When learning that I am a Unity minister, will often ask me, “What is Unity?” At Unity of Chautauqua, our short answer is: Unity is a positive, practical approach to Christianity based on the teachings of Jesus and the power of prayer. Unity honors the universal truths in all religions and offers uplifting resources to help people of all faiths apply spiritual principles in their daily lives.
Unity grew out of Transcendentalism and became part of the New Thought movement. Unity may be best known for its Daily Word devotional which was first published in 1924 and is now translated into four languages, read in more than 100 countries with a subscriber base of approximately 400,000. In 2024 Unity purchased Spirituality & Health and integrated it with the 135-year old Unity magazine. The Unity Prayer Ministry, also known as Silent Unity, has continuously prayed with people of all faiths worldwide, beginning in 1889 in person and by written correspondence. Silent Unity offers 24/7 prayer support and receives millions of prayer requests each year by letter, phone, email and social media.
The Unity School of Christianity was founded in Kansas City, Missouri, in 1889 by Charles Fillmore (1854–1948) and Myrtle Fillmore (1845–1931) after Myrtle used prayer and meditation over a two-year period and was cured of tuberculosis. Wanting to learn more about spiritual principles, the Fillmore's studied the teachings of world religions and the links between science and religion. They were influenced by Dr. E. B. Weeks, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Emma Curtis Hopkins, Mary Baker Eddy (the founder of Christian Science) and Zen Buddhism. Unity emphasizes healing by spiritual means, but it does not reject or resist medical treatments.
After World War I, Unity Village, which became a 1,200-acre incorporated town, was developed 15 miles southeast of Kansas City, beginning with the purchase of a farm. It is the headquarters for ministerial and spiritual development education, retreats, special events, prayer and publishing. You can discover more about Unity at www.unity.org. In practice, Unity blends teachings from Christianity, Eastern philosophies, and metaphysical thought. While we honor the teachings of Jesus Christ as a model of spiritual mastery, we see him as an example of divine potential rather than an exception to it. Jesus is revered as a Wayshower—one who fully realized his divine nature and demonstrated the power of spiritual law in human form. T he Bible is honored as a sacred text, but it is interpreted metaphysically rather than literally. Unity readers seek deeper symbolic meanings in biblical stories, often understanding them as allegories of the soul’s evolution and inner transformation.
At its core, Unity teaches that God is not a distant, anthropomorphic being but rather an omnipresent, omniscient, and benevolent force or principle that permeates all existence. This divine presence, often described as "Spirit" or "Divine Mind," exists within every person. Consequently, we hold that all individuals are inherently divine and capable of expressing God’s qualities— such as love, wisdom, strength, and peace—through their thoughts, words, and actions. Unity has an emphasis on the creative power of mind. We believe that cultivating an awareness of our thoughts and feelings, accepting our humanity, and nurturing ourselves by cultivating constructive and loving thoughts, that we then bring about healing, peace and overall well-being into our lives and into our world.
Prayer in Unity takes the form known as affirmative prayer. Instead of beseeching or supplicating affirmative prayer involves affirming spiritual truths and the realization of desired outcomes in alignment with divine principles. In Mark 11:24 Jesus says, “Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” So, a Unity prayer might affirm, “I am whole, healthy, and strong.” We pray not to change God, but to change us – to renew our minds. This way we align ourselves with the ever-present energy f lowing in the Universe. We pray not to God or for God, as something separate from us, but from that sacred presence which is our very essence.
Unity is both a spiritual path and a way of life. We offer a hopeful, empowering message that encourages individuals to live consciously, love generously, and realize their spiritual potential. By focusing on unity rather than division, love rather than fear, and spiritual principle rather than dogma, Unity provides a welcoming spiritual home for many seeking a deeper connection to the divine within themselves and in the world around them.
*Originally published in the Chautauqua Gazette 8-11-25*