Interesting Church I have stumbled upon

[K-Gun]

Here are their 5 basic teachings:

1) There is only One Presence and One Power in the universe and in my life: God the Good, omnipotent.
2) The Spirit of God indwells every person. "Christ in you, the hope of glory." - Col. 1:27
3) We create our experience of the world through the activity of our thinking. Everything in the manifest realm has its beginning in thought.
4) Prayer and meditation are our daily practices for connection with God's loving presence.
5) Understanding these principles is not enough - we seek to live them in every area of our lives.

Also interesting to note, “We believe in the innate goodness of all people ("original virtue") and that we all have a great untapped potential within us waiting to be called upon.”

Does anyone have any knowledge or thoughts about Unity Church?

http://www.unitybuffalo.org/

http://www.unity.org/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unity_Church

[Green Lantern]

Omnipotent?
You just lost Pete and anEin.

[K-Gun]

Omnipotent?
You just lost Pete and anEin.

For this church, God knows all because God is all things. God isn't separate from the universe, God is the universe.

[Green Lantern]

God knows all is, Omniscience. Omnipotent is all-powerful.

[K-Gun]

God knows all is, Omniscience. Omnipotent is all-powerful.

yeah, I know, my mistake. They also think God is omniscient. For them, saying that God is omnipotent doesn't mean God can reverse the spin of the earth like superman to go back in time, but rather that all the power that exists in the universe exists because of God.

[Green Lantern]

yeah, I know, my mistake. They also think God is omniscient. For them, saying that God is omnipotent doesn't mean God can reverse the spin of the earth like superman to go back in time, but rather that all the power that exists in the universe exists because of God.

Well, if they do not mention Allah, Moses, or Jesus, they sound closer to Buddhists.

[K-Gun]

Well, if they do not mention Allah, Moses, or Jesus, they sound closer to Buddhists.

They are Christian, but don't necessarily hold to standard fundie ways of thinking about Christ and what it means to be Christian. Yet they do practice Buddhist meditation.

The Church has no dogma, only teaching principles.

[Green Lantern]

They are Christian, but don't necessarily hold to standard fundie ways of thinking about Christ and what it means to be Christian. Yet they do practice Buddhist meditation.

The Church has no dogma, only teaching principles.

I actually find it insulting that Christianity does not have a big mystical sect like Judaism and Islam. What are pot-smoking Christians to do?

[K-Gun]

I actually find it insulting that Christianity does not have a big mystical sect like Judaism and Islam. What are pot-smoking Christians to do?

I'm pretty sure they were burnt at the stake a long time ago.

[35Pete]

Omnipotent?
You just lost Pete and anEin.

Is this an ecumenical church?

Maybe Matthew could answer that.

Sounds to me like a bunch of faiths compromising their beliefs for a "go along - get along" mentality.

That's as bad or worse then the existing organized schemes IMO.

[nehemiah]

we got some unitarians in philadelphia.

they have indie rock concerts in their basement. saw ted leo there. great show. also saw cat power up in the sanctuary. that was pretty kewl, too.

[Mouldsie]

Can this church help me untap my potential as a 6'2'' 220lb NFL player?

[Meathead]

Sounds to me like a bunch of faiths compromising their beliefs for a "go along - get along" mentality.
do me a favor and back that up with an analysis of the core beliefs stated here

[anEinherjer]

Meh. You lost me at "One Presence". :)

[35Pete]

do me a favor and back that up with an analysis of the core beliefs stated here

I was asking if it was ecumenical. If it is, then that's pretty much what those melting pot religions are all about, right?

I am wondering if this is a flavor of unitarianism.

So. Until I find that out then request denied. :D

[K-Gun]

Is this an ecumenical church?

Maybe Matthew could answer that.

Sounds to me like a bunch of faiths compromising their beliefs for a "go along - get along" mentality.

That's as bad or worse then the existing organized schemes IMO.

Why is it that taking spiritual traditions from different cultures and religions is a bad thing? The few denominations that I know of that do this share one common thread, a rejection of all dogma. How could that possibly be bad?

But I think this is a Christian religion, its primary text is the Bible (interpreted very liberally.)

[TigerJ]

They sound as if they could be connected with the Unity School of Christianity which publishes a devotional guide called The Daily Word, not to be confused with Our Daily Bread, published by the Radio Bible Class. If so they are theological cousins of Christian Science. The Unity School of Christianity and Christian Science both begin with a monistic view of reality rather than the traditional western dualistic philosophical base. That is, they believe there not separate spiritual and material realities. There is only a spiritual reality and the material world is illusion. In Christian Science, where there is a strong focus on healing, healing is arrived at by successfully experiencing the truth, that the material world, including illness is all illusion. They share some characteristics with second century gnosticism, minus the mythology that accompanies gnosticism. God is the only reality. The material world is illusory, and spiritual fulfillment comes from breaking through the illusion to realize oneness with God. There are also similarities to eastern religion, Hinduism, and particularly Buddhism, where enlightenment/spiritual fulfillment comes from realizing our oneness with God. The Eastern concept of God is called the Brahamin or the oneness of the universe, theough the Brahamin does not possess many of the characteristics of personal identity that most westerners associate with God.

They may define themselves as Christian, but they do not share the basic doctrines that all of the traditionally Christian denominations, not just "fundies" consider definitive for the Christian faith: the triune nature of God, Jesus as the Son of God is a separate person, but one in substance with the Father. The Holy Spirit has personhood. I'm no trying to be narrow minded here. You can choose to beelieve what you want. I'm just trying to give you some objective information about how this group relates to other religious groups in terms of its philosophy and doctrine.

[Mr. Politenessman]

I am wondering if this is a flavor of unitarianism.

So. Until I find that out then request denied. :D

Not really flavor, though there are some subtle undertones of liberal religion.

The bit about universal virtue sounds unitarian.

[K-Gun]

They sound as if they could be connected with the Unity School of Christianity which publishes a devotional guide called The Daily Word, not to be confused with Our Daily Bread, published by the Radio Bible Class. If so they are theological cousins of Christian Science. The Unity School of Christianity and Christian Science both begin with a monistic view of reality rather than the traditional western dualistic philosophical base. That is, they believe there not separate spiritual and material realities. There is only a spiritual reality and the material world is illusion. In Christian Science, where there is a strong focus on healing, healing is arrived at by successfully experiencing the truth, that the material world, including illness is all illusion. They share some characteristics with second century gnosticism, minus the mythology that accompanies gnosticism. God is the only reality. The material world is illusory, and spiritual fulfillment comes from breaking through the illusion to realize oneness with God. There are also similarities to eastern religion, Hinduism, and particularly Buddhism, where enlightenment/spiritual fulfillment comes from realizing our oneness with God. The Eastern concept of God is called the Brahamin or the oneness of the universe, theough the Brahamin does not possess many of the characteristics of personal identity that most westerners associate with God.

They may define themselves as Christian, but they do not share the basic doctrines that all of the traditionally Christian denominations, not just "fundies" consider definitive for the Christian faith: the triune nature of God, Jesus as the Son of God is a separate person, but one in substance with the Father. The Holy Spirit has personhood. I'm no trying to be narrow minded here. You can choose to beelieve what you want. I'm just trying to give you some objective information about how this group relates to other religious groups in terms of its philosophy and doctrine.

I happen to be a monist, which is why they are attractive to me. I wouldn't say that matter is an illusion at all, I would just say that it is an epiphenomenon of energy (or spirit if you will.) Matter comes from spirit, and it can be returned to spirit. In a technical sense it is not its own substance b/c substance is unchanging. Matter's unchanging form is energy. I believe there is a ton of physics to support me.

Unity is also panentheist, not to be confused with pantheist. Panentheism says that God is transcendent from the world and at once present in all things.

I think it is interesting if they do not uphold a triune God. As far as I am concerned, our essential form is not of the material world, and everything in the material world changes. Nothing that changes is a substance. There is only one substance, God. IMO, God is infinite spirit.

In the end, when talking about traditonal Christianity, you have to ask yourself one thing. Is the Bible inerrant? I do not believe that it is. Imo, personal experience with God is more powerful than words that men wrote. I do believe they were inspired by God, but that the Bible is not the end all be all word on spirituality. Your conscience, discernment and experience with the divine shoul have the final say. ANd I think taht is why Unity Church refuses to hold dogma.

[sukie]

So let me get this... If I create a church... publish my 5 main points of belief... and have people attend Sunday masses at my house.. (1pm and 4pm services) I can get a tax free ride?

[anEinherjer]

Sukie, thanks for the idea. I knew there was SOME reason I came back into this thread....

[sukie]

Again he took the cup... blew off the frothy head and said.... Take this all of you and drink from it... This is the cup of my "BUD"... The "Bud" of everlasting life... Do this in memory of me."BELCH!

[ckg68]

I actually find it insulting that Christianity does not have a big mystical sect like Judaism and Islam. What are pot-smoking Christians to do?

Well,they can't put up signs like Bong Hits 4 Jesus,like that kid did a few years ago during the Olympics...and who just lost a case in that matter before the Supreme Court.

[TigerJ]

So let me get this... If I create a church... publish my 5 main points of belief... and have people attend Sunday masses at my house.. (1pm and 4pm services) I can get a tax free ride?

That's essentially what L. Ron Hubbard did. (The Church of Scientology)

[Green Lantern]

So let me get this... If I create a church... publish my 5 main points of belief... and have people attend Sunday masses at my house.. (1pm and 4pm services) I can get a tax free ride?

...and you get to perform marriages to boot.

[35Pete]

Again he took the cup... blew off the frothy head and said.... Take this all of you and drink from it... This is the cup of my "BUD"... The "Bud" of everlasting life... Do this in memory of me."BELCH!

"Sir. The people listening to your sermon. They have neither drank nor eaten for days. Shall we send them away?....Faith my son. Bring me 2 cases of beer and five bags of Doritos".

The Church Of The Neverlasting Lager?

[TigerJ]

I happen to be a monist, which is why they are attractive to me. I wouldn't say that matter is an illusion at all, I would just say that it is an epiphenomenon of energy (or spirit if you will.) Matter comes from spirit, and it can be returned to spirit. In a technical sense it is not its own substance b/c substance is unchanging. Matter's unchanging form is energy. I believe there is a ton of physics to support me.

Unity is also panentheist, not to be confused with pantheist. Panentheism says that God is transcendent from the world and at once present in all things.

I think it is interesting if they do not uphold a triune God. As far as I am concerned, our essential form is not of the material world, and everything in the material world changes. Nothing that changes is a substance. There is only one substance, God. IMO, God is infinite spirit.

In the end, when talking about traditonal Christianity, you have to ask yourself one thing. Is the Bible inerrant? I do not believe that it is. Imo, personal experience with God is more powerful than words that men wrote. I do believe they were inspired by God, but that the Bible is not the end all be all word on spirituality. Your conscience, discernment and experience with the divine shoul have the final say. ANd I think taht is why Unity Church refuses to hold dogma.

Well, as I said, what you choose to believe is your business. If the Unity Church fits your system of beliefs, you'll probably be happy there. I happen to be a dualist, and my experience with God is in harmony with scripture, but I'm not you.

[K-Gun]

Well, as I said, what you choose to believe is your business. If the Unity Church fits your system of beliefs, you'll probably be happy there. I happen to be a dualist, and my experience with God is in harmony with scripture, but I'm not you.

In harmony with Roman scripture, perhaps.

[Meathead]

Why is it that taking spiritual traditions from different cultures and religions is a bad thing? The few denominations that I know of that do this share one common thread, a rejection of all dogma. How could that possibly be bad?
good point but i dont think theyre necessarily taking anything from other religions. it might only look that way because we the general american public view it through our christian filter, our programming. rather myopic and arrogant when you think about it but you can say that about the majority of religious cultures

as ive studied comparative metaphysics ive noticed the same constructs repeat over and over. its more of a matter of which ones you choose and the gradients of shade in how you interpret them that defines the different religions

some traditions include things others dont, some put spins on them that they find reason to see profound differences, but most of it is drawn from a handful of precepts that repeat

i believe the common factors define a framework for truth. we are essentially respecting the serious lifes work of spiritual laborers while factoring out the frail human bias we know always crops up

therefore seeing the common factors is superior to emphasizing the differences. more is to be gained. we dont ignore differences but the sweetest wisdom lives in the common

[TigerJ]

In harmony with Roman scripture, perhaps.

I am at peace about what I believe. The Christian Bible is in harmony with my experience of God. The New Testament was produced while the Roman Empire was in it's heyday, but to me that does not make it "Roman scripture."