My parents were Catholic. I was raised Catholic, attended a Catholic grade school and was a practicing Catholic throughout my young adult years. I married in a Catholic church only to be excommunicated seven years later when my wife left me and our two small children. A few weeks later, a friend of mine invited me to her non-denominational Christian church. Twenty-five years after that service and after attending about a half-dozen denominational and non-denominational churches, I finally reached a point of desperate frustration. I found the ?Christian Church? to be self-absorbed, self-centered and self-righteous. The church would profess ?We are all children of God and God loves all His children? yet denounced those 1) who are different than they and 2) those who worship God differently than they. I believe God is universal love, peace, joy and happiness and we - all six billion of us - have access to these Godly blessings through a personal relationship with Him. I searched for years for a spiritual home as I kept telling myself that I had to find a church, a group, an organization? something? that believed and taught the truth about growing in spiritual maturity. Then I found Unity. I now know that throughout the world, there are many names for God, many paths to God and many ways to worship God? and that the truth I seek resides within me. And this truth is God, our Creator whom I represent through thought, words and actions. Being analytical, I think through (process) most of what I see, read and hear. I need sensibility and believability to agree with concepts, ideas and philosophies. To know if Unity was a good fit for me, I made an appointment with the Reverend of the local Unity Church and he and I spoke for nearly two hours before I attended a service. What?s been shared and taught on Sunday mornings by Reverend Michael sits extremely well with me and I feel welcomed and comfortable with everyone whom I?ve met. If you find yourself at a point that you have many questions yet few answers, know that Unity is based upon ?freedom of religion?, as everyone from all religious faiths, to include agnostics and atheists (you gotta believe in something even if you believe in nothing J) are welcomed to attend. Finally, please click on the ?What We Believe? link located under the ?About Unity? tab to learn more about Unity. May God richly bless you as you continue your journey of spiritual growth.

For a long time I searched for a church that embraced my core beliefs. As a Christian Minister with strong beliefs in the Metaphysical interpretations of the Bible I often found myself shunned by the leadership of my church. Then comes Unity! Finally there is a place where I have the potential to serve while being completely open about my beliefs. My prayers have been answered and I am excited to begin my re-ordination via Unity.

Hello Everyone, I live Irvine (Orange County), California and Unity Laguna Church, Let pray bring ASL (America Sign Language) for deaf communication., then we goal restoring Deaf/ASL relationship Group in Southern California for the deaf Group of Unity Church., because I know all junk religions will over. Thanks touch me, and http://www.youtube.com/kingdomormond //Brother Rockwell "Ormond" Butler

I was born a Catholic, have had religion poked down my throat until I became sick of it. Then I found God again and kept drifting in and out of churches. Each time I found a Church and thought it was good something would happen and I would get disillusioned till I stopped going to church. Although I realised that I should get realized by a pastors actions and that the pastor was also human. it was difficult to go to church. But I needed spiritual nourishment and then by chance I remembered some magazines I'd read as a kid "Guideposts" and "Dailyword". So I searched them up on the internet and found "Our Prayer.org". I am now a prayer volunteer and I do my daily devotions on the web from "Daily word and Our prayer.org". Actually I must say that I am much closer to God now than when I went to church. Thank you to the staff of both these sites. Priyanthi.

I first found out about Unity while reading a book called _Chop Wood, Carry Water_ (great book, by the way), which mentioned your prayer service, Silent Unity. So I looked you up online and began reading about your church. I could really feel something... a warmth ... in my heart as I read more and more about you and found that my believes resonate so well with yours. So I had to laugh when I read this: *If you're one of the "spiritual but not religious" people who questions your childhood faith or is looking for something more, this Web site may feel like a homecoming..." It's so true for me. For now, I'll keep exploring Unity. I'm not generally comfortable with organized religion, but Unity seems pretty atypical. So I'm not sure where I will go with this, but I just wanted to say "Thank you" ... specifically for Silent Unity, but also generally for all that you say and do here.

I admire any people that are willing to question their childhood faith and take a good look at what it is they truly believe. Having done that in my own life and reaped the benefits, I feel I must provide my opinion about the information discussed here. I have found that a balance between religion and spirituality really bring about a fulfilling experience in my life. I found the rules and regulations and the "letter of the law" attitude of typical Christianity is simply oppressive. However, I don't think this calls for the wholesale rejection of it. There is much to religious practice. Many of the Christian traditions and so-called rules really do have a basis in spirituality and they represent a wonderful way of expressing one's faith. I think the danger lies in blindly following the rules and practices without an understanding of what they mean. When I spend time reading my Bible I find that the Jesus I meet there is not an oppressive character. I have found him to be a man that desired to free us from the chains of religion while helping us to understand the spirit of that religion. I believe that the teachings of Jesus are so essential not because that's what the church says but because his words ring true in my soul. There is a spiritual resonance to his words that goes beyond rational description. And when I read his teachings, it's as if truth has sat down in front of me and stared me in the eyes. It's something that truly must be experienced. But many people find it hard to swallow when he says that the only way to the father's kingdom is through belief in him. People would rather believe that they can follow any path they choose because it's easier and because they are tired of being oppressed by the rules of the church. For those in this boat, I ask that you really look at who Jesus is. He sought to free us from these "rules" that we find so suffocating. But please, please don't take my word for it. QUESTION EVERYTHING!

I was born a Catholic and was brought to Church every Sunday until I was old enough to start critically thinking. Since that time, I've struggled with the Catholic Church. I am spiritual but I have never had a connection to the Church. I can't ever recall a time when I felt "enlightened" as a result of going to Church. All my life I've gone sporadically because I thought it was the "right thing" to do. I've never enjoyed doing something just out of habit so I continually questioned the reasons why I should keep going to mass every Sunday. I"ve been thinking about it more and more lately because my daughter has relatives on both sides who truly believe that she must be baptized and must go to Church every Sunday. Now they would never come out and say that to me but I believe it to be true. On the other hand, I have recently become consumed with teachings about the power of positive thinking and how our thoughts create our reality. I would like to think that my daughter and I have more control over what happens in our lives than some other Catholics believe. Maybe I'm wrong but I always thought that Catholics believe that everything was up to God and we had no control over our fate and if we didn't go to Church every Sunday, we would never be accepted by God. That never sat well with me and I was always torn between feeling guilty for not going to Church and trying to figure out the reasons why I should go in the first place. Don't get me wrong, I believe the Catholic Church has done many wonderful things for millions of people, but, I could say the same thing about many other religions as well. With so many religions to choose from, how does one know what is right for a 7 year old girl? I have recently been reading about the Unity Church which combines this New Thought Movement with Christianity. I have never been to a Unity Church but it sure does sound like something that would resonate with me.

Sadly, there is a difference between the two. And while religion will continue to alter its beliefs further as the centuries tick by, our Spirituality is something sacred we carry within us, no matter what century we are living in. It is our own Divine connection to God, and no belief system in the world can break the wonderful bond we have with our creator. http://SpiritualJourney101.tripod.com

I am glad to know that you are reaching out to those that might be spirital; but not religious. At least I feel like you are reaching out to me also. A positive gesture; keep up the good work that you all have been doing for me and countless others, words cannot explain. Thank God For Silent Unity.

I personally have met many people in my life who are and were "religious". They went to church every Sunday, were seen at all of the functions and special events, and even were leaders in the church. But most of them were not "spiritual". They missed entirely the point and example of Jesus. The message and example did not reach thier "spirit", thier soul. They went the the motions and practiced a way of life that was ritualistic, not spirtualistic. A person can be religious without being spiritual. Unless you believe with "spirit and truth", then the soul and spirit will be empty, unfulfilled. The example Jesus gave us was based on love, compassion and works. Not actions or rituals. Jesus established a way of life, not a religion. Those who seek Unity are on a spiritual path, not a religious one. Thank you Unity.