the individual congregation, and make sure that everything seems "common-sensical," so-to-speak.

We follow many of the same traditions, such as celebrating the seven attributes of Spirit (God) at Christmastime.

I have been involved in CRS for over a year; no one has told this independent broad what to think, with whom to hang around, or attempted to isolate me or anything bizarre.

I have posted informational links below:
http://www.rsintl.org/
http://www.unity.org/

The first is for CRS, the second for Unity.

I have a very close friend who loved attending Unity (she used to be married to a Methodist minister - and she is very well-grounded, and a member of the reality-based community).

I hope this helps. Let me know if I can help in any other way.

Blessings to you!

On edit:
Sorry, you already had the Unity link. I think that Californians attend CRS because it got started out here, and it is very 'big' out here; the same for Unity - only its base lies more in the Midwest, I believe.

I'm giving you some info from my pastor (I'm taking a good historical church course).

[hvn_nbr_2]

2. I'll add a point or two

Everything Maat said is right, AFAIK, except one tiny quibble: I don't think Christian Science considers itself or is considered to be New Thought, but they do have similar ideas about the power of the mind/soul/being/whatever to create and to heal. (In case some well-publicized cases of Christian Scientists refusing conventional medical care scares you or turns you off, none of the others mentioned here reject regular medical care.) Christian Science is not a member of the International New Thought Alliance.

You're right that CRS is very big in California and was started here. Founders Church is in L.A., and there are quite a few CRS churches in both northern and southern CA, especially southern.

Unity's headquarters (and seminary, I believe) are in Unity Village, Missouri. (I'm not sure if that's a name of an actual town or not.) I also don't know if that's where it started or not. There are a good number of Unity churches here too, but not nearly as many as CRS. My experience of Unity churches (very limited experience, compared to years of CRS) is that, in the ones in CA, you can barely tell that they're formally Christian. A lot of conservative Christians say that Unity is not Christian and is a cult, but then, consider the source.

I agree with the suggestion to check out congregations. I belonged to a CRS church in southern CA for about eight years and loved it, but when I moved north, I tried congregation after congregation and just never clicked with any. There are a couple Unity churches that I kind of like and go to occasionally, even though I now identify as eclectic pagan more than anything else, and I do a lot alone or in small groups.

[mrgorth]

3. Mostly I worry

that these guys are into faith healing. I attended a Unity service when I lived in Boise and it didn't seem cultish. I was raised Irish Catholic but am currently some conglomeration of that, Buddhism (Christ=great teacher, reincarnation), and heathen if that makes sense. It seems that Unity currently has one of the closest to my spitual beliefs going but the nearest church seems to be 45 minutes away. I could just go to a local UCC and pine away. Oh well. Thanks for the 411.

[Maat]

5. If my church wasn't so close ...

I would probably set something up at home (I do have a home meditation place), and just have my own service there. But ... my CRS church is only 5 minutes away.

[hvn_nbr_2]

7. On "faith healing"

Mostly I worry that these guys are into faith healing.

Hmmm, I'm guessing at just what to respond to here.

In eight years of regular attendance and frequent classes and activities at a CRS, and sporadic attendance at both CRS and Unity churches in recent years, I don't think I ever heard the phrase "faith healing." And yet they believe in the power of mind/spirit to heal. So whassup with that?

In my experience, the term "faith healing" is associated with somewhat bizarre spectacle in which the healer/minister whacks someone on the head and commands, "Heal!" and the person obediently keels over in a faint. If that spectacle is your objection: You won't see anything remotely like that at Unity, CRS, or any other New Thought church. Healing through the use of faith/mind/consciousness/whatever involves changing your consciousness, and it happens quietly between you and God/Goddess/Divine or whatever you want to call it, sometimes with a guide or helper. No whacks upside the head, no fainting and keeling over, no public spectacle, no cheering, chanting, shouting crowds.

If your objection/worry is that they won't want you to use regular doctors or regular medical care, don't worry. That may happen in Christian Science but not in New Thought. New Thought people get all the normal medical care; they also use spiritual help. That simple. You may find a few people there who will refuse regular medical care but they are the exception and that is not the teaching of these churches.

Maybe you just don't believe in the possibility of spiritual healing. That's okay. Most people don't when they first come in contact with these kinds of beliefs, and no one will bother you for being skeptical. It's normal to be disbelieving, and to continue to be disbelieving even after seeing examples and evidence of it working. I remember in my first classes at CRS, week after week we students would look at each other in bewilderment and amazement as we told or heard of "coincidences" and exclaimed, "This $#!+ works!" (You're allowed to say naughty words. No lightning bolts from the sky.) So go ahead and be skeptical, and just enjoy being with some positive thinking people.

If I didn't address your objections or didn't do so clearly, feel free to follow up.

[mrgorth]

8. Well,

I do believe in the positive power of prayer which, theoretically, could extend to actually healing people. I just don't want parts of a deal where people are encouraging others not to get medical care. I think the 2 work hand in hand. Also, sorry if I'm being offensive. As I said, Unity seems like what I want.

[hvn_nbr_2]

9. Not at all offensive

Also, sorry if I'm being offensive.

It's common and normal to have the concern you expressed, so having it is not at all offensive.

"The positive power of prayer"--that's a good succinct way to state it.

[Maat]

10. Very well put, and I agree - that's been my experience.

Regular medical care and positive thinking are compatible.

[Maat]

4. You are absolutely correct, hvn_nbr_2!

I guess I heard that Ernest Holmes did briefly take a look at Mary Baker Eddy's teachings, but he went off on his own.

Ecletic Pagan - that sounds neat. I study other spiritualities, even though I really fit in my local CRS church.

And congregants in Unity and CRS avail themselves of doctors as much as anyone else (to my knowledge). In fact, since I "choose health," it is my responsibility to get those annual medical tests, isn't it? I learned a lesson in that department about a year and one half ago (lucky, it turned out to be nothing).

[Lydia Leftcoast]

6. My grandmother was into Unity somewhat

and when I was a child, she gave me a subscription to their magazine for children. It seemed fairly Christian, the striking difference being that their prayers were more like affirmations than petitions addressed to God.

Their principle prayer is the "Prayer of Faith." I used to have it memorized, but all I can remember now is the last part:

"God is my health, I can't be sick.
God is my strength unfailing quick
God is my all, I know no fear,
Since God and love and truth are here."

[mrgorth]

11. Thanks to all

I think I'll be attending a Unity service. Sucks that it's 45 min. from the house but I think I need this.