For those interested and aren't aware of Rev. Dr. Tom Shepherd's blog, he has recently written a post about Unity as a way of life rather than a set of prescribed doctrines. I find most everything Dr. Tom writes to be insightful, engaging, and forwarding a lively attitude of progressing Unity principles in new directions while also incorporating important ideas and language from traditional Christianity.
Tom writes about an increasing tendency in Unity to become dogmatic about Unity metaphysical teachings and language, even though we claim to be a movement grounded in openness and inclusivity that isn't bound to any particular set of doctrines or beliefs. This is why he points to Unity being better characterized as more of a way of life or manner of being rather than prescribed beliefs or teachings to follow.
In the end, my thoughts are simply that religion (including Unity) has always been more about experience and doing things founded upon experience rather than believing or adhering to dogma.
Read Dr. Tom's post here.
Great post, and thanks for pointing to Tom's. I even noticed a few years ago when I worked at Unity Village how, certainly not that it was becoming non-inclusive, by any means... but at least for awhile there it seemed we did have a lot more focus on the metaphysical. I thought maybe it was just my imagination, but whether or not, it is good to be reminded that Unity is at the core of it, a way of life and inclusive for all spiritual paths.
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