Myrtle and Regeneration

Our assignment this week is to examine the subject of regeneration, what it meant to Myrtle Fillmore, how she linked this belief to biblical sources, and how central this belief was to the structure of her theology and her vision of the work of Unity.  

I use as my resources, Healing Letters and How to Let God Help You, the limited documentation we have which was written or dictated by Myrtle Fillmore herself.

The Gospel of John is referenced most often by Myrtle Fillmore when quoting from The Bible in her letters and lessons. 

John 7:24 - Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.  (This reference is used by Myrtle when relating to oneness with Principle, regardless of appearances.) 

John 8:51 - Truly I say to you, If a man keep my word, he shall never see death.

John 15:10 - If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love. (Myrtle referenced this bible verse when claiming that Jesus demonstrated that keeping God’s commandments resulted in eternal life - no “sin, sickness, sorrow and death.”  “We must let go of old beliefs in sin, sickness, and death.” Page 41, HTLGHY) 

What is regeneration? In the words of Charles Fillmore, in Revealing Word, the metaphysical meaning of regeneration is “a change in which abundant spiritual life, even eternal life, is incorporated into the body. 

Myrtle Fillmore used similar words. One of Myrtle Fillmore’s definitions of regeneration may be found on page 23 of How to Let God Help You. “The body, which is formed by the action of thoughts of life, love, substance, power, and intelligence in everyone, is never old. The very substance out of which the body is formed, and which nourishes and sustains it, is ever new and responsive to the thoughts of life which impress it. We know that the body is periodically renewed. We can renew and rebuild it and change its appearance by changing our thoughts and living habits.” Myrtle is teaching regeneration. The body does not need to ever age, ever die, or ever deteriorate.

Myrtle makes the statement later in this same book on page 80, “There are many now on the road to an understanding that will eradicate the belief in death so completely that their bodies will never pass through the state of physical corruption. Eventually their understanding of spiritual things will so refine the physical body that it will fade from the view …This process will in time become so common that all will look forward to it as the ultimate, and dying in the old way will be thought disgraceful.” It is not clear that the physical body which fades will actually go anywhere special or even go away from this existence, but perhaps live in such a heightened and full understanding that they cannot be seen by others. 

It appears that regeneration was quite central to the theology of Myrtle Fillmore and influenced her work with Silent Unity. Her letters teem with references to not only the healing of the illness of the body, but of exceeding healing and “eradicate the belief in death”.  Her letters speak of healing AND the ability to renew our bodies. 

Spiritual regeneration is addressed even more prolifically, as stated within her letters and talks, On pages 22-23 of How to Let God Help You, Myrtle states, “Spirit has no age; it is eternal, as God is eternal and unchanging”. 

Myrtle speaks of the ability of man to change all of creation by the change in his consciousness. She speaks of getting away from the old beliefs, the race consciousness about life and to establish “a higher vision of living.”  On page 139 she states, “When once the ideal man is conceived in the mind as a possibility, and the requirements of the Law are complied with, the regeneration of mind and body is under way; then he who descended is no longer hampered by the thought of sinful flesh; he is glorified with the manifestation of divine substance of his body.” 

Spirit has no age and we must let go of beliefs in death. Myrtle’s belief in regeneration was pivotal in her faith. She may not have used that specific terminology often ~ regeneration ~ but she presented the ideas, woven into her letters and her lessons. She felt an intense responsibility to share this belief and to help others discover this same power within them.

A Myrtle-Approved Letter

Our assignment this week is to create a letter in response to a fictional letter to Unity which Myrtle would read and give her stamp of approval to.  Following is my Myrtle-Approved Letter:

Dear Mrs. Kendrick,

How wonderful that you have found a connection with Unity! I trust that you will study and continue to work with the Truth’s as taught in Unity and come into a greater understanding of all which we have come to know. Through practice of the Truth, you will know for yourself what is false and what is true. You will increase in your ability to discriminate between what is helpful and what is harmful. Ideas from the Mind of God are always good, pointing His children to lives filled with peace. In the light of understanding, we behold God’s presence everywhere. We see all people as His children and see all as one. We behold His kingdom everywhere and everything in right relation to all.

I, too, believe that all are blessed by the love of God, regardless of religious upbringing or practice of religion. We are all God’s children and all loved and enfolded in God’s care and keeping.  The same Christ Spirit that was and is in Jesus is also implanted in all children of God. The world may lack spiritual understanding and we are each growing in our own understanding. Those who speak of the teachings of Jesus Christ may not fully understand those teachings. Do not worry about others, their actions, or their beliefs. We are to see the perfect image and likeness of God in all people. We are not to seek to condemn others, but to raise our own consciousness and deepen our own awareness of the Truth, as we understand it.

Regarding your shortness of breath ~ Your body is like a small child. Just as a child needs to be taught, it also needs praise and appreciation. Your body needs your attention, your love and your training. Give your body your positive thoughts and your affection. Look at your wonderful, precious body as your temple. Begin to see your body as your personal instrument of the soul. You need your body to carry out God’s plans here on earth.

I would not give much concern or attention to the thought of aging. Your body is not wearing out, for the Creator is still very much on the job. The Creator is constantly repairing and rebuilding our bodies in the pattern of perfection in which they were designed. Do not let belief in age or time enter in to the expression of or restriction of health. That is the product of error thought.  So, just make up your mind that you are not going to worry about “the onslaught of old age.” You are just going to let the life and strength of God flow naturally and easily through you. Do not let the opinion of any doctor cause you to waiver in the least. God is the perfect health of HIs people and He is your perfect health. “Be still, and know that I am God.”

Study the Truths known to Unity to renew your subconsciousness. Wherever a race belief has gotten hold, or an error concept has cemented itself in your thoughts, go to work with the Truth. When you change your mental understanding, every part of your life will begin to change also. The power that created you as perfect and whole is always working to restore you to wholeness. 

A new and different viewpoint is required to allow healing within your body to occur. Lift your vision beyond the appearances of poor health or difficult breathing. Lift your vision to behold God. Know that God is always providing you with light, strength, love, substance, and life. Pray for your understanding and innate and unlimited faith in God to be quickened and stirred into positive action. 

Thank you for your kind gift to the work of Unity. I trust that you will continue to be blessed by the teachings and practice of the Truth in your life.

Myrtle Fillmore's Salvation

This has been quite the dilemma, preparing for this blog post.  What, actually, is the central dilemma of human existence? If only there was one and one answer only. The philosophies range from “the capacity to view himself as object and subject” to “spiritual hunger”, “the power of sin and the consequences of sin”, to “human suffering and death”, to “evil”, to “God exists…or not.” In the context of this course and in answer to the question, I choose human suffering and death as the central dilemma of human existence. 

How do most traditional Christian churches solve the problem? Through salvation.    www.theopedia.com defines salvation as referring “to the act of God’s grace in delivering his people from bondage to sin and condemnation, transferring them to the kingdom of his beloved Son and given them eternal life - all on the basis of what Christ accomplished in his atoning sacrifice.”  Traditional Christianity offers deliverance from sin and suffering through faith in God. Salvation is the deliverance from sin and the consequences of sinning. Salvation is being saved from the consequences of sinning. Traditional Christian churches solve the problem of human suffering by emphasizing God’s salvation via accepting Jesus Christ as the Lord and Savior, thereby heaven will be the eternal reward. In this perception of heaven, one is free of all suffering and death is freedom from human suffering. 

Myrtle Fillmore’s version of salvation was brilliant. From the book, Myrtle Fillmore’s Healing Letters, salvation is elaborated upon in a wide variety of ways, which makes sense, since the book is a compilation of multiple, personal letters in response to individual’s pleas for help, for guidance. The dilemma of human existence ~ of human suffering and death ~ of sin and the fear of the consequences of sinning ~ of evil ~ even of the basic question of whether or not there is a God ~ comes from the same, elemental issue: limiting, error thoughts. Therefore, the salvation being offered, the deliverance from which people need is: from limitations of race beliefs and intellectual reasons, from limiting thoughts, from doubt and fear, from “thoughts and states of mind on the material plane” (page 33), from double-mindedness, believing in evil, lack, etc., from the “mortal sense and boundaries placed by intellect” (page 72), from all error thought.

The for aspect of salvation, for what, is also presented in a wide variety of ways: for beholding God’s presence, for redeeming the human part of us (page 33), for the understanding of life and for manifestation of God’s will, for vigorous health, for unifying with God (page 15), for establishing mankind in the life, light, and freedom through love (page 58), to live life abundantly, and for eternal life - right here and right now.

Myrtle’s letters reflect salvation by what in a myriad of descriptions: Christ consciousness, the renewal of your mind (pg 7), the Jesus Christ mind, through prayer, through God, through God- mind, through the Christ idea of love.

To summarize, Myrtle Fillmore’s take on what salvation meant: 

Mankind’s salvation is to be free from error thought, brought about by God consciousness, and to therefore live life abundantly ~ eternal life ~ now.

The Christology of Myrtle Fillmore

Christology is the branch of theology dealing with the interpretation of the nature, the person, and the deeds of Jesus Christ. Our assignment, this week, is to review Chapters 4-9 of Myrtle Fillmore’s work, How To Let God Help You, and to analyze the Christology as presented in those chapters by Ms. Fillmore. This blog entry is my attempt to do just that.

The nature of Jesus Christ - - Myrtle’s writings present Jesus Christ a “fearless teacher of Truth”, living the principles he attempted to convey to his followers.  He was tireless in his teaching and in his communing with God. He possessed a healing nature and shared this gift freely.

The person of Jesus Christ
From wikipedia: The Person of Christ refers to the study of the human and divine natures of Jesus Christ as they coexist within one person. There are no direct discussions in the New Testament regarding the dual nature of the Person of Christ as both divine and human. Hence, since the early days of Christianity, theologians have debated various approaches to the understanding of these natures.

Myrtle describes the person of Jesus both as “Word made flesh”, but more often as “the authority”, one with a divine understanding, stating that Jesus Christ “…knew more of God than any other who ever lived.” Myrtle did not say Jesus WAS God, but that Jesus KNEW God. She also went on to say that Jesus Christ  “means Truth”, ”pure mind”, and that Jesus Christ had a  “knowing God aright”.  These descriptions portray very much a human, with divine insight.  “His words were alive, for His  mind was quickened by Spirit” was another description.

The person of Jesus Christ was differentiated by Christ Consciousness when Myrtle described  “son-of-God consciousness” and when she revealed that “Jesus Christ is ever with us, and is able to handle all these over comings in the right way.” She further states, “Jesus Christ is merging His consciousness with the universal race consciousness, that we may have His presence and the light, power, life, and love which are expressing as our pattern and constant, quickening help.” This merging of consciousnesses has the effect of “raising you up out of the false beliefs and the effects of shortcomings, and helping you to abide in the pure and free Mind.”

The deeds of Jesus Christ - His teachings were his greatest deeds. Myrtle states, “he emancipated the race from the limitation of mortal parentage” as he taught continually referring to the Father of all as God.  “He spent his ministry freeing mankind from delusions.” He denied the right of sensuous taste to command him and he ”demonstrated that the problems of life are within every man’s power to solve.” 

“He erased the false statement…and wrote clear and bold across the board of eternity, ‘Thou shalt serve good alone.’”  

“He demonstrated that sin, sickness, and death are false quantities are are no part of a correct statement of life.”  He spoke of God the good and that God is all.  “He demonstrated that the keeping of His Father’s commandments saved from sick, sickness, sorrow, and death.” 

He demonstrated in his teachings that, by keeping His Father’s commandments, “all power was given to Him - in heaven and in earth.”  Through this power, he turned water into wine, increased the loaves and fishes, had the power to make himself visible or invisible, and had the power to command fish at sea to yield to him.

Jesus taught that the kingdom of God is within you.
“Jesus Christ’s whole teaching bore upon the necessity of every man’s getting out of the sensual mind and entering into the kingdom of his Father (pure mind).”
He taught that “the devil is a lie”.   
He taught that “sanctification came by denial” and tested himself through his own denials in the wilderness”.
 And finally, “Jesus denied death by glorious resurrection.”

The role of Jesus Christ was as teacher and demonstrator, and Myrtle generously shared example after example of his life as a teaching ministry.

Myrtle's Doctrine of God - How to Let God Help You

              In the World of Mary Caroline, God is held as Father, with the appropriate third person pronouns to a male figure-head. “God - my Father and your Father…” is reflected throughout the works of Myrtle Fillmore. “We are beginning to to learn that life is our gift from the Father…” are words that were shared with confidence and assurance. Mary Caroline experienced a strong and caring father in her youth, so this representation carried no negative aspects beyond her ability to resolve. This is true for myself, also, but I understand that this representation of God as Father is troublesome for many others, so troublesome that it could prevent them from pursuing this God in their lives. For some, the idea of God as Father is punitive, as their human father was punitive, or ill-natured, as their human father was ill-natured, or worse.

     The representation of God as Father also strongly suggests a separate Father-God figure or essence, something separate and apart from us, although available to us. This is not the understanding I carry of God-Spirit. The practice of “naming” God as He, She, or Friend is problematic for my brain to embrace. It is, again, holding God as something separate from me, something “name-able”. I do not believe we possess the ability to fully comprehend God, so how can we “name” God beyond 

G-O-D? Yes, the God described by Mary Caroline/Myrtle dwells everywhere, therefore dwells within all.  However, both images are difficult to embrace at the same time.  Is God separate or not? The image presented through Myrtle’s works is problematic, yet most probably a product of the time in which Myrtle lived. It was generally accepted that God was referred to as He and Him. A deviation from that custom - at that time - may have been too radical to be accepted.

     There is also the subject of “…His plan for us…” Myrtle often refers to God’s plan and for us to “do His will.” This may be viewed as predestination, which is an issue for many individuals. It would be an issue for me if I felt that was the message being communicated. Myrtle goes on to explain that “the real purpose of your life is to express the creation of God…”, but the verbiage goes on to hint of God’s plan. God’s plan and God’s will are difficult concepts to wrap our heads around. Many are “turned off” by this apparent lack of free will.  I do not believe that was Myrtle’s intention or her doctrine. Myrtle goes on, in Chapter Three, to describe in detail the wonders and the “greater freedom of expression” one will experience when consciously united with God Mind. Freedom and free will do not align up with predestination. Therefore, Myrtle’s doctrine of God included freedom and free will.

     Life can be good and Myrtle urges seekers to unify their “spirit, soul, and body in harmonious spiritual living here and now.” Life can be good now, here on earth. We don’t have to suffer and shouldn’t suffer during our earthly life, expecting rewards after death. God is good - here and now.  In our lifetime. 

All quotes come from Myrtle Fillmore, How to Let God Help You (Unity Village, MO: Unity School of Christianity, 1956), 14-17.

(every time I cut and pasted this document from Page to this Post, the footnote numbers and footnotes disappeared. There does not appear to be a way to insert the footnotes from this format)