Unity's Five Basic Principles

A positive path for Spiritual Living. image of path with bridge.

We invite you to explore Unity's Five Basic Principles as to how each may apply in your life. You may find a slightly different wording of the five basic principles on our materials, and at other Unity centers worldwide, all with the intent to enhance personal understanding.

 

Understanding Our 5 Basic Principles

List of All 5 Unity Basic Principles

Principle 1: There is only one Presence and one Power, God the Good.

Principle 2: God is present in all people as our divine essence, our Christ nature.

Principle 3: We create our life experiences through our way of thinking.

Principle 4: Through affirmative prayer and meditation, we connect with God and bring out the good in our world.

Principle 5: Knowledge of these spiritual principles is not enough. We must live them.

 

Oneness, Goodness, Omnipresence = Principle 1

  • God is the source and creator of all. There is no other enduring power. God is good and present everywhere.

  • There is only one Presence and one Power active as the Universe and as my life, God the Good.

  • God is Absolute Good, everywhere present.

  • The All-Good God is everywhere equally present.

  • There is only Spirit

Original Innocence, Who Am I? = Principle 2

  • We are spiritual beings, created in God’s image. The spirit of God lives within each person; therefore, all people are inherently good.

  • We are all created from Spirit.

  • Our essence is of God; therefore, we are inherently good. This God essence was fully expressed in Jesus, the Christ.

  • Every human being is an expression of the divine; the Christ Spirit, by whatever name, indwells all people. Our very essence is of God, and therefore we are also inherently good.

  • The Presence of God dwells within each person.

 

Mind Power, Creative Thought = Principle 3

  • We create our life experiences through our way of thinking.

  • We are co-creators with God, creating reality through thoughts held in mind.

  • Human beings create their experience by the activity of their thinking. Everything in the manifest realm has its beginning in thought.

  • Our experience mirrors our thoughts and beliefs.

Prayer, Communion, Connection to God Our Source = Principle 4

  • There is power in affirmative prayer, which we believe increases our awareness of God.

  • Through prayer and meditation, we align our heart-mind with God. Denials and affirmations are tools we use.

  • Prayer is creative thinking that heightens the connection with God-Mind and therefore brings forth wisdom, healing, prosperity and everything good.

  • Prayer and meditation are the direct link with the Mind/Heart of God.

  • We feel our connection with Spirit through prayer and meditation.

Walk the Talk, Take Action, Live Consciously = Principle 5

  • Through thoughts, words and actions, we live the Truth we know.

  • Knowing and understanding the laws of life, also called Truth, are not enough. A person must also live the Truth that he or she knows.

  • Practicing these principles leads to a more joyous and fulfilling life.

  • Knowing the laws of Truth is not enough. We must live the Truth we know.