“A Metaphysical Healing Movement”
What were the main influences on the development of Unity?
The evolution of ideas is one with the evolution of the universe. The history of any movement can be seen as a link in a chain of events going all the way back to creation. However, the most proximate links to Unity - the greatest influences on the Fillmores - were Transcendentalism, Christian Science, and New Thought. Christian Science and New Thought both emerged from the work of a mind-healer named Phineas P. Quimby.
In Transcendentalism, especially Emerson, Unity found the ideas of the Divine Self in humanity, the Law of Compensation, Divine Mind as the ultimate reality, and an aversion to religious ritual. Emerson’s writings also suggested the value of sitting in silent meditation, although he probably derived that idea from the Quakers.
From Quimby, through Christian Science and New Thought, Unity received the principles of metaphysical healing and some of the methods of applying those principles. Quimby also advocated the idea that God is unchanging Principle of Good. Finally, it was Quimby who advocated the principle of a Christ-Self in humanity, distinct but not separate from what he called “the natural man.” These teachings are part of all the movements that descended from Quimby’s work.
Quimby’s great discovery was that false beliefs can cause physical ailments and that changing beliefs can cure ailments. We can “catch” false beliefs from clergy, doctors, and well-intentioned friends. He taught that each individual has a mental atmosphere, and those atmospheres mingle.
He came to understand that knowledge of the Truth is the ultimate cure for any illness. He would often say, “The Truth is the cure.”
An implication of Q’s work that has been worked out more fully by later teachers in this tradition is that the creative power of mind can be used for prosperity and success. We bring creative possibilities into expression through the mind; “whatever you can conceive & believe, you can achieve.”
Some of the main principles taught by Jesus that are the foundation of the metaphysical healing movement are:
1. The Kingdom of God is within you.
2. Seek and you will find; seek first the kingdom, and all things will be added.
3. An attitude of prayer and meditation: Father, thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
4. The Father lets his sun shine and rain fall on everyone, regardless of our human labels of “good and the bad.” God is our Father: Omnipresent Principle of Unconditional Love. To be Godlike, love your neighbor as yourself and love even your enemies.
5. If God feeds the birds and clothes the fields, will he not take care of you? God is Omnipresent Principle of Supply.
6. The Universe operates according to Law: Give & it will be given to you; forgive and you will be forgiven; judge not and you will not be judged.
7. Your thoughts and beliefs are causative: believe that you have received and it will be done for you.
Science has discovered that many of the ideas espoused by Quimby are true. Medical science has proven the “placebo effect” - beliefs do cause ailments and change of beliefs can cure. Many schools of psychology claim that we have a higher creative mind, which they call the unconscious or subconscious. Jungians claim there is evidence of a collective consciousness to which we all have access. Many psychologists believe that this higher mind contains a healing wisdom. Some medical researchers are convinced that cultivation of love has therapeutic effects on both mind and body. Many highly regarded physicists have agreed with Sir James Jeans’ observation that the universe is more like a great mind than a material machine.
What are the differences between Unity and Christian Science?
Unity’s teachings about the nature of God are practically identical with those of Christian Science. Unity’s teaching about the nature of humanity is very similar to those of Christian Science, but with more emphasis on evolution of consciousness and a fuller explanation of the phases and workings of consciousness.
In Christian Science, Mrs. Eddy’s teachings are accepted as absolute authority, while Unity students are left free to take from the teachings of the Fillmores and others whatever makes sense to them and whatever works for them. Unity students are left free to explore ideas and methods other than Unity writings.
What are the differences between Unity and Unitarianism?
Unitarianism and Unity are alike, in that they are both “free-thinking,” progressive, un-dogmatic, and concerned to improve human existence. Emerson was once a Unitarian minister and had a great influence upon Unity. However, Unity’s emphasis is on practical spiritual principles and teaches definite ideas and methods for spiritual development. Unitarianism tends to be politically oriented, while Unity, as an organization, tends to avoid taking political stances. Unity has much more emphasis upon the teachings of Jesus and Bible interpretation than does Unitarianism.
What is “metaphysics”?
Metaphysics is the quest to understand the ultimate reality of the universe, i.e. the principles and laws underlying the physical universe. “Meta” means “beyond,” so “metaphysics” means “beyond the physical,” not in the sense of outside of and separate from the physical, but in the sense of invisibly underlying the physical.
Physics has become more and more “metaphysical” as its knowledge has developed. Thus there are now physicists who say the universe is like a great mind, physical events are relative to the observer, and even that events do not occur until they are observed.
What are the “metaphysical principles of healing”?
1. The ultimate reality of the universe is mind; therefore all causes are ultimately ideas in mind. We call the Universal Mind “God.”
2. God is the Principle of Good, everywhere present. To say it another way, Wholeness is an essential quality of the universe.
3. Since Wholeness is ultimate reality or Truth, all illness, at root, must be caused by false belief.
4. Metaphysical healing is a process of changing individual mind from false belief in illness to knowing the Truth of wholeness. As Quimby said, “The Truth is the cure.” As Jesus said, “You shall know the Truth and the Truth will set you free.”
How can one apply the metaphysical healing principles?
Metaphysical healing is an effect of changing consciousness. Any method that shifts your mind from belief in illness to belief in health or to knowing the Truth, will work.
People have been healed of practically every kind of illness through belief. In practically every scientific medical study, a significant percentage of people have experienced healing by taking a placebo. In other words, they were healed not by a drug but by their belief that the drug would heal them. However, “belief” is more subtle than most people realize. Knowing the Truth is also more subtle than reading something out of a textbook.
“Hoping to believe” is not believing. “Wanting to believe” is not believing. Even “consciously affirming the Truth” is not believing.
In other words, developing a consciousness of Truth, a healing consciousness, takes work. It is like learning to play a musical instrument, regularly exercising, or doing mathematics. It is like the way to Carnegie Hall: practice, practice, practice.
Unity has always used the term “prayer” to describe work of building a healing consciousness or “wholeness consciousness.” Unity prayer is meditation upon God rather than petitioning God. Healing consciousness is built through thinking about the true nature of God and silent receptivity to God. What we think of God is not identical to the old ideas of God. God is not a king or judge sitting upon a throne somewhere in space. God is omnipresent Spirit. God is omnipresent principle of life, intelligence, and substance. God does not punish people for their sins by sending sickness. God is, rather, the very presence of the principle of life and wholeness which we can access through mind, and which does the work of healing in all cases, regardless of method.
Metaphysical treatment, or prayer, begins and ends with God.
God is the principle of good, everywhere present. God is the principle of life, everywhere present. God is the principle of wholeness, everywhere present.
There is no absence of good, life, or wholeness anywhere in the universe, nor at any point in you. At every point in you, good, life, and wholeness are present. God is there. There is no absence of good, life, or wholeness in anyone you may hold in mind. God is there.
There is no obstacle in your mind or body that can obstruct the flow of God life in you. There is no obstacle in your mind or body that can obstruct the manifestation of God’s wholeness in you.
You are here and now the manifestation of Divine Life, Intelligence, and Substance. You are here and now the manifestation of God. That is the Truth and you shall know the Truth, and the Truth will set you free.