A Summary of Unity’s History
(Excerpts from the writings of Jim Gaither)
Unity was one of the religious movements that emerged in 19th century America in the midst of a new wave of knowledge, optimism, and religious experimentation.
A wider religious perspective began to open for some Westerners at this time as they tried to find common ground between East and West. Ralph Waldo Emerson and his circle of Transcendentalists used terms and ideas from the East to express their philosophy. Madame Blavatsky adopted Eastern concepts for her Theosophy movement. Westerners began to practice Yoga techniques and explain conditions in terms of "karma" and "‘reincarnation."
During the 19th century there were exciting advances in science that captured the popular imagination.
The introduction of hypnosis and the development of modern psychological theories suggested new explanations of human experience in terms of the unconscious or subconscious mind. The development of technology and evolution theory combined in the public mind to create an optimistic expectation of inevitable and perhaps divinely ordained human progress toward an earthly paradise.
Along with Christian Science and New Thought, early proponents of the Unity movement believed in cure of physical illness through mental disciplines and prayer.
Historically, Unity can be seen as part of the broader Protestant tradition that includes the Society of Friends, the Unitarian-Universalists and Christian Science. Those groups are not in the mainstream of Lutheran-Calvinist-Wesleyan theology, yet they clearly emerged from Protestant roots and carry some semblance of the Protestant tradition in their monotheism, ways of worship, moral perspectives, and veneration of Jesus. Unity has teachings similar to Christian Science, but with a greater diversity of religious beliefs among its followers. Like the Society of Friends, Unity emphasizes the "inner light" and communing with Spirit in silence. Like the Unitarian-Universalists, Unity believes in rational thinking about religion, but Unity also places emphasis on contemplation of the spiritual meaning of the Bible.
Unity was founded by a married couple, Charles and Myrtle Fillmore, in Kansas City, Missouri. When Myrtle became seriously ill with tuberculosis, the Fillmores began to investigate Christian Science and New Thought. The turning point for Myrtle was a lecture in 1886, at which she was deeply moved by the idea, "I am a child of God and I cannot inherit sickness." Myrtle had been conditioned by her parents and other relatives to believe that she was genetically susceptible to tuberculosis. Adopting the viewpoint that her true inheritance was from God, she rejected the belief that she could inherit illness and began to systematically pray and meditate for healing. Her health improved significantly and she began to pray for neighbors and acquaintances.
Charles Fillmore had originally been somewhat skeptical about this idea of a spiritual science of healing, but as he saw results in Myrtle’s life and in the lives of others, he began to investigate. His search no doubt was partly motivated by his own ailments which included a hip disease, a shriveled leg and accompanying chronic pain. After attending lectures by prominent metaphysical healers of the time, he found that there were common points among different teachers, but he also noticed a range of theoretical ideas that was bewildering. He finally decided that if he was spirit and God was spirit, there must be some way to communicate. So in an attempt to receive an experience of God, Charles Fillmore began to practice sitting in the silence, using all the prayer and meditation practices he could find. As a result of his prayer discipline, Charles began to experience greater peace, relief from his chronic pain and a feeling of energy. His leg also began to grow stronger and eventually it filled out and grew and he was able to discard his leg brace. More importantly to him, Charles began to receive spiritual guidance in his dreams and inspiration to teach and preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ from a metaphysical and scientific perspective.
The Fillmores started a prayer group that eventually grew into what is now known as Silent Unity. Silent Unity has received thousands, if not millions of letters over the years, testifying to healing, greater prosperity, improved relationships and other answered prayers. The Fillmores started a school to teach the Bible, prayer and metaphysics that eventually became a center of spiritual education for Unity students and for ministerial candidates.
Today Unity is a global movement of prayer and spiritual education encompassing ministries on every continent. The Unity Movement has two guiding institutions: Unity School of Christianity and the Association of Unity Churches. Unity School of Christianity was the original headquarters and it is located in Unity Village, Missouri, near Kansas City. The Association of Unity Churches was formed as an organization to develop and serve ministries. Unity School still has a widespread ministry of prayer, publishing, spiritual retreats and education. The Association and Unity School work together on some projects such as ministerial education and they function separately in other ways.