STUDY GUIDE FOR

UNITY
AND WORLD
REL
RELI
IGIONS
RELIGIONS

Unity Village, MO 64065-0001

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 F R O M T H E D E S K O F R E V. PA U L J O H N R O A C H

T
his simple study guide may be used individually, for discussion
in small groups, or as a class study. The questions are designed
to evoke deep reflection on your own spiritual understandings.
Reading about world religions may be interesting, but they take on
greater meaning when we can enrich our spiritual lives with some of
their teachings and practices. What new awareness of the Divine do
they evoke in you? It is always helpful to have a journal handy to write
down your thoughts and ideas, especially for individual study.

The questions pertaining to each chapter from the book are based on
five prompts:

• Reflect: Contemplate the core of your spiritual

understanding.

• Refine: Examine how the teachings in this book

have deepened, changed, or reinforced your
understanding of Truth.

• Connect: Bring your awareness to the golden

thread that connects world religions and the
interconnectedness of creation and the creative
process.

• Affirm: Decide what is true for you, and clearly affirm

and declare it.

• Act: Explore ways to put what you know into practice.

These are loosely based on the five Truth principles reflected

throughout the book and taught in Unity.

• Principle One: God is Absolute Good, everywhere

present, the one presence and one power in the
universe.

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 • Principle Two: Human beings have a spark of
divinity within them, the Christ spirit within. Their
very essence is of God, and therefore they are also
inherently good.

• Principle Three: Human beings create their

experiences by the activity of their thinking.
Everything in the manifest realm has its beginning in
thought.

• Principle Four: Prayer is creative thinking that

heightens the connection with God-Mind and
therefore brings forth wisdom, healing, prosperity,
and everything good.

• Principle Five: Knowing and understanding the laws

of life, also called Truth, are not enough. We must
also live the truth we know.

As you approach each question, open your mind and heart to

the intuitive wisdom and emotional intelligence within yourself.
Intellectual study can be rewarding, but real transformation comes
from contacting the core of deep wisdom and love within you.

May this study guide deepen your knowledge and understanding of

the world’s religions and the connections among them. May it also
serve you on your personal spiritual journey.

Enjoy the adventure!

Rev. Paul John Roach

Rev. Paul John Roach

PS: Feel free to make copies of this study guide for classes or small groups.

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 I NTRO DUCTIO N
NTRODUCTION
To prepare for this work, consider where you are spiritually right now.

Reflect
Take time to reflect upon your own spiritual journey. How has it unfolded? Do
you recall any tipping points or shifts in your awareness? How would you describe
yourself in spiritual terms at this point in your life?

Refine
Think about the five essential Truth principles taught in Unity. Are there one or
two that specifically appeal to you?

Connect
Identify any spiritual techniques or tools that are helpful in your life. While
studying this book, identify others you might want to explore, including those
from world religions.

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 INTRODUCTION CONTINUED

Affirm
Consider what prayer means to you. How do you pray?

Act
In your everyday life, how do you practice the spiritual truths that you know?

Notes:

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 CH A PTER ONE
APTER
UNITY AND CHRISTIANITY
Reflect
Take a moment to reflect on your relationship with Jesus and what the nature
of the Christ means to you. What is your present understanding, and how do you
interpret their interconnection?

Refine
What, for you, is the difference between the teachings of Jesus and the teachings
about Jesus?

Connect
Describe the ways in which you connect to God or divine presence. Can the
word God or other religious terms become barriers to your spiritual growth?

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 CHAPTER ONE: UNITY AND CHRISTIANITY CONTINUED

Affirm
Find and write down Bible quotations that support your spiritual practice.

Act
Following Jesus’ command to “love one another,” contemplate ways to do that.
Challenge yourself to replace fear and anxiety with love and compassionate
action.

Notes:

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 CH A PTE R T WO
UNITY AND JUDAISM
Reflect
Jewish history has been one of perseverance against difficult odds. Consider some
of the spiritual qualities that are helpful in dealing with your own difficulties.

Refine
Judaism practices a full-spectrum approach to life, the universe, and one’s place
in it. How does that compare to your own spiritual approach? Does your spiritual
practice cover all areas of your life?

Connect
Do you find value in the covenants with God made by the Jews? Consider Charles
and Myrtle Fillmore’s own dedication and covenant. What would your own
personal covenant look like?

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 C H A P T E R T W O: U N I T Y A N D J U D A I S M C O N T I N U E D

Affirm
God is One is a powerful affirmation. Explore how God can be both above all and
within all. Does one appeal to you more? How can you use this understanding in
your daily life?

Act
Jewish tradition talks about healing or mending the world. Do you believe it
needs mending or healing? If so, what are some of the ways you could help
achieve that?

Notes:

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 CH APTE
AP TE R THREE
UNITY AND ISLAM
Reflect
Take time to reflect on the dramatic tensions that exist in Islam and other
religions between love and judgment, or righteous struggle and peace. How can
these apparent dichotomies be reconciled?

Refine
Islam has a highly structured set of beliefs and practices. Unity is much less
structured. What do you see as the advantages and disadvantages of both
approaches?

Connect
Islam is often misunderstood by non-Muslims. Can you find commonalities
between Islam and your own spiritual path?

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 CHAPTER THREE: UNITY AND ISLAM CONTINUED

Affirm
Muslim prayer is very God-centered. How does that compare to your own
approach to prayer and the Divine?

Act
The Muslim tradition offers specific guidance for putting one’s faith into action.
Which of the Five Pillars of Islam appeal to you? How can you use these teachings
to better your life?

Notes:

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 CH AP TER
TE R F OUR
UNITY AND HINDUISM
Reflect
Reflect on the Hindu idea that God is formless and takes many forms. What is
your understanding of this?

Refine
Hinduism could be described as highly eclectic and all-encompassing, yet it
retains a core identity. Is this true of Unity or your own spiritual path? What is
the core for you?

Connect
The goal of Hinduism is moksha or freedom. What does this mean to you, and
how might you obtain it?

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 CHAPTER FOUR: UNITY AND HINDUISM CONTINUED

Affirm
Hinduism has many great affirmative statements and mantras. Create a mantra
and practice using it on a daily basis.

Act
Are there specific teachings or practices in Hinduism that particularly appeal
to you? If so, which ones and why? Do you see a way to use these teachings or
practices to benefit others?

Notes:

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 CH A PTE R F I VE
APTER
UNITY AND BUDDHISM
Reflect
Does the Buddha’s response to suffering make sense to you? What have you
learned from times of suffering in your own life?

Refine
The Buddha realized personal pleasures did not bring lasting joy and found a
deeper purpose in life. Examine your own purpose for living. What brings you
joy?

Connect
How do you relate to the idea of no-self? Likewise, how do you relate to the idea
of Buddha nature? Can they coexist?

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 CHAPTER FIVE: UNITY AND BUDDHISM CONTINUED

Affirm
Emptiness and spaciousness are key concepts in Buddhist teachings. What would
your meditation practice look like using these concepts?

Act
Buddhism places great emphasis on generosity and compassion. How can you
emphasize these qualities in your interactions? What does this look like?

Notes:

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 CH A PTE R SI X
UNITY AND TAOISM
Reflect
Is it true that what cannot be named is often closer to ultimate Truth than what
is described or defined? In other words, do language or labels sometimes get in
the way of direct experience?

Refine
The soft overcoming the hard is a central idea in Taoism. Does this idea appeal
to you? If so, or if not, why?

Connect
Yin and yang have become well-known terms in the West in recent years. What
do they mean for you? How can they inform your practice?

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 C H A P T E R S I X : U N I T Y A N D TA O I S M C O N T I N U E D

Affirm
Do you have a favorite verse from the Tao Te Ching? Can you express the essence
of it in your own words?

Act
The Tao says there is nothing to perfect. Can you find comfort in who you are
and act with confidence?

Notes:

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 CH AP TE R SE VE N
APTER
SMORGASBORD
Reflect
How do the ideas of the Perennial Philosophy and the golden thread within all
religions help you navigate the smorgasbord of humankind’s many approaches
to the Divine?

Refine
Most spiritual traditions honor creation and nature in some way. How do you live
from the divine order of creation, the natural world, and the creativity within
you?

Connect
Given the multiplicity of paths, practices, and techniques available in religion,
which ones feel right for you?

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 CHAPTER SEVEN: SMORGASBORD CONTINUED

Affirm
Love is the foundation for all religions. How do you express love?

Act
If you had a message for all people, what would it be?

Notes:

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 CONCLUSI ON
THE FUTURE OF RELIGION
Reflect
The book mentions inequality, artificial intelligence, and climate change as issues
affecting the future of religion. How do you see these issues affecting religion?
Are there others you can name?

Refine
What does the term “spiritual but not religious” mean to you?

Connect
How do we honor the world’s ancient religious traditions while remaining open
to new ideas unfolding in the modern world?

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 CONCLUSION: THE FUTURE OF RELIGION CONTINUED

Affirm
Looking toward the future, what affirmation would you create and teach to your
children and grandchildren?

Act
What personal commitment are you prepared to make to bring what you believe
into practice?

Notes:

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NOTE
N OTE S

ABUNDANT
BLESSINGS,
Rev. Paul John Roach
Rev. Paul John Roach

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