Myrtle and Charles Fillmore
What is Unity?
Unity is a global, inclusive, spiritual community with spiritual centers located all over the world.
Unity was founded in 1889 in Kansas City, Missouri, by Charles and Myrtle Fillmore (pictured here). After Mrs. Fillmore’s remarkable healing using prayer and affirmations, many friends became interested in how she accomplished this healing. Unity grew from small prayer circles in living rooms to the worldwide movement it is today.
Unity promotes an approach to living that supports health, prosperity, happiness, peace of mind, self-respect, and self-reliance. We teach that the supremacy of consciousness is the path to healing every aspect of our life, and we can actively engage consciousness through affirmative prayer and spiritual education.
Our ministry is free of discrimination on the basis of race, gender, age, creed, religion, national origin, ethnicity, physical disability, sexual orientation, and gender identity. Our sincere desire is to create a spiritually aware organization that is non-discriminatory and supports diversity.
We encourage you to explore and apply Unity teachings based on your own spiritual understanding.
Unity is Part of New Thought
New Thought serves as a unifying framework that encapsulates various progressive faith philosophies, emphasizing that there is a singular creative source underpinning all existence. This perspective asserts that everything that exists not only stems from but is also an integral part of this creative force. Additionally, it recognizes that the Universe, as a manifestation of this Infinite cause, operates according to a fundamental law of cause and effect.
The origins of New Thought can be traced back to influential figures and movements, notably Phineas Parkhurst Quimby, whose ideas contributed significantly to its formation. The Transcendentalist Movement, particularly Ralph Waldo Emerson's writings, as well as the teachings of Jesus and the philosophies of Plato, all converge on the vital notion that love is the supreme force of creation. This understanding of love as an empowering and transformative energy permeates the New Thought doctrine.
As New Thought has evolved, it has given rise to three main movements: Unity, Religious Science, and Divine Science. Each of these movements embraces the core tenets of New Thought while offering distinct interpretations and practices, fostering a rich diversity in how individuals can engage with spiritual principles in their lives. Through these teachings, practitioners are encouraged to explore their own beliefs and apply practical spiritual tools to enhance their personal and communal experiences.