The short answer
Unity is a New Thought Christian movement, distinct from Unitarian Universalism. Its founders promoted vegetarianism, and Charles Fillmore connected sacred life, non-killing and spiritual development. Some accompanying health and “vibration” claims reflect their era rather than established science.
In short
- One of Fillmore’s early statements of faith rejected killing animals for food, but Unity later stopped teaching the full set. Historical prominence does not equal current denominational requirement.
- Fillmore’s strongest enduring argument is moral: universal love cannot ignore avoidable suffering. Claims that animal fear transfers psychically through flesh should be presented as metaphysical belief, not biology.
- Unity’s affirmative prayer and emphasis on transformation can support blessings for all beings, plant-based fellowship and reflective study.
- Recovering neglected history should invite conversation, not claim that present-day Unity members betray their church by eating animal products.
History and doctrine
Unity, founded by Charles and Myrtle Fillmore in Kansas City in 1889, is a New Thought Christian movement that emphasises the indwelling Christ, the power of thought and prayer, and practical spirituality. Unity teaches that God is present in all things and that consciousness shapes experience.
Charles and Myrtle Fillmore were vegetarian, and early Unity publications — including the vegetarian restaurant Unity Inn in Kansas City, which operated for decades — promoted meatless eating as part of spiritual and physical wholeness. Charles Fillmore wrote that killing animals for food was inconsistent with the principle of life, and Unity Farm (now Unity Village) grew food for the community.
Today Unity congregations vary; vegetarianism is no longer a movement-wide expectation, but Unity's history makes it one of the few Christian-rooted movements whose founders explicitly taught plant-based living.
Key texts and how they are read
- Charles Fillmore, writings in Weekly Unity (1900s–1920s)
- Argued that meat-eating disturbs spiritual consciousness and is inconsistent with reverence for life.
- Unity Inn menus (Kansas City, 1906–1950s)
- A historic public vegetarian cafeteria run by Unity.
- Five Unity Principles
- God is everywhere, humanity is divine, thoughts create, prayer connects, action matters.
Unity's founders were vegetarian and taught it
Well documented in Unity history.
Unity principles support plant-based living
Consistent with founders; interpretation varies in congregations.
All Unity members must be vegetarian
No current requirement.
Positions within the tradition
Personal choice
Contemporary freedom
Congregations leave diet to individual consciousness.
Return to vegetarian roots
Founders' path
Some ministers invite members to rediscover the Fillmores' diet.
Extend reverence to dairy and eggs
Unity vegan
Modern practitioners apply 'God in all' to animal products.
Testing the tradition against modern production
If divine life is present in all beings, a food system that treats animals as production units expresses a consciousness at odds with Unity's affirmation of life. The Fillmores' objection to slaughter predates factory farming; the scale and intensity of modern systems only sharpen it.
Unity's emphasis on the power of thought also invites attention to what advertising and habit train us to think about food, and to affirmative prayer for healing of animals, workers and land.
From principle to community practice
- Start with one well-sourced study session led with someone rooted in the tradition, including a serious dissenting voice.
- Make plant-based food the normal shared option while providing clear ingredient and allergen information.
- Review dairy, eggs, clothing, cleaning supplies, events and investments rather than treating one meal as the whole ethic.
- Pair personal change with support for workers, farmers in transition, sanctuaries and policies that reduce institutional harm.
Inside the kit: voices, devotion and resources
The Unity kit documents a substantial, often overlooked vegetarian strand in early Unity while distinguishing metaphysical belief from science and historical statements from current doctrine.
Tradition-specific practices
- Read Fillmore material from 1903, 1910, 1915, 1920 and 1931 historically, including Unity Inn.
- Use Blessing of Animals services, peace poles, prayer flags and plant-based fellowship meals.
- Discuss the removal in 1939 of the vegetarian statement from the 32 Statements of Faith.
Named voices and communities
- Charles and Myrtle Fillmore; Rev Carolyn J. Michael Riley and her 1987 fur-free church
- Ann Stark, Ethel Romig Fuller, G. C. Constable; Daniel Redwood and Paul Seymour
- Vegan Spirituality, Circle of Compassion and Christian vegetarian networks
Prayer, ritual and reflection
- The Prayer for Protection can be adapted to include animals without presenting the adaptation as original text.
- The kit names Unity hymns including Let There Be Peace on Earth and familiar creation hymns.
Books, films and organisations
Kit resources
- Unity archives and Wings of Song; books by Linzey, Akers, Phelps, Carman, Ricard and Tuttle.
- Unity radio, Vegan Spirituality, Climate Healers, Peace to All Beings and animal-blessing resources.
Limits of the argument
- Fear “vibrations” transferred through meat are spiritual claims, not science. Claims about alcoholism, urine or meat-caused drunkenness are unsupported and should be rejected.
Serious objections
Unity isn't about rules
Correct; the invitation is consciousness-based, not a mandate. The Fillmores simply saw diet as expressing belief.
The Fillmores' views were of their time
Their health claims may be dated, but their spiritual reason — reverence for life — is timeless.
Frequently asked questions
Was Unity Inn really vegetarian?
Yes; it served meatless meals to the public for decades and was well known in Kansas City.
Does Unity Village still have vegetarian food?
Offerings vary; many events now include plant-based options.
How can a Unity community start?
Host a Fillmore-heritage potluck and a talk on the founders' vegetarian vision.
Continue from within the tradition
Take these questions to a qualified teacher, leader or practitioner who knows both the tradition and your community.
Research trail
Sources and further reading
- 01Charles Fillmore, “Flesh-Eating Metaphysically Considered” (1910)
- 02Charles Fillmore, “Vegetarianism” (1915)
- 03Charles Fillmore, “The Vegetarian” (1920)
- 04Unity archives and Unity Magazine
- 05Will Tuttle, research on Unity vegetarian history
- 06Unity Prayer for Protection
- 07Interfaith Vegan Coalition, Unity Advocacy Kit
- 08Charles Fillmore, writings in Weekly Unity (1900s–1920s)
- 09Unity Inn menus (Kansas City, 1906–1950s)
- 10Five Unity Principles
References are given so readers can check them in the primary sources. Hadith gradings and scholarly positions are summarised in good faith; where a text is disputed we say so. Verify before you rely on anything here.
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