The Unity Movement
Its Evolution and Spiritual Teachings by Neal Vahle
Review by By Pat Weeks
Neal Vahle
When my husband and I began attending Unity many years ago, we were able to take a myriad of classes that helped us understand Unity’s background and principles. One of the persons we encountered in our congregation was Neal Vahle who, at the time, held a position within the federal government. He used to assist Milton Friedman (not the economist, but a writer who had been a presidential speechwriter) another congregational member, in giving memorable weekend workshops on developing one’s intuition.
Neal moved from Washington and the next thing I knew, he was writing well-researched books about Unity and figures who had played prominent roles in its history and development. His many books include Torchbearer to Light the Way, The Life of Myrtle Fillmore; The Spritual Journey of Charles Fillmore: Discovering the Power Within; Eric Butterworth: His Life and Teaching; and Lowell Fillmore, Unity’s Unsung Hero. (He also wrote books on Ernest Holmes, founder of Religious Science, and Helen Schucman and William Thelford who produced A Course in Miracles)
This month I want to recommend his book, The Unity Movement. It gives an encyclopedia-like account of Unity and its background and teaching. He immersed himself in the archives at Unity and studied the words that were written and spoken by the key figures in Unity’s early days. The book contains individual chapters of four people who were the major developers of Unity’s teachings: Charles Fillmore, Myrtle Fillmore, H. Emilie Cady, and Lowell Fillmore. There are chapters on every aspect of the growth and development of the Unity movement, warts and all! He includes commentaries, criticisms, and perspectives from other spiritual and religious vantage points. It is a carefully researched account of the origin of Unity in Myrtle Fillmore’s healing and its impact on her husband, Charles, that led to his investigation (through daily meditation) of the power of thought. Their prayer meetings in their Kansas City living room were the humble beginnings that led to a successful, worldwide spiritual movement.
The book is objective in tone. It is not meant to be a critical analysis of the Unity teachings but a factual, comprehensive account of the movement. Connie Fillmore Bazzy said this book made it possible “for Unity students to read and consider Unity’s teachings in the actual words of its founders and early leaders.” She noted that the book “presents an intimate picture of the of the people, beliefs, and societal influences that shaped this uniquely American religious movement.”
I was interested in some of the critical conflicts that developed within the movement as many were adamantly against it becoming a separate denomination. Charles and Myrtle originally felt that they were an educational group whose teachings could be incorporated in individuals’ home churches. They did not envision their teachings developing into a separate sect. During its long history, there have been fierce conflicts about some basic organizational issues that make fascinating reading. The movement has not been immune to battling it out in the course of its development!
Among the delving into Unity’s history, the book presents chapters on the role of women and the participation of blacks in delving into Unity’s history. It also has chapters on the development of Unity Village and Silent Unity. The final chapter discusses the challenges of the twenty-first century.
I recommend this book as a rich resource in one’s understanding of Unity. I personally think it is best to not read it all at once, but read a few chapters at a time so that one can fully absorb the material presented in them. Neal has given us a wonderful book that makes it possible for people who have little knowledge of the background of Unity to learn of its early days, its development as a movement, and the subsequent influence of its teaching in the lives of millions of people around the world.