Unity Cult

QUESTION: Unity cult - Why is it a cult?

ANSWER:

Unity is a church that derives its system of beliefs from the Unity School of Christianity founded by Charles and Myrtle Fillmore. It is rooted in the concepts of metaphysical or "divine" healing. Unity is considered a cult because of their beliefs and teachings that deviate significantly from the biblical truth about God, Jesus, Bible, sin and salvation. Heavily influenced by many other religions, Unity attempts to incorporate the best parts of all religions, cults, and beliefs. Additionally, it has many similarities with other cults arising in the mid-19th century such as Christian Science, although the teachings differ at various points.

The core Unity beliefs that make it a cult include:

• God is a principle, not a personal God, and the "force" of love in all people and things.
• Jesus the man represents the path toward a higher consciousness.
• Jesus the Christ is the universal love and wisdom within all of us - the perfection of consciousness - independent of religious beliefs.
• The Bible is not the inerrant Word of God nor the final authority.
• The fall of man is spiritual amnesia from his evolution toward the divine correctable by changing thought patterns from negative to positive thoughts, which is the process of salvation.
• There is no literal heaven or hell, but the heaven or hell created by a person's thoughts, words, and actions.
• Reincarnation is the means by which believers are regenerated for eternity.

It is clear from their core beliefs that Unity abandons many fundamental Christian tenets, thereby it is considered a cult to the truth of Christianity.