I was perplexed that anyone would find a UU church preaching Christianity as it is totally out of sync with my experience, but took you at your word. Figured maybe things are different in Texas-- as they are in so many other ways. However, we have here a case of mistaken identity. Unity School of Christianity, and its affiliated churches, are very specifically Christian, a Bible-centered version of New Thought and strongly focused on prayer. UU is not a bit like that. Welcomes atheists, agnostics, pagans, and followers of every religion. Check out this website that gives info on 8 different UU congregations in the Houston area. Here are the 7 principles of UUism from that site:
We, the member congregations of the Unitarian Universalist Association, covenant to affirm and promote: The inherent dignity and worth of every person;
Justice, equity and compassion in human relations;
Acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations;
A free and responsible search for truth and meaning;
The right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregations and in society at large;
The goal of world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all;
Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part
For contrast, the
Unity School of Christianity website offers this statement about "who we are":
The Unity movement was founded by Charles and Myrtle Fillmore in 1889 as a healing ministry based on the power of prayer and the power of our thoughts to create our own reality. The Fillmores regarded Jesus as the great example rather than the great exception; interpreted the Bible metaphysically; and taught that God is present within all of us.
Not that there is anything wrong with that, but UUism is far more intellectually stimulating-- and for people who like prayer and the Bible, might seem spiritually impoverished compared to a Unity Church.
Nothing much ritualistic that I recall in the local UU in Winston-Salem except for some stuff with lighting a chalice at the beginning. I imagine there is some variation but nothing at all like what you'd find in a Unity church, certainly no focus on prayers for healing, prosperity, etc. Much more on the thinking end of the thinking/feeling continuum than anything New Thought.
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