ERIC BUTTERWORTH

PAPERS (3014)

BOX 29 FOLDER 68

INTRODUCTION TO

UNITY OUTLINES:

LESSON 24: UNITY OF

THE SPIRIT

LESSON 2U — "UNITY OF THE SPIRIT"

OBJECTIVE: To give an outline of what Unity is doing and what itcan do as an influence on the world community, and what the individual can do and should do as a citizen of this community.

UNITY TEXT SOURCES: Chapt, 12, "LESSONS IN TRUTH" (Cady) Chapt. b, "JESUS CHRIST HEALS (Fillmore)

SCRIPTURE REFERENCES: Eph. 2: 1b$ John 12: 32; Matt. 5: 13-16:John 13: 17; Mark 16: 15>

JOINTS TO BE CONSIDERED: ______1. UNITY TEACHES THE FATHERHOOD OF GOD WHICH REVEALS THE BROTHERHOOD OF MAN AND ITS RESPONSIBILITIES. Such responsibilities may be ful­filled in part, and certainly in great power, through prayer for world conditions and leaders. But each student must also accept his responsibilities as a citizen of the world community.

2. UNITY IS AN 0PEN-3JDED RELIGION. Unity is not a crystallized teaching. Unity has not made a final interpretation of Truth. Unity believes that prayer should be used as research into Divine Mind s# that new revelations of Truth may be apprehended. Also Unity advo­cates open-mindedness to contributions of ideas of Truth and its application from the evolving body of man’s knowledge.

3. LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE. Finally, the chief emphasis of Unity is upon the application of the Jesus Christ teachings in daily living.The study of this course will have meaning to you only as you make practical application of what you have already learned. It is only through daily use cf what you already know that you continue to grow in understanding.

b. (A responsive service outlining and making firm the basic prin­ciples of Unity will be used prayerfully at the conclusion of this final lesson.)

QUESTIONS (Not to be written but to be considered in meditation)1. Why is Unity called "Practical Christianity?"^2. How are you going to proceed from this point in your spiritual

seeking?3. How do you propose to "preach the gospel" to all your world? b. Does your study of Truth tend to make you withdraw from the

world of experiences and responsibilities? If so, is this good?5. What points in the teaching do you still feel hazy about? (Let

this guide you in selecting further courses of study in the Center.)

NEXT WEEK: "If you know these things blessed are ye if ye do them."

RESPONSIVE PRAYER SERVICE1. Jesus did not organize a church divine ideas for abundant living, NOT THAT YE ARE THE TEMPLE OF THE DWELLETH WITHIN YOU."

on earth. His was an organization ofwhich is an "exact science." "KNOW YE LIVING GOD AND THE SPIRIT OF GOD

2, God is not a being with many parts, but BEING with potentialities. God does not HAVE what we want. He IS what we want. "THERE IS ONLY ONE PRESENCE AND ONE PO TT*R, GOD THE GOOD, OMNIPOTENT."

3. Man is created in the image-likeness of God. Man's unfoldment to happy and abundant living depends not on becoming something different from that which he is, but in being what he is to the fullest extent. "I AM A PERFECT CHILD OF GOD, PiiRFECT IN MIND AND PERFECT IN EXPRESSION.

U. Jesus and Christ are not synonymous terms. Jesus is the man who demon­strated His God likeness to the fullest extent and thus put on the Christ. Christ is not a person but a principle of divine sonship. "JESUS CHRIST IS MY TEACH31 AND WAYSHOWER: I WILLINGLY FOLLOW HIM IN THE PATH OF OVERCOMING."

5. The keynote of the Christian teaching is "Christ in you the hope of glory." We must clearly distinguish between God's man, the Christ, which is perfect and complete, and Adam's man, the human man, which is in a state of becoming. "THROUGH CHRIST IN ME I CM DO ALL THINGS."

6. Mind is the connecting link between God and man. Our mind is our world. *Our thoughts are the tools with which we carve our life story on the substance of the Universe. When we rule our thoughts we rule our world."MY MIND IS MY KINGDOM: I RULE IT WISELY."

7. In self unfoldment two "handles to power" most needful are the use of denials to wipe out of our minds the mistaken beliefs of a lifetime, and affirmations to build Truth principles into our consciousness. "I RELEASE AND RELINQUISH ALL THAT IS NEGATIVE IN MY LIFE AND CLAIM FOR MY OWN THE POSITIVE POTTER OF THE CHRIST MIND."

8. Prayer is not something we do to God but something we do to ourselves. *It is turning at the point of human limitation to the point of supreme limitlessness. The end of prayer is silent communion with God within. "BE STILL M D KNOW THAT I AM GOD."

9. Through developing the faculty of faith man opens unO himself an "added dimension" of infinite possibilities for abundant living. Faith is a spiritual perception of one's good even before it is manifest. "I HAVE FAITH IN GOD, I HAVE FAITH IN MYSELF, AND I HAVE FAITH IN MY ABILITY THROUGH CHRIST TO DO ALL THINGS."

10. Words are the most powerful agents of mind. "Every idle word that men shall speak they shall give account thereof." "Death and life are in the power of the tongue." "I SPEAK ONLY THAT WHICH IS GOOD AND CONSTRUCTIVE."

11. Life is consciousness. Man is always demonstrating to the limit of his consciousness. The only way we can have more is to BE more in consciousness. There is no abrogation of this law. "I SEIK CONSTANTLY TO KNOW toe LAWAND TO DEMONSTRATE ITS P0TTER."

12, Man tends to become centered in things of the world, but Jesus taught? "Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added ...” This means that we must seek the inner realization of our oneness with God and then rightly use this conscious­ness in what we think, say, and do, ”1 DT*ELL IN THE SECRET PLACE OFTHE MOST HIGH."

13, The one and only object of man’s existence is the development of his soul, and any attainment, . whether mental or material, that cannot be associated with and counted as an aid toward that end will ultimately be refused. "MY SOUL DOTH MAGNIFY THE LORD."

1U. At a certain stage in his spiritual on going the Truth student comes to the point when like Jesus, his Master and Teacher, he must call to him­self his own twelve apostles, his tx>relve faculties of mind, that they may be trained to function more deeply in his life. "I STIR UP THE GIFT OF GOD THAT IS WITHIN ME, AND I AM BLESSED ON EVERY HAND WITH HAPPINESS,SOUL SATISFACTION, AND TRUE ACHIEVEMENT."

15, There is no instant when you should (or can afford to) withhold love, for when you do withhold it you retard the mightiest healing, prospering** redeeming power in the Universe, "I MEET ALL PERSONS AND CIRCUMSTANCESIN THE SPIRIT OF LOVE AND NON-RESISTANCE.

16, There is no power and no reality in sin. Sin is its own punishment and righteousness its own reward. Every man is equipped with the; power .to think and live right, but through the use of his inner power he must "work out his own salvation." "I GIVE THANKS FOR AN EVER INCREASING KNOWLEDGE OF TRUTH THAT MAKES ME FREE FROM ALL SIN AND: ERROR;"

17, Health and perfection is the divine right of man, God’s changeless will for His creation. No matter what the condition, you can be healed if you can accept completely in your thinking the Truth of one perfect creator and one perfect creation, "GOD 15MY HEALTH, I CAN’T BE SICK."

18, Prosperity is definitely God’s will for man. You can be prosperous if you increase your consciousness of God as your unfailing supply, and expand your vision to behold yourself as being unlimited in any way."GOD IS MY INSTANT, CONSTANT, AND ABUNDANT SUPPLY."

19, There is no such thing as getting something for nothing, We must give full measure for all that we receive. "As ye sow so shall ye reap.""Give and ye shall receive." "THE DIVINE LAW OF GIVING AND RECEIVING IS FULFILLED IN AND THROUGH ME."

20, Man was not born to die but to live, to progress toward the goal of perfection. The cause of death and its entire experience lies in the consciousness of man, and not in the will of God. "I AM THE EVER RENEWING, EVER UNFOLDING EXPRESSION OF ETERNAL AND NEVFR ENDING LIFE."

LESSON 2h — "UNITY OF THE SPIRIT"

OBJECTIVE: To give an outline of what Unity is doing and what itcan do as an influence on the world community, and what the individual can do and should do as a citizen of this community.

UNITY TEXT SOURCES: Chapt. 12, "LESSONS IN TRUTH" (Cady)Chapt. U, "JESUS CHRIST HEALS (Fillmore)

SCRIPTURE REFERENCES: Eph. 2: lU; John 12: 32; Matt. 5: 13-16:John 13: 17; Mark 16: 1$

POINTS TO BE CONSIDERED:1. UNITY TEACHES THE FATHERHOOD OF GOD WHICH REVEALS THE BROTHERHOOD OF MAN AND ITS RESPONSIBILITIES. Such responsibilities may be ful­filled in part, and certainly in great power, through prayer for world conditions and leaders. But each student must also accept his responsibilities as a citizen of the world community.

2. UNITY IS AN OPEN-SID ED RELIGION. Unity is not a crystallized teaching. Unity has not made a final interpretation of Truth. Unity believes that prayer should be used as research into Divine Mind s« that new revelations of Truth may be apprehended. Also Unity advo­cates open-mindedness to contributions of ideas of Truth and its application from the evolving body of man’s knowledge.

3. LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE. Finally, the chief emphasis of Unity is upon the application of the Jesus Christ teachings in daily living.The study of this course will have meaning to you only as you make practical application of what you have already learned. It is only through daily use of what you already know that you continue to grow in understanding.

U. (A responsive service outlining and making firm the basic prin­ciples of Unity will be used prayerfully at the conclusion of this final lesson.)

QUESTIONS (Not to be written but to be considered in meditation)1. Why is Unity called "Practical Christianity?"2. How are you going to proceed from this point in your spiritual

seeking?3. How do you propose to "preach the gospel" to all your world?U. Does your study of Truth tend to make you withdraw from the

world of experiences and responsibilities? If so, is this good?5. What points in the teaching do you still feel hazy about? (Let

this guide you in selecting further courses of study in the Center.)

NEXT WS3C: "If you know these things bless-ed are ye if ye do them tt

/

"INTRODUCTION TO UNITY"A synoptic study of the teachings of Unity in twenty-four lessons

LESSON 24--UNITY OP THE SPIRITOBJECTIVE; To outline what Unity is doing, what it can do as an

influence on the world community, and what the individual can and should do as a citizen of this community.

SCRIPTURAL REFERENCES; Eph. 2:14; John 12;32; Matt. 5:13-16; John 13s17; Mark 16:15.

POINTS TO BE CONSIDERED;1. UNITY TEACHES THE FATHERHOOD OF GOD, WHICH REVEALS THE BROTHERHOOD OF MAN AND ITS RESPONSIBILITIES. Responsibilities may be fulfilled in part, certainly in great power, through prayer for world leaders and conditions. Each student must also accept his responsibilities as a citizen of the world community.2. UNITY IS AN OPEN-ENDED RELIGION. Unity is not a crystal­lized teaching and has not made a final interpretation of Truth. Unity believes that prayer should be used as research into Divine Mind so that new revelations of Truth may be apprehended. Unity also advocates open-mindedness to ideasof Truth and their application from the evolving body of man's knowledge.3. LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE. Finally, the chief emphasis of Unity Is on the application of the Jesus Christ teachings in daily living. The study of this course will have meaning to you only as you make practical application of what you have already learned. Through daily use of what you already know, you con­tinue to grow in understanding.4. A responsive prayer service outlining and making firm the basic principles of Unity will be used prayerfully at the conclusion of this final lesson.

QUESTIONS;1. Why is Unity called "Practical Christianity?"2. How p>r>e you going to proceed from this point in your

spiritual seeking?3. How do you propose to "preach the gospel" to your world?4. Does your study of Truth tend to make you withdraw from

the world of experiences and responsibilities? If so, is this good?What points in the teaching do you still feel hazy about? (Let this guide you in selecting further courses of study in the center.)

NEXT WEEK; "If you know these things blessed are ye if ye do them."BIBLIOGRAPHY; Chapter 12, LESSONS IN TRUTH (Cady)

Chapter 4, JESUS CHRIST HEALS (Fillmore)

“ 36“

"INTRODUCTION TO UNITY"A synoptic study of the teachings of Unity in twenty-four lessons

RESPONSIVE PRAYER SERVICE

1. Jesus did not organize a church on eartho Jesus' church was an organization of divine ideas for abundant living, which is an”exact science." "KNOW YE NOT THAT YE ARE THE TEMPLE OP THE LIVING GOD AND THE SPIRIT OP GOD DWELLETH WITHIN YOU."

2. God is not a Being with many parts, but Being with potentiali­ties. God does not have what we want. He is what we want."THERE IS ONLY ONE PRESENCE AND ONE POWER, GOD THE GOOD, OMNIP­OTENT."

3. Man is created in the image of Gcd. Man’s unfoldment to happy and abundant living depends not on his becoming something different from that which he is, but in being what he is to the fullest extent. "I .AM A PERFECT CHILD OF GOD, PERFECT IN MIND AND PERFECT IN EXPRESSION."

4. Jesus and Christ are not synonymous terms. Jesus is the man who demonstrated His God-likeness to the fullest extent and thus out on the Christ. Christ is not a person but a principle of divine sonship. "JESUS IS MY TEACHER AND WAYSKOWER. I WILLINGLY FOLLOW HIM IN THE PATH OF OVERCOMING."

5. The keynote of the Christian teaching is "Christ in you the hope of glory." We must clearly distinguish between God’s man, the Christ, which Is perfect and complete, and Adam’s man, the human man, which is in a state of becoming. "THROUGH"CHRIST IN ME, I CAN DO ALL THINGS."

6 . Mind is the connecting link between God and man. Our mind is our world. Our thoughts are the tools with which we carve our life’s story on the substance of the universe. When we rule our thoughts, we rule our world. "MY MIND IS MY KINGDOM. I RULE IT WISELY."

7. In self-unfoldment two "handles to power" most needful are the use of denials to wipe out of our mind the mistaken beliefs of* a lifetime, and affirmations to build Truth principles into our consciousness. "I RELEASE AND RELINQUISH ALL THAT IS NEGATIVE IN MY LIFE AND CLAIM FOR MY OWN THE POSITIVE POWER OF THE CHRIST MINDp"

8 . Prayer is not something we do for God but something we do for ourselves. Communion with God is turning at the point of human limitation to the point of supreme limitlessness. Prayer is silent communion with God. "BE STILL AND KNOW THAT I AM GOD."

9. Through the strengthening of faith man opens unto himself an "added dimension" of infinite possibilities for abundant living. Faith is a spiritual perception of one’s good even before good is manifest. "I HAVE FAITH IN GOD, I HAVE FAITH IN MYSELF,AND I HAVE FAITH IN MY ABILITY THROUGH CHRIST TO DO ALL THINGS."

r> 10. Words are the most powerful agents of mind. "Every idle word that men shall speak they shall give account thereof." "Death and life are in the power of the tongue." "I SPEAK ONLY THAT WHICH IS GOOD AND CONSTRUCTIVE."

11. Life is consciousness. Man demonstrates to the limit of hisconsciousness. The only way we can have more is to increase our consciousness. There is no abrogation of this law: "ISEEK CONSTANTLY TO KNOW THE LAW AND TO DEMONSTRATE ITS POWER."

12. Man tends to become centered in things of the world, butJesus taught: "Seek ye first the kingdom of God and Hisrighteousness and all these things shall be added . . . " We must seek the inner realization of our oneness with God and then rightly use this consciousness in what we think, say, and do. "I DWELL IN THE SECRET PLACE OF THE MOST HIGH."

13. The object of man's existence is the development of his soul.Any attainment, either mental or material, that cannot be asso­ciated with and counted as an aid toward man’s soul develop­ment will ultimately be refused. "MY SOUL DOTH MAGNIFY THE LORD."

14. In his spiritual ongoing the Truth student reaches the point when like Jesus, his Master and Teacher, he must call to him­self his own twelve apostles, his twelve faculties of mind, that they may be trained to function more righteously. "I STIR UP THE GIFT OF GOD THAT IS WITHIN ME, AND I AM BLESSED ON EVERY HAND WITH HAPPINESS, SOUL SATISFACTION, AND TRUE ACHIEVEMENT."

15- There Is no instant when a person should withhold love through unforgiveness. When you withhold love you retard the action of the mighty healing, prospering, and redeeming power. "I MEET ALL PERSONS AND CIRCUMSTANCES IN THE SPIRIT OF LOVE AND NON- RESISTANCE.

16. There is no power and no reality in sin. Sin is its own punish­ment, and righteousness is its own reward. Each man is equipped with the power to think and live aright, but through the use of his inner power he must work out his own salvation. "I GIVE THANKS FOR AN' EVER-INCREASING KNOWLEDGE OF TRUTH THAT MAKES ME FREE FROM ALL SIN AND ERROR."

17- Health and perfection are the divine rights of man, God'schangeless will for His creation. No matter what the condition, you can be healed if you will accept completely the Truth idea of one Perfect Creator and one perfect creation. "GOD IS MY MY HEALTH, I CAN’T BE SICK."

18. Prosperity is God’s will for man. You will be prosperous if you increase your consciousness of God as your unfailing supply, and expand your vision to behold yourself as being unlimited in any way. "GOD IS MY INSTANT, CONSTANT, AND ABUNDANT SUPPLY."

19. There is no such thing as getting something for nothing. We must give full measure for all that we receive. "As ye sow so shall ye reap." "Give and ye shall receive." "THE DIVINE LAW OF GIVING AND RECEIVING IS FULFILLED IN AND THROUGH ME."

20. Man was not born to die but to live and to progress toward the goal of perfection. The death experience lies in the consciousness of man, and not in the will of God. "I AM THE EVER-RENEWING, EVER-UNFOLDING EXPRESSION OF ETERNAL AND NEVER-ENDING LIFE."

O

RESPONSIVE PRAYER SERVICE

1. Jesus did not organize a church on earth. His was an organization of divine ideas for abundant living, which is an "exact science." "KNOW YE NOT THAT YE ARE THE TEMPLE OF THE LIVING GOD AND THE SPIRIT OF GOD DWELLETH WITHIN YOU."

2.. God is not a being with many parts, but BEING with potentialities. God does not HAVE what we want. He IS what we want. "THERE IS ONLY ONE PRESENCE AND ONE POWIiR, GOD THE GOOD, OMNIPOTMT."

3. Man is created in the image-likeness of God. Man's unfoldment to happy and abundant living depends not on becoming something different from that which he is, but in being what he is to the fullest extent. "I AM A PERFECT CHILD OF GOD, PERFECT IN MIND AND PERFECT IN EXPRESSION.

U. Jesus and Christ are not synonymous terms. Jesus is the man who demon­strated His God likeness to the fullest extent and thus put on the Christ. Christ is not a person but a principle of divine sonship. "JESUS CHRIST IS MY TEACHER AND WAYSHOVIER: I WILLINGLY FOLLOW HIM IN THE PATH OF OVERCOMING."

5. The keynote of the Christian teaching is "Christ in you the hope of glory." We must clearly distinguish between God's man, the Christ, which is perfect and complete, and Adam's man, the human man, which is in a state of becoming. "THROUGH CHRIST IN MS I C M DO ALL THINGS."

6. Mind is the connecting link between God and man. Our mind is our world.Our thoughts are the tools with which we carve our life story on the substance of the Universe. When we rule our thoughts we rule our world."MY MIND IS MY KINGDOM: I RULE IT WISELY."

7. In self unfoldment two "handles to power" most needful are the use of denials to wipe out of our minds the mistaken beliefs of a lifetime, and affirmations to build Truth principles into our consciousness. "IRELEASE AND RELINQUISH ALL THAT IS NEGATIVE IN Iff LIFE AND CLAIM FOR MY OWN THE POSITIVE POT7ER OF THE CHRIST MIND."

8. Prayer is not something we do to God but something we do to ourselves.It is turning at the point of human limitation to the point of supreme limitlessness. The end of prayer is silent communion with God within."BE STILL M D KNOW THAT I AM GOD."

9. Through developing the faculty of faith man opens un£2 himself an "added dimension" of infinite possibilities for abundant living. Faith is a spiritual perception of one's good even before it is manifest. "I HAVE FAITH IN GOD, I HAVE FAITH IN MYSELF, M D I HAVE FAITH IN MY ABILITY THROUGH CHRIST TO BO ALL THINGS."

10. Words are the most powerful agents of mind. "Every idle word that men shall speak they shall give account thereof." "Death and life are in the power of the tongue." "I SPEAK ONLY THAT WHICH IS GOOD AND CONSTRUCTIVE."

11. Life is consciousness. Man is always demonstrating to the limit of his consciousness. The only way we can have more is to BE more in consciousness. There is no abrogation of this law. "I SESC CONSTANTLY TO KNOW THE LAWAND TO DEMONSTRATE ITS POTrER."

12. Man tends to become centered in things of the world, but Jesus taught* "Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added ..." This means that we must seek the inner realization of our oneness with God and then rightly use this conscious­ness in what we think, say, and do, "I DT*ELL IN THE SECRET PLACE OFTHE MOST HIGH."

13, The one and only object of man’s existence is the development of his soul, and any attainment, .whether mental or material, that cannot be associated with and counted as an aid toward that end will ultimately be refused. "MY SOUL DOTH MAGNIFY THE LORD."

1U. At a certain stage in his spiritual on going the Truth student comes to the point when like Jesus, his Master and Teacher, he must call to him­self his own twelve apostles, his twelve faculties of mind, that they may be trained to function more deeply in his life. "I STIR UP THE GIFT OF GOD THAT IS tTTHIN ME, AND I AM BLESSED ON EVERY HAND WITH HAPPINESS,SOUL SATISFACTION, AND TRUE ACHIEVEMENT."

15, There is no instant when you should (or can afford to) withhold love, for when you do withhold it you retard the mightiest healing, prospor±ng># redeeming power in the Universe. "I MEET ALL PERSONS AND CIRCUMSTANCESIN THE SPIRIT OF LOVE AND NON-RESISTANCE.

16, There is no power and no reality in sin. Sin is its own punishment and righteousness its own reward. Every man is equipped with the: power'.to think and live right, but through the use of his inner power he must "work out his own salvation." "I GIVE THANKS FOR AN EVER INCREASING KNOWLEDGE OF TRUTH THAT MAKES ME FREE FROM ALL SIN AND! ERROR;"

17, Health and perfection is the divine right of man, God’s changeless will for His creation. No matter what the condition, you can be healed if you can accept completely in your thinking the Truth of one perfect creator and one perfect creation, "GOD IS MY HEALTH, I CAN’T BE SICK."

18, Prosperity is definitely God’s will for man. You can be prosperous if you increase your consciousness of God as your unfailing supply, and expand your vision to behold yourself as being unlimited in any way."GOD IS MY INSTANT, CONSTANT, AND ABUNDANT SUPPLY."

19, There is no such thing as getting something for nothing, Me must give full measure for all that we receive. "As ye sow so shall ye reap.""Give and ye shall receive." "THE DIVINE LAW OF GIVING AND RECEIVING IS FULFILLED IN AND THROUGH ME."

20, Man was not born to die but to live, to progress toward the goal of perfection. The cause of death and its entire experience lies in the consciousness of man, and not in the will of God. "I AM THE EVFR RENEWING, EVER UNFOLDING EXPRESSION OF ETERNAL AND NEVER ENDING LIFE."

"INTRODUCTION TO UNITY"(Supplementary material for possible teacher's use)

LESSON 2U -- "UNITY OF THE SPIRIT"ATTENTION-GETTING SUGGESTIONS FOR INTRODUCTION:

Mighty forces are at work today to change man's thought about C-od. Millions of men and women, in this country and throughout the world, are awakening to the need of a new religion. A new kind of hunger is gnawing at the vitals of mankind, spiritual hunger. This is a vital force to be reckoned with, shaking^the founda­tions, not only of religions, but of all the institutions of modern civilization. Filling this hunger is the greatest need in the world today. Unless it is filled there is little hope for the progress of civilization as we know it. Hopeful signs are the gradual awakening of spiritual leaders within organized religion. True, they are condemned as membersof a "cult of reassurance" but the sign is there

The hope, so long cherished by Christendom that Jesus would come again in the clouds of glory to redeem mankind from its sorrows is dead. True there is a re­surgence of the belief by fundamentalists but not one person in a thousand really believes it will occur. Even if it should man would no more accept the twentieth century Christ than he did the first century Jesus. The same tendencies exist today in the Christian Church which existed in the church of Jesus time, from which he revolted. The old forms, rituals, dogmas, and doctines, which he de­nounced were incorporated into the new religion called Christianity. There was no definite break from tradition. New traditions were added; new rituals invented a new type of priestly authority was formed. But the old spirit of intolerance and hatred, and the insolence of intrenched power, still ruled the spiritual lives of the people. Mankind is now seeing the dream of the New Age. To many. Unity is a religion for the New Age.

QUOTATIONS THAT MIGHT PROVE HELPFUL: Arnold Toynbee writes that he would "expresshis personal belief that the four higher religions that were alive in the age in which he was living were four variations on a single theme, and that, if all the four components of this heavenly music of the spheres could be audible on earth simultaneously, and with equal clarity, to one pair of human ears, the happy hearer would find himself listening, not to a discord, but to a harmony." He does not believe that any one religion is an exclusive and definitive revelation of spiritual truth."

ILLUSTRATIVE MATERIAL FROM MISCELLANEOUS SOURCES: Christianity has always taughtthe "Fatherhood of God." But when we catch the wider meaning of "Our Father"— we find that we cannot avoid the Christ ideals of the "brotherhood" of man. All people are children of God, regardless of caste or creed, race or color, back­ground or opportunities. All humanity in its essential nature is one family.Some have called that the "extreme idealism of Jesus." But actually Jesus was a realist. The brotherhood of man is no tenderhearted sentimental belief. It is the inescapable Truth. True man has not accepted this, and even in cases when he has subscribed to the idea as a tenet of Christ faith, he has failed to live up to it in practice. However, if we should call the law of gravitation an ideal and laugh at it, nevertheless, it would be the truth all the time and we adjust ourselves to it or else we will break ourselves.

"And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to the whole creation." "Emphatic Diaglott: "Proclaim the glad tidings." The connotation of the word "proclaim" that seems most consistent with the statement is to "affirm" or to "declare." Thus the statement becomes: "Go ye into all the world and affirm the Truth, the "god-spell," to the whole creation.

Now this implies more a prayer ministry than a missionary endeavor. VJithout a I doubt much good has been done by foreign missions of various churches but there

is some question as to whether it has been the most helpful method of "proclaiming the glad tidings." Often missionaries approached a race of people with an

Lesson 2k - page 2 ILLUSTRATIVE MATERIAL - continuedextremely prejudicial and hypocritical attitude, condemning all people -ight unseen as sinners because their religious beliefs, however lofty, were different*

Jesus taught, "I, if I be lifted up, will draw all men unto me." This has been the Unity approach to the missionary field. The greatest thing you can do for the world is to hold a positive thought about it, to pray for people and conditions and give thanks for light. Unity believes that it is not right to try to convert friends or loved ones, let alone unknown people in faraway places, but to leave them to find the Truth for themselves. Thus, boviously this rule applies to all people everywhere. Unity does make Truth ideas available so that when an individual or group of people are ready for light, that light may be there. ’When the student is ready the teacher appears.”

Unity is an open-ended religion. Unity is not a crystallized teaching. Unity has not made a final interpretation of Truth. One of the great weaknesses of

every religion which ultimately leads to its loss of power as a world influence is that it tends to accept the fact that its revelation is the only revelation.

Emilie Cady (ch. 12, "Lessons in Truth") "were it not at times so utterly ridiculous, it would always be pitiful to see the human mind of man trying to limit God to personal comprehension. However much any of us may know of God, there will always be unexplored fields in the realms of expression, and it is an evidence of our narrow vision to say: "This is all there is of God."

Unity does not attempt to teach you what to think, but rather how to think— that you may sally forth into the infinite of mind and experience a revelation of Truth that is right for you.

A devotee of Unity must always be a Unity student — there is no graduation out of the student class. So often we hear someone, with eyes raised, proclaim that he is going on to a higher teaching. The so called advanced teachings, the studies in occult truth, can become a trap to lead you on the pathway of intellec­tual pastime, an escape from the ultimate work of getting down to do something about it. "Many students are over-read and under-done." The only advanced teaching I know of is that course of action when we do something about the Truth we think we know.

To make Christianity practical, one must become a practicing Christian. You must lay hold of the "modus operandi."

If you wanted to be a mathematician you would have to study the principles and spend much time in working them. So to be a student of practical Christian­ity you must study Truth principles and diligently apply them.