I understand the meaning behind the traditional winged globe logo used by the Fillmores. I understand the meaning behind the dove logo that was recently used. I understand HOW the new logo came about with the branding study and all. What I would like to know is what the new logo means. I get the ideas behind what a standard logo across the board does, how it strengthens "brand" recognition for our denomination, and how it helps people differentiate between various other organizations that use the word "unity" in their names. But I don't understand what it IS. What is the bit of artwork dotting the "i" in Unity supposed to be? What is it supposed to mean or represent?

In response to your question below, we would like to refer you here: http://unity.org/association/networking/infoXchange/sermonServices.html. The infant christening and infant baptism services both refer to the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Please note, however, that these sermons, services, and rituals are provided only as examples and ministers are not required to follow them to the letter. The Installation of New Members service is an example of a Unity baptism for adults.

In regard to the differences and similarities between Unity and Unitarian-Universalism, Unity minister Thomas Shepherd wrote the following on Unity's Facebook page about a year ago: Since, I think, I'm the only card-carrying minister with ordinations in both the Unitarian-Universalist Association and the Association of Unity Churches International, and I teach church history at the graduate level at Unity Institute--yes, I would definitely like to weigh in on this subject. First, to speak of similarities: While today the two denominations (the Unitarian Universalist Association and the Association of Unity Churches International) are completely independent of each other and move is very different circles, we share a common heritage. Until the late 19th century, UU & Unity histories are almost interchangeably parallel. Both groups rejected orthodoxy and Calvinism. Both felt comfortable taking the Bible symbolically, metaphorically, and allegorically. Neither believed in hell or feared an angry God. Both saw Jesus as Wayshower and Teacher, completely typical of the divinity in all people, not a unique incarnation of God walking the Earth. Both groups sprang up in New England. Mary Baker Eddy, Phineas Parkhurst Quimby, and Emma Curtis Hopkins were all from the Northeast, as were virtually all of the Transcendentalists: Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau, the Alcotts, Theodore Parker, etc. In his book THE UNITY WAY OF LIFE, world religions scholar Marcus Bach suggested that Emerson was the true father of the New Thought Christian movement. Unity co-founder Charles Fillmore quoted Emerson endlessly and built many of his concepts upon Transcendentalist foundations. (See Emerson's "Divinity School Address" for an example.) The two movements had different central interests. Unity moved toward God-centered, Christian spirituality and the "science of mental healing." Unitarianism became increasingly political, focusing on socio-ethical questions. By the mid-20th century, Unitarian Universalism had evolved into a basically humanistic denomination. The question specifically mentions "UU Christians" and wonders if Unity could find common groud with that movement? I think so...but I wouldn't limit the commonality to just UU Christians. I think all Unitarian-Universalists and Unity people have a lot in common and a lot to learn from each other. Ironically, today the UU's are becoming increasingly interested in various forms of spirituality (to include earth-based, feminist, gay and lesbian, Native American, and alternative forms of meditation, rituals and practices), and Unity has begun to explore "spiritual social action" as an outpicturing of its expanding view of Unity as part of an awakening global consciousness. Maybe we should communicate with our UU cousins and start the old Transcendentalist-New Thought dialogue again! Anway, I am eager to hear the replies of my fellow Unity/UUA's and all others...let the children of Emerson gather to celebrate our common heritage and the delicious diversity of today.

Dear Aloisio, thank you so much for sharing your thoughts and beliefs with us. Many in Unity accept reincarnation as a possibility, and it was accepted by our cofounders, Charles and Myrtle Fillmore. However, we believe one can live a full and complete spiritual life, a life of growth, transformation, and practical application of spiritual principles, whether or not one accepts reincarnation. Unity has always focused on living in the "now" and devoting each moment of each day to realizing and expressing our oneness with God, or Spirit.

Dear Cher, This is certainly the goal for both Unity School and our sister organization, Unity Worldwide Ministries--that all Unity churches are loving, accepting, nonjudgmental, and free of discrimination of any kind, always emphasizing similarities rather than differences. Our prayer is that every organization that subscribes to Unity teachings honors diversity and welcomes everyone who shares our positive outlook and philosophy. We encourage you to contact a Unity church near you and speak with the minister or spiritual leader regarding how the church can serve you and your family while honoring and respecting your personal views. You can find a Unity church in your area by going to www.unity.org and clicking on "Find a Church or Unity Leader" near the center of the page. We recommend searching by zip code area. If we can be of further assistance, please let us know.

I like a lot of what I see about Unity. I greatly appreciate it's non-creedal, accepting, and positive sentiments. I would love to raise my family in a community church environment that it positive and morally edifying. I would like this for myself as well. However, even though your position is largely non-creedal, I notice the strong belief in God expressed in the official Unity beliefs. I don't believe in a God. However, I'm open to certain definitions of God that might work for me. For example, if "God" could simply be translated to mean "Good", then that could work for me. I could even appreciate the power of affirmative prayer as an effective means of positive self-talk and as a motivator for self-action. But I do not believe that it has supernatural powers. My husband and my oldest son Kevin, age 7, also do not believe in God. My youngest Tanner, age 5, does believe in God or Gods and that's fine with me. I was wanting to know if our family would be openly welcome at Unity church.

I believe too, as a Christian, that God himself reincarnates us until we are perfect... such as you described. Whenever I have discussed this theory the majority of my Christian friends disagree. Why then do we only use 20% of our 'living brain' where all of our memories are contained? I believe the rest holds past memories/lifes/experiences. For many of us we learn and become better people...others lean on the wicked... in the end, nobody can say God didn't give you multiple changes to improve, turn from evil, and become divine.

I was wondering if you could outline the fundamental differences between Unity and Universal Unitarian churches?

when unity church does a baptism does the preacher baptize "in the name of Jesus" or does he say "father son and holyghost" ?

Hi, I received a subscription from your "The Daily Word" from a friend of mine as a gift and I really loved it. I was raised Catholic but since as a child I never would understand the way the church interpreted the bible and it's so many "alegories", fear of God, Heaven and Hell forever dogma and other things that they are still believing and applying after two thousand years ago. I am now a "Spiritist", a Doctrine decoded by the French Educator "Allan Kardec" (1800's) which has brought me so much explanation and comfort in trouble times. He, under his "spiritual mentors" shows us on having faith with reasoning not the "blind faith" as we normaly are thought by our parents. "Science without religion is lame, religion without science is blind" - Albert Einstein. Even though "Spiritism" is not considered "religion" in the matter of dogmas, rituals, etc, it's a religion only in the meaning of that latin word, to relink us to the Divine, to the Criator of all things, God or whatever name we want to give it. It has Jesus Christ as our perfect model brother who reached that state through many "reicarnations" as we will all have to go through also in our search of our spirit perfection as many others have reached like Budda, saints, Mother Theresa, Gandhi, etc. We have the planet Earth as a "school of life" where we come to improve our souls through tests and expiations on every chance we have given by the Creator through the reincarnation until we reach the perfection and then it will not be necessary to come back to our "school"... Given you a little introduction on what I follow and seem on your work so many things like in Spiritism, I would like to know what is your view on Reincarnation since I could not find in your site any reference to the subject. More about "Spiritism and Allan Kardec - France 1800" -Google. Thank you for your time! Peace!