Unity is a practical, progressive approach to a spiritual based life. Using the teachings of Jesus and other master teachers, we can shift our mindsets to create the life we want to lead. In Unity, we talk about setting intentions and know the Universal Power of God, Love, Peace and Joy comes rushing in to support us. We practice affirmative prayer knowing that whatever is in our heart’s desire is already done in the Mind of God. Unity recognizes the universal truths in all religious traditions and respects your individual right to follow the spiritual path of your choice.
God
We may refer to God as Spirit, Oneness, Divine Mind, Principle, Life, Love, Light, Law and Substance. We know that we have our Being in God and that we are not separate from God for wherever we are, God is. God is not a what, but rather an experience in the Divine Expression of the Universe. God is not a being or person having life, intelligence, love or power but rather is that unchangeable Principle of life, intelligence, power and love.
Humankind was created as God’s reflection:
In the divine image God created them;
Female and male, God made them. (GEN 1:27 The Inclusive Bible)
The Nature of Humankind
You are an individual, eternal expression of God. Your natural essence is divine and therefore inherently good. Your purpose is to express your divine potential as demonstrated by Jesus and other master teachers. The more you become aware of your divine nature, the more fully God expresses in and through your life.
Our Teachings
God is Spirit, the loving source of all that is. God is the one power, all good, everywhere present, all wisdom. God is divine energy, continually creating, expressing, and sustaining all creation. In God, we live and move and have our being. In Unity, some other ways we speak of God are Life, Light, Love, Substance, Principle, Law, and Universal Mind.
Jesus
We see Jesus as the Divine Example, not the Divine Exception. We often refer to Jesus as the Way Shower and as our model of living the enlightened path. Through learning the teachings credited to Jesus, we strive to emulate the Christ nature, not in perfection of the physical world but in the spiritual realm and in connection to our God-self. Metaphysically, Jesus represents every person who first realizes that they are more than a body or a personality. Jesus represents the wisdom and understanding to bring forth the Christ potential in each one of us. Christ is our spiritual unity with the Infinite and recognition of our True Divine Nature.
The Bible
The Bible serves as an allegory of the unfolding of our Divine Nature. It is the story of our thoughts of separation from God and our hero’s journey back to God. We do not read the Bible as a literal interpretation but rather as a metaphysical one, the message beyond the physical words. The Bible continues to be a valuable spiritual resource for us as do many writings of master teachers. Unity does not have any one sacred doctrine that serves alone to show us the way.
Prayer and Meditation
Prayer and Meditation are the life-blood of Unity. We pray affirmative prayers acknowledging that which we seek is already done in the Mind of God. We release any thoughts or actions unlike love and that no longer serve us as we enter our sacred time and space with the God of our understanding and declare and affirm our Abundant Good. Prayer is an attitude of the heart, an energy source that places feet behind our words, “walking our talk.” A prayer with just words is like an empty vessel waiting to be filled but is not fulfilled with its true purpose. Prayer is an affirmation of Truth that eternally exists, but which has not yet come into consciousness. It comes into consciousness not by supplication but by affirmation. The Revealing Word. p. 152
Meditation is a practice of setting a conscious intention of becoming receptive to the Indwelling Message that awaits when we are still. Meditation allows the outer world to be still as we go inside and listen to the God of our Understanding. This may come through images or ideas or even words or simply a feeling. There is no right or wrong way to meditate. Many of us use walking meditations such as taking a walk in a garden, the woods, a labyrinth, or even sitting in the backyard and enjoying the sounds of nature, a babbling brook or the crispness of the wind. The purpose of Mediation is to still your mind so that you are receptive to Your Higher Good.
Honoring Diversity Within the Unity Movement
We recognize and honor the Divine within as the one common denominator that we share on our human journey. The living heart of Unity understands and manifests its support of this Divinity by recognizing there is inherent good in all people. Unity Worldwide Ministries, its members and affiliates, welcome with love all people in every form of God’s creation, regardless of how that creation presents itself. It is the intent that Unity organizations are inclusive and non-discriminatory. We honor all components that contribute to the diversity of community. We affirm and support Unity principles and programs that manifest diversity in our teachings, policies, buildings and within our communities. We are resolute in walking the course of human rights and social justice for all. Unity Worldwide Ministries—August 2016
5 Basic Unity Principles
We encourage you to explore and apply Unity teachings based on your own spiritual understanding. We believe this spiritual understanding is enhanced through positive prayer and meditation. The five basic ideas that make up the Unity belief system are:
- God is the source and creator of all. There is no other enduring power. God is good and present everywhere.
- We are spiritual beings, created in God’s image. The spirit of God lives within each person; therefore, all people are inherently good.
- We create our life experiences through our way of thinking.
- There is power in affirmative prayer, which we believe increases our awareness of God.
- Knowledge of these spiritual principles is not enough. We must live them.
Our History
Learn more about the history of Unity of Palm Harbor here.
We Are Here For You
To get to know us better and learn more about Unity, we welcome you to join us in person or online (youtube) at Unity of Palm Harbor, 1960 Tampa Road, Palm Harbor, Florida this Sunday at 11:00 am.
If you have specific questions, we invite you to call our office at 727-784-7911.
Rev. Tracey Quillen, Senior Minister
Rev. Marilyn Earhart, Assistant Minister
Luann MacMahon, Office Administrator