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The Story of Unity
Charles R. Fillmore, grandson of the founders of Unity, calls The Story of Unity "both a factual and fascinating account of how a courageous American couple gave the world a new practical approach to Christianity at a time when it was badly needed."
This updated edition includes the original fifteen chapters relating the life and teachings of Charles and Myrtle Fillmore, founders of the Unity movement. Photographs and a chronology have been added to further enhance the text.
The Unity movement has experienced a steady growth for more than a century. Today, as this book accurately relates, Unity's approach strives to be psychologically healthy, scientifically sound, intellectually challenging, and spiritually satisfying.
This updated edition includes the original fifteen chapters relating the life and teachings of Charles and Myrtle Fillmore, founders of the Unity movement. Photographs and a chronology have been added to further enhance the text.
The Unity movement has experienced a steady growth for more than a century. Today, as this book accurately relates, Unity's approach strives to be psychologically healthy, scientifically sound, intellectually challenging, and spiritually satisfying.
274 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1978
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
September 15, 2024
THE POET AND WRITER PROVIDES A FAMOUS INTRODUCTION TO THE UNITY SCHOOL
James Dillet Freeman (1912- 2003) was a poet and a minister of the Unity Church; he wrote many other books such as 'Once upon a Christmas,' 'What God Is Like,' 'The Case for Reincarnation,' etc.
He notes that Charles Fillmore [co-founder of Unity with his wife Myrtle] "had always been interested in religion, though his approach to it was an unorthodox one... His approach was from a philosophic standpoint. Charles Fillmore was born to yearn after God... He had an instinctive urge to seek out the meaning of life and he was the kind of person who had to find the meaning in his own soul. He had to find God for himself." (Pg. 41)
He points out, "we know that Charles Fillmore also had a knowledge of such teachings as Buddhism, Brahmanism, Theosophy, and Rosicrucianism, as well as Christianity... To this day when Unity School receives a letter from someone who wants to argue about his belief, there is still only one answer: 'We see the good in all religions and we want everyone to feel free to find the Truth for himself wherever he may be led to find it.' Unity does not stress the differences, but the points of agreement." (Pg. 42)
Myrtle Fillmore was healed after hearing a lecture by E.B. Weeks, after which he realized and affirmed, "I am a child of God and therefore I do not inherit sickness." (Pg. 44-45) He observes, "The Fillmores did not deliberately set out to found an organization. Mrs. Fillmore set out first to find healing for herself. Having found that, she wanted to share her discovery with others and she found that people wanted that discovery as much as she wanted to give it to them. People, hearing of the change in her, came to her and asked her for help." (Pg. 49)
He asserts, "The Fillmores were never students of Mary Baker Eddy. For their inspiration, the Fillmores had gone, as all great teachers do, direct to God." (Pg. 58) He quotes Charles Fillmore, who wrote, "We have studied many isms, many cults. People of every religion under the sun claim that we either belong to them or have borrowed the best part of our teaching from them. We have borrowed the best from all religions, that is the reason we are called Unity... We studied Christian Science... We were also classed as New Thought people, Mental Scientists, Theosophists, and so on, but none of these sufficiently emphasized the higher attributes of man, and we avoided any close affiliation with them....
"Unity is not a sect... Unity is the Truth that is taught in all religions, simplified and systematized so that anyone can understand and apply it. Students of Unity do not find it necessary to sever their church affiliations." (Pg. 60)
He states that the Fillmores "called [Unity] a school rather than a church. The Unity movement is a religious movement and may be thought of as a church, since it does all the work that churches do, but it is a different kind of church from those of traditional Christianity. It... crosses all church lines. It does not ask anyone... whether he is a member of a Unity church or not... It does not ask him to subscribe to a creed or to perform certain rites or practices. Unity leaves people free to practice their religion at whatever level they have come to, for it feels that there is good in all religions." (Pg. 105)
He says, "Unity is not a proselytizing religion... Many persons get so interested in the Unity attitude that they decide to attend classes and services held in Unity churches; but if they are members of a denomination and prefer to remain in it, Unity hopes that it can make their religion of greater value to them." (Pg. 173) He adds that while the Fillmores "from time to time ... advocated vegetarianism... [as] more humane and more healthful... the Fillmores left their students free to accept the teaching or not, as each felt led." (Pg. 183-184)
He also admits that Charles expressed "the hope that I shall with Jesus attain eternal life in the body... I am very serious about the matter... Because none of the followers of Jesus has attained the victory over this terror of humanity [death] does not prove that it cannot be done..." (Pg. 200)
At age ninety-two, Fillmore wrote, "Some of my friends think that it is unwise for me to make this public statement of my conviction that I shall overcome death, that if I fail it will be detrimental to the Unity cause. I am not going to admit any such possibility." (Pg. 211)
This book is perhaps one of the best introductions to the Unity School that is available.
James Dillet Freeman (1912- 2003) was a poet and a minister of the Unity Church; he wrote many other books such as 'Once upon a Christmas,' 'What God Is Like,' 'The Case for Reincarnation,' etc.
He notes that Charles Fillmore [co-founder of Unity with his wife Myrtle] "had always been interested in religion, though his approach to it was an unorthodox one... His approach was from a philosophic standpoint. Charles Fillmore was born to yearn after God... He had an instinctive urge to seek out the meaning of life and he was the kind of person who had to find the meaning in his own soul. He had to find God for himself." (Pg. 41)
He points out, "we know that Charles Fillmore also had a knowledge of such teachings as Buddhism, Brahmanism, Theosophy, and Rosicrucianism, as well as Christianity... To this day when Unity School receives a letter from someone who wants to argue about his belief, there is still only one answer: 'We see the good in all religions and we want everyone to feel free to find the Truth for himself wherever he may be led to find it.' Unity does not stress the differences, but the points of agreement." (Pg. 42)
Myrtle Fillmore was healed after hearing a lecture by E.B. Weeks, after which he realized and affirmed, "I am a child of God and therefore I do not inherit sickness." (Pg. 44-45) He observes, "The Fillmores did not deliberately set out to found an organization. Mrs. Fillmore set out first to find healing for herself. Having found that, she wanted to share her discovery with others and she found that people wanted that discovery as much as she wanted to give it to them. People, hearing of the change in her, came to her and asked her for help." (Pg. 49)
He asserts, "The Fillmores were never students of Mary Baker Eddy. For their inspiration, the Fillmores had gone, as all great teachers do, direct to God." (Pg. 58) He quotes Charles Fillmore, who wrote, "We have studied many isms, many cults. People of every religion under the sun claim that we either belong to them or have borrowed the best part of our teaching from them. We have borrowed the best from all religions, that is the reason we are called Unity... We studied Christian Science... We were also classed as New Thought people, Mental Scientists, Theosophists, and so on, but none of these sufficiently emphasized the higher attributes of man, and we avoided any close affiliation with them....
"Unity is not a sect... Unity is the Truth that is taught in all religions, simplified and systematized so that anyone can understand and apply it. Students of Unity do not find it necessary to sever their church affiliations." (Pg. 60)
He states that the Fillmores "called [Unity] a school rather than a church. The Unity movement is a religious movement and may be thought of as a church, since it does all the work that churches do, but it is a different kind of church from those of traditional Christianity. It... crosses all church lines. It does not ask anyone... whether he is a member of a Unity church or not... It does not ask him to subscribe to a creed or to perform certain rites or practices. Unity leaves people free to practice their religion at whatever level they have come to, for it feels that there is good in all religions." (Pg. 105)
He says, "Unity is not a proselytizing religion... Many persons get so interested in the Unity attitude that they decide to attend classes and services held in Unity churches; but if they are members of a denomination and prefer to remain in it, Unity hopes that it can make their religion of greater value to them." (Pg. 173) He adds that while the Fillmores "from time to time ... advocated vegetarianism... [as] more humane and more healthful... the Fillmores left their students free to accept the teaching or not, as each felt led." (Pg. 183-184)
He also admits that Charles expressed "the hope that I shall with Jesus attain eternal life in the body... I am very serious about the matter... Because none of the followers of Jesus has attained the victory over this terror of humanity [death] does not prove that it cannot be done..." (Pg. 200)
At age ninety-two, Fillmore wrote, "Some of my friends think that it is unwise for me to make this public statement of my conviction that I shall overcome death, that if I fail it will be detrimental to the Unity cause. I am not going to admit any such possibility." (Pg. 211)
This book is perhaps one of the best introductions to the Unity School that is available.
May 15, 2019
Makes me wish I’d known them
I wasn’t sure what to expect from this book. I read it as part of a History of New Thought class, and I’m so glad I did. It never felt like required reading. It brought the Philmores to life for me in a way that only the most passionate history books can do. It crystallized what Unity is for me, and made me want to read more books about it. Can there be any higher praise for a book about a given subject? If so, I know of none.
I wasn’t sure what to expect from this book. I read it as part of a History of New Thought class, and I’m so glad I did. It never felt like required reading. It brought the Philmores to life for me in a way that only the most passionate history books can do. It crystallized what Unity is for me, and made me want to read more books about it. Can there be any higher praise for a book about a given subject? If so, I know of none.
February 15, 2018
A beautifully written book about the lives of two people that were truly committed to the movement they started.
August 21, 2012
The fascinating story of Myrtle and Charles Fillmore the Founders of the Unity spiritual movement. I was greatly impressed by the inspiring lives these two lived. Their dedication to teaching, healing and enriching the community for the betterment of the planet (as opposed to personal gain) was truly beautiful. It was also wonderful to hear about their personal experiences healing themselves and others through the power of affirmative prayer. I have been practicing the Unity principals with the spiritual community here in Hawaii and have seen and experienced healing first hand. I highly recommend this work to anyone who desires a deeper understanding of the roots of this movement.
November 1, 2010
I love Unity. This book is a good foundation for learning how this church came into being. But it is not written clearly. Great information though.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews