The Foundation

YouTube: The Foundation

Part 1 of 2

1. God is absolute good, everywhere present. (There is only one Presence and one Power active as the universe and in my life—God the Good, Omnipotent/Omnipresent.)

2. Human beings are innately good because they are connected to Spirit. (Or: The divinity of humankind; our true nature is good/We each have the spark of divinity/Christ Presence within us.)

Every religious system seeks to express and define Truth. However, what is meant by “Truth” varies according to each tradition. Generally, this understanding can be distilled into three core elements: the nature of God, the nature of the individual, and the nature of the relationship between God and the individual. In Unity, these foundational ideas are summarized in the preceding two statements. All subsequent teachings are grounded in this foundational comprehension of Truth.

A central distinction between New Thought Christianity and Traditional Christianity is their differing views on the relationship between God and the individual. New Thought teaches that we are one with God—a paradigm of oneness. Liberation from human suffering is found in remembering this unity. In contrast, traditional Christianity holds that God and the individual are distinct and separate—a paradigm of separation. By viewing God as wholly other, separate from humankind, union with God is achieved in a heavenly afterlife.

Our journey toward spiritual independence begins with recognizing which paradigm guides our beliefs and actions. The way we approach prayer, for example, reveals much about the paradigm we embrace: do we seek favors from God, requesting intervention and blessings, or do we affirm the empowering truth of our inherent oneness with God, acknowledging that divine goodness is ever-present and expressing through us?

If we imagine God as distant—separated from our everyday life—we may feel disconnected. On the other hand, considering God as the Creative Life Force, constantly active and present, allows us to recognize that we live, move, and have our being within this divine presence. This understanding shapes how we interact with the divine and influences our spiritual understanding.