Renewal and Transformation-Regeneration

I am but just one student in an online class this summer and we have been asked to ponder three questions this week when thinking about Myrtle Fillmore’s Eschatology (beliefs on the end of time) on regeneration. 

1.) What is regeneration for Myrtle, in both the spiritual and physical sense? Be specific.

In regards to the spiritual aspect…Myrtle believed that people had the ability to find the Christ consciousness within them.  When they did that Myrtle believed they would be able to draw on their inner strength, which included youthfulness, healing and vigor, which equates to sustaining life. 

Myrtle believed that it was possible to transcend death in the physical realm. Myrtle believed that this was attainable “through the proper understanding and application of Truth Principles – regenerate the cells of their bodies, remain youthful and vigorous despite advancing years, and ultimately overcome physical death.” Torch-Bearer to light the way (92)

Myrtle made it perfectly clear in her works that this would not be an easy task, she stated:

“To quicken and renew and transform a body that has been for so long crystallized in the conditions produced by race beliefs… those who choose to pursue this kind of transformational process are letting go of the material mind and are unfolding the Truth consciousness.  Therefore Myrtle believes they allow the Christ mind to express in and through them.” (Paraphrasing and condensing work found in Torch-Bearer to light the way p.92)

2.) How did she link this belief to biblical sources?

Myrtle linked her beliefs to biblical sources using the example of Jesus Christ.  Myrtle said:

“Jesus Christ raised the body consciousness, through His realization of the Absolute, and identified it with the spiritual body, the character of which is so transcendent as to be beyond human concept.  This is the body in which Jesus now lives, and into which we shall all enter when we have lifted up the body idea and set free the forces that enter into it.” Torch-Bearer to light the way (92)

3.) How central is her concept of regeneration to the structure of her theology and her vision of the work of Unity?

Myrtle’s concept of regeneration has been documented and thoroughly discussed by many writers.  Aspects to Myrtle’s beliefs on regeneration are central to the Unity Movement.  Therefore Myrtle’s concept of regeneration has been accepted although I’m not sure that all Unity followers are on board with all of Myrtle’s ideas around her ideas on regeneration.  We are only to discuss what Myrtle believes this week.  Perhaps next week we will get into some issues that may appear to be controversial, especially with regards to Myrtle’s beliefs on regeneration, reincarnation and abstinence. Myrtle remained confident and steadfast in her convictions. She stated:

“I am convinced, that we are coming to the time when we shall be obliged to face eternal life-to bring the soul face to face with the Christ powers, and to hold it to the true course of life, until the real Plan of Life is known and fulfilled.” Torch-Bearer to light the way (94)

And, so we wait, we do our work, and wait for our face-to-face.

Myrtle Response Letter

                                                                           July 26, 1924

My Dear Ms. Marjorie Kendrick,

Thank you so much for your kind words of encouragement and for acknowledging the work we do here at Unity Society.  Your generous offering was greatly appreciated. We recently began publishing the daily word and I have enclosed two issues for you. I invite you to keep one for yourself and share the other with one who is wishing to develop a closer relationship with God. We here at Unity Society believe in doing the work God asks of us. Our creator is always in the midst our lives and our affairs and it is no surprise that our common foundations would bring us together.   

I was glad to hear that you have a strong foundational Christian upbringing in the Methodist Church.  We at Unity Society do not identify ourselves as a church however; we are but a school for the training and discipline of all who would develop spiritually.  We aim specifically to prepare teachers for the work of spreading the Truth. I can tell you are a passionate and devoted woman to the teachings of Jesus and I am glad you have found a spiritual Unity Community in your hometown. It is unfortunate that you are disappointed with some of the Methodist teachings.  You say my dear that “Our savior never intended to omit anyone from the ranks of the blessed”. I am well pleased with your spiritual work. You are developing your spiritual faculties and as you develop your faculties you may recognize others thoughts are not in alignment with your own. That is because each person must come to their own realizations of Truth when it is their time; each person must do their own work.  As you and I may have come to the awareness of one in Christ Consciousness we must let others come to that awareness when they are ready.  In everything my dear one there is prayer.  Through prayer people become Spiritually quickened, illumined and guided. When we pray, we pray for the purpose of making one receptive to the good for which we are asking. I ask that you hold your leaders in prayer and I too shall do the same.

You mentioned in your letter thoughts of a God that allows children to suffer because of a religion they were born into?  God is a loving divine source that would never abandon or torcher children.  You are right to question such foolish thoughts.  Since God is everywhere present, God also resides within humankind.  God resides within us in our thoughts and in our minds.  I do not believe that the bible can be interpreted to the letter and in fact Jesus seemed to agree when he said: “Not of the letter but of the Spirit, for the letter killeth, but the spirit givith life."  

Perhaps you have not yet made the connection between wholeness of the spirit, soul and body. When you spoke of your health we must recognize that we are transformed by the renewing of our minds.  Whenever we experience a sickness it is because we have been letting go of our gifts from God. We are to pray. Pray without ceasing and seek the way to health.  We ask for understanding when we pray and illumination of our minds.  We reclaim our oneness with God, with ourselves and with our divine health.  When there is a renewing of our mind we can reclaim health, wholeness and order it matter not your age my dear. 

In love with many blessings,

Myrtle Fillmore

Salvation & Growth... Expanding consciousness.

This is week four of our class blog and this week’s assignment asks us to discuss Myrtle Fillmore’s beliefs on Salvation…  Here we go…Let’s first start with what is written in the Revealing Word on Salvation since it paints a clear picture in relation to the teachings of Unity, which Myrtle helped to establish.

The restitution of man to his spiritual birthright; regaining conscious possession of his God-given attributes.  It comes as the result of redemption; the change from sin to righteousness.  Salvation comes to man as a free gift from God.  It embodies a knowledge of God that frees one from all limitations and points the way by which mind and body may be lifted up to the spiritual place of consciousness.  The belief that Jesus in an outer way atoned for our sins is not salvation.  Salvation is based solely on an inner overcoming, a change in consciousness.  A cleansing of the mind, through Christ, from thoughts of evil. 

Although we can’t know for certain if Myrtle had a say so in this definition, we can only presume she did since it matches with what she is eluding to in her book Myrtle Fillmore’s Healing Letters. (HL) Myrtle believed Salvation came about once each individual agreed to do their own work in expanding their individual consciousness. Myrtle tells us that an:

OLD FIXED STATE OF MIND MUST GIVE WAY, or be given up, that the Christ ideas may flow freely through his consciousness and give him the new life and light and poise and power and substance that he needs! ENCOURAGE HIM TO LET GO, to place himself in God’s care and keeping. 

THIS IS THE ONLY THING THAT KEEPS HIM OUT OF THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN AND IT’S BLESSINGS! (88) 

Myrtle presents some interesting information here. In Unity we believe that Jesus Christ is the perfect blend of idea and expression. The traditional churches view Jesus Christ as the son of God who presented in flesh and died for our sins so that we could be saved. The traditional church’s view Jesus Christ as their personal savior and they do not believe in Myrtle’s definition of salvation. Myrtle believed that Jesus was a way shower and he was here to teach us many things.  Myrtle believed that Jesus taught salvation was available to everyone. Myrtle also believed that a change in consciousness was available to all at any given moment and Myrtle’s message was very clear in that regard. Myrtle believed that the only one holding someone back from their good were they themselves. Myrtle trusted that once someone connected with God through prayer and asked for direction and guidance they would be provided with answers. Myrtle believed each of us has to find within us the power to overcome the limitations and set backs in our life, as that is our true purpose.  It would seem that Salvation comes when a realization happens and man is open to changing ill thoughts.  Salvation is for our personal freedoms. Salvation happens when we are actively working though our outer and inner beliefs to live the Truth here and now.

It is important to note that Myrtle references Jesus quite a bit in her writings to give Christian followers a point of reference. As was discussed on Dr. Tom’s radio show.  

“When Myrtle writes about Jesus living the Christ pattern she is telling us that the Christ pattern is within us.  Myrtle used religious terminology that was of her 1900’s culture.  Myrtle’s beliefs were all encompassing and the religious terminology she used had to be understood by the people. It would appear that Ms. Fillmore was attempting to introduce some eastern beliefs that didn’t quite fit in with her Christian upbringing, culture and language.”  

Myrtle was trying to make sense of what she was thinking without having any concrete information to go on.  She became quite the theologian as began exploring the varying concepts on her own.  I believe Myrtle recognized Jesus had to overcome his human consciousness in order to claim his God given gift of renewal.  Manifesting the Christ can not be forced… it is growth… salvation is about spiritual growth. If you remember only one thing about Myrtle’s belief on Salvation I believe this may be it. 

In How to let God help you Myrtle tells us that “the state we call heaven is awaiting those who are ready for it: the peace and harmony and order that come from living in tune with infinite good (67) This sounds like Myrtle’s got a good handle on her belief system in regards to salvation.  And finally, one last quote from Myrtle “All power is given unto you in all the affairs of mind and body.  Exercise your God-given power, authority, and dominion and rise out of bondage… (90) HL 

It is up to us to do the work, that’s all folks…

Common Denominators.. Jesus & Myrtle

As I begin to formulate my own Christology on Myrtle’s Christology I recognize that this is going to get interesting in a class blog, since we can’t even agree on Myrtle’s definition of God, which was discussed last week.  We are to do our own interpretations of Myrtle’s beliefs based on what we know or read in the few chapters we’ve been assigned this week.  Is this really enough information to come up with a complete definition of Myrtle’s Christology?  We will soon see.

One thing that stands out to me when reading Myrtle’s work is that she believes spiritual science is absolute truth.  She compares her spiritual beliefs to belief’s she shares with others in regards to mathematics and science.   She seems to respect the research done by scientists and mathematicians because of the way they scientifically gather their information.  Scientific data is information based on logic, exactness and reasoning.  It is based on facts and the data can prove a point.  As Myrtle say’s we have a responsibility “to prove that the principle is workable” (27).  With that being said, all the great deeds Jesus did for the people came with spoken words of wisdom.   Jesus always gave his God/Spirit/Father credit for the works he/she did through him.  Jesus and Myrtle both spoke of a God who was always present.   Myrtle pointed out that Jesus went away at various times to connect with God and I believe this is a key point because Myrtle valued logical information and she believed that if man didn’t take time to connect with God man could be:

“So deluded by the five senses and dependent on them for information so implicitly that he has lost sight of this higher realm of causes. Hence when he is told that a certain line of thought held strongly in the mind will produce certain effects, he will not believe it.”(50)

What is Myrtle alluding to here?  Man can sometimes forget his Truth and he is reminded of Truth when he becomes one with God again.  This happens via one’s Faith, which is Truth.  Jesus’s teachings were all about Truth and Faith.  No matter what something appeared to be in outer circumstances there was always Truth.  Truth, which Jesus accessed easily through his use of denials and affirmations.   Myrtle found examples of Jesus using affirmations and denials many times.  In one story specifically, Jesus used affirmations and denials when the fisherman doubted there were fish in the water.  Jesus did not doubt and he asked them to cast their nets out again and the fish appeared… When you let go of the negative thoughts it makes room for Truth.  In chapter five Myrtle tells readers “we are indebted to Jesus Christ for his fearless propagation of Truth” (31) Myrtle believed that Jesus taught us many thing’s and he did so in the words he spoke, in his deeds and in the thoughts he held in mind.  

I observed language that leads one to believe that Jesus and Myrtle both thought that God that was indwelling and accessible through connection in thought and mind.   In reading Myrtle’s work, I found in several places language that proves Myrtle held tightly to the belief of an indwelling God.   The kingdom of God is within you. (32) “God within has the voice to which you should listen, the voice that will lead you into all Truth.” (40)  “God, the indwelling Lord” (55) In Myrtle’s book, How to let God help you, Myrtle quoted Jesus from the book of John. “I speak not from myself: but the Father abiding in me doing his works”. (John 14;10) (32) According to Myrtle, we have all been given the same “God-given faculties and powers.” (57)  “It is man’s work to unfold all that God has implanted in him.” (56)

Like water flowing out of a faucet.

Currently, sitting at my brother’s lake house three days after having listened to Dr. Tom’s radio show and reading “How to Let God Help you”…  I am still contemplating Myrtle’s concept of God. I thought it would be easier to understand, digest and pick apart her ideologies if I just sat with it for a while.  To be honest, it is very difficult to make assumptions and judgments about Myrtle’s concept of God.   I say it is difficult because it would seem Myrtle’s concept of God could be interpreted in many ways.  Myrtle was a Victorian woman who attended a liberal college.  She was a progressive woman with her own ideas.  One of the first thing’s told to us in “How to let God help you” is that “God is the very intelligence within us.”(p.12) Myrtle did not believe that a God existed outside of herself.  The belief that there was a God outside of oneself tended to be a traditionally accepted point of view for this period of time. Myrtle was probably anything but traditional.

In chapter three I ran across this quote, which expands on the partial quote found in chapter one.  “The very presence, life, and intelligence of God are ever abiding in man’s being.  The Spirit of God is what gives you intelligence and life.”(p. 22) Myrtle is not proclaiming that only she herself has a personal relationship with God she is saying we all have the ability to have a personal relationship with God, because God dwells within us. It is up to us to choose God who is a part of us, and active in us to do the work we were put her to do.

When I think of Myrtle’s concept of God I envision God flowing just like a faucet does.  The water is always there and available to us. The water has to be accessed by us.  We have to turn the water on.  Once the water is turned on all our senses could be engaged with the flowing water.  We have the ability to hear the water, see the water, taste it, bathe in it, or turn it off again.  Myrtle’s concept of God is just like this.  Our water source is always available and waiting to be accessed.  In essence, the same way God is always available to Myrtle.   

In this writer’s opinion I don’t see Myrtle as pantheist because she believed in a personal and all encompassing God.  Myrtle had a relationship with God, a God she recognized as dwelling in her.  Panentheism seems to fit some of Myrtle’s beliefs of an all-encompassing God when she speaks so eloquently about nature and its relationship with all.  Myrtle believed that God is a part of all things of and in the universe, which seems to fit very well with the definition of Panentheism.   I recognize as I make this statement that other schools of thought had not been fully developed at a time when Myrtle’s spiritual faculties were unfolding and therefore she developed idea’s of God that worked for her.

In thinking about Myrtle as a monist, it would seem this is very possible.   Myrtle could have believed herself to be a monist.  The idea that God did not create humanity but expresses itself as humanity is an interesting concept to consider.  What a great question to ask her someday…