2023/01/11

알라딘: 이슬람문명

알라딘: 이슬람문명


이슬람문명 
정수일 (지은이)창비2002-08-30






정가
22,000원
판매가
20,900원 (5%, 1,100원 할인)
마일리지
1,100원(5%) + 멤버십(3~1%)
+ 5만원이상 구매시 2,000원
배송료
무료
311
양탄자배송
오후 1시까지 주문하면 밤 11시 잠들기전 배송
(중구 서소문로 89-31 기준) 지역변경
문명/문명사 주간 39위, 종합 top100 3주|
Sales Point : 2,777

8.3 100자평(3)리뷰(15)

404쪽


책소개
9.11 테러 이후 이슬람에 대한 관심은 부쩍 높아졌으나, '이슬람교는 폭력과 타락의 종교'라는 편견으로 인하여 중세를 풍미했던 이슬람 문명의 역사적 역할은 외면당하기 일쑤였다. 그러나 이슬람 문명은 신앙체계만이 아닌, 정치. 경제. 생활문화. 학문. 예술 등 사회생활을 모든 영역을 포괄하는 '생활양식'이다.

이 책은 문명교류사의 권위자인 지은이가 이같은 인식에서 입각하여「신동아」에 연재했던 글을 수정, 보완한 것으로 이슬람 문명의 여러 분야를 포괄적으로 다룬 일종의 개설서이다. 지금껏 나왔던 <이슬람> 등의 책보다는 좀 더 본격적이고 체계적인 점이 특징이라 할 수 있다.

총 13장으로 구성된 책은 이슬람교와 이슬람 문명의 여러 영역을 소개한다. 제1장에서는 이슬람과 이슬람 문명, 이슬람 문명권의 개념을 정리하며 2장에서는 이슬람의 출현과 확산 과정을, 3장에서는 이슬람교의 교조인 무함마드의 생애와 위업을 다룬다. 4~6장에서는 이슬람교에 대해 좀 더 깊이 알아보며, 7~12장까지는 이슬람 특유의 정치관, 경제관, 학문과 예술, 일상생활과 사회운동에 대해 세세히 다룬다. 13장에서는 한국과 이슬람의 관계를 역사적으로 검토하면서 책 전체를 아우르고 있다.


목차


책머리에
일러두기

제1장 이슬람, 왜 알아야 하는가
제2장 이슬람의 출현과 확산
제3장 교조 무함마드
제4장 경전 '꾸르안'
제5장 이슬람교의 여섯 사지 믿음
제6장 이슬람교의 다섯 기둥
제7장 정치관
제8장 경제관
제9장 학문
제10장 문학과 예술
제11장 생활문화
제12장 사회운동
제13장 한국과 이슬람

이슬람사 연표
이슬람력과 서력 비교표
찾아보기



저자 및 역자소개
정수일 (지은이)
저자파일
신간알리미 신청

중국 옌볜에서 태어나 옌볜고급중학교와 베이징대학 동방학부를 졸업했다. 카이로대학 인문학부를 중국의 국비유학생으로 수학했고 중국 외교부 및 모로코 주재 중국 대사관에서 근무했다. 평양국제관계대학 및 평양외국어대학 동방학부 교수를 지내고, 튀니지대학 사회경제연구소 연구원 및 말레이대학 이슬람아카데미 교수로 있었다. 단국대 대학원 사학과 박사과정을 수료하고, 동 대학 사학과 교수로 있었다. 국가보안법 위반 혐의로 5년간 복역하고 2000년 출소했다. 현재 사단법인 한국문명교류연구소 소장으로, 문명교류학의 세계적 권위자로서 연구에 전념하고 있다.
저서로 『신라·서역교류사』『세계 속의 동과 서』『기초 아랍어』『실크로드학』『고대문명교류사』『문명의 루트 실크로드』『문명교류사 연구』『이슬람문명』『소걸음으로 천리를 가다』『한국 속의 세계』(상·하)『실크로드 문명기행: 오아시스로 편』『문명담론과 문명교류』『실크로드 사전』(한글·영어)『실크로드 도록』(육로·해로·초원로편)『민족론과 통일담론』『우리 안의 실크로드』 등 이 책 『시대인, 소명에 따르다: 정수일 회고록』을 포함해 29종 36권, 역주서는 『이븐 바투타 여행기』(전 2권)『중국으로 가는 길』『혜초의 왕오천축국전』『오도릭의 동방기행』등 4종 5권으로 총 33종 41권의 저서 및 역주서가 있다.

정수일 어록

• ‘다민족’과 ‘다문화’는 각이한 민족들의 정체성이 존중될 때만이 비로소 시대정신이 될 수 있다.
• ‘세계사적 시대’ ‘민족사적 시대’는 층위적 개념이 아니라 시공을 초월한 상호 보완적이며 평행적인 개념이다.
• ‘일체성’이야말로 미래의 인류를 다 같이 공생 공영할 수 있게 하는 역사의 원초적 뿌리이며 밑거름이다.
• 나는 나의 학문관을 아위중, 술이작, 천일정의 세 기둥으로 받쳐 세우고 그 실천에 일로매진했다.
— 아위중(我爲重): 우리의 것이 중요하다
— 술이작(述而作): 선인의 것을 서술할 뿐만 아니라, 새것을 창작하다
— 천일정(穿一井): 한 우물을 깊이 파다
• 인류가 염원하는 ‘보편 문명’은 결코 어떤 특정 집단에 의해서만 성취되지 않으며, 그 누구의 전유물로 전락될 수도 없다.
• ‘보편 문명’은 오로지 서로의 부정이 아닌 긍정, 상극이 아닌 상생 속에서 문명 간의 부단한 상부상조적 교류를 통해서만 실현 가능하다.
• ‘문명의 교류’는 인류가 공생 공영하는 이상사회로 가는 첩경이다. 접기

최근작 : <시대인, 소명에 따르다>,<문명의 모자이크 유럽을 가다 1>,<우리 안의 실크로드> … 총 55종 (모두보기)


출판사 소개
창비
도서 모두보기
신간알리미 신청


최근작 : <재와 빨강 (리마스터판)>,<겨울 이불>,<암태도>등 총 2,936종
대표분야 : 국내창작동화 1위 (브랜드 지수 2,668,451점), 청소년 소설 1위 (브랜드 지수 1,207,933점), 여성학/젠더 1위 (브랜드 지수 165,990점)





북플 bookple
이 책의 마니아가 남긴 글
친구가 남긴 글
내가 남긴 글


친구가 남긴 글이 아직 없습니다.

마니아
읽고 싶어요 (21)
읽고 있어요 (10)
읽었어요 (34)
이 책 어때요?



구매자
분포



0.8% 10대

0.8%


8.5% 20대

7.6%


17.6% 30대

19.9%


13.9% 40대

19.3%


2.5% 50대

7.6%


0.4% 60대

1.0%
여성 남성

평점
분포

8.3




27.8%


61.1%


11.1%


0%


0%



100자평






등록


카테고리

스포일러 포함
글 작성 유의사항


구매자 (2)
전체 (3)
공감순







남을 이해하고 아는 것은 동시대를 사는 사람들의 의무입니다. 너무나도 많은 고통을 당하고 있는 중동의 이슬람 세계.이슬람교의 성립과 내용, 그 생활 문화까지 자세히 소개되어 있습니다.
올챙이 2012-08-25 공감 (2) 댓글 (0)
Thanks to
공감





이슬람 문명을 설명한 한글 책 중 비교적 읽을만했다고 생각합니다. 조금 지루한 부분도 있긴하지만, 이슬람 문명과 무슬림을 이해하는 데에 많은 도움이 되었습니다. 읽고나니, 이슬람 국가로 여행 떠나고 싶어지네요 ㅡㅡ;
zikomo 2014-02-20 공감 (0) 댓글 (0)
Thanks to
공감





마이리뷰
구매자 (5)
전체 (15)
리뷰쓰기
공감순




책은 멋진데 재미는 없는.



오래오래 끌고 있으면서 마음의 빚 같은 것까지 얹혀져있던 책인데, 마침내 ‘해치웠다’. 공들여 쓴 책, 고졸한 문체에 이슬람에 대한 애정이 팍팍 느껴지는 글, 곁들인 사진과 연표, 표지도 멋지고 종이 질도 좋고... 그런데 솔직히 ‘재미’는 없다. 이슬람 ‘문화’에 대해 맛뵈기로 알기 위해서라면 도움이 되고, 정치사정에 대해서라면 큰 도움은 안 된다. 또 이슬람에 애정이 많다보니(저자는 무슬림인 듯) 너무 좋게만 설명해놓은 듯한 감이 없잖아 많다.
다른 이슬람 관련서적과 다른 점이 있다면, 문명의 문제를 넓고 길게 보는 것, 산전수전 다 겪은 노학자에게서 나오는 통찰력과 세상사에 대한 애정어린 잔잔한 시선 같은 것들, 그런 것들이 좋다. 아랍어 전공 교수가 '개괄서'로 쓴 책들에서는 찾아보기 힘든 그런 시선이 이 책의 최대 강점이다.

뒷부분에 한국과 이슬람의 관계에 대해서도 한 챕터를 할애했는데, 그 분야야말로 저자의 전공이다. 신라 설화 속 처용이 서역인이었을 것이라는 주장은 정수일선생이 주도적으로 해왔던 논지이고, 그것에 대한 책도 낸 적이 있다. 이 책에서도 우리와 이슬람의 관계에 대해 사료들은 물론이고 문화적인 여러가지를 짚어가면서 설명을 하고, 또 그것을 문명 간의 만남의 한 예로 설명해준다. 정수일 선생이 아니고서는 짚기 힘든 부분들인 듯 싶기도 하다.
- 접기
딸기 2006-06-07 공감(6) 댓글(8)
Thanks to
공감



국정교과서 같은 책

'이슬람 문명에 관한 국정교과서이다'라고 생각하고 읽기 시작하면 거의 틀림이 없을겁니다. 국정교과서 다운 특징으로

- 역사, 신앙, 사회, 정치, 경제, 우리나라에 대한 관계까지 거의 모든 분야가 꼼꼼하게 설명되어 있습니다.
- 상당히 이슬람위주의 시각에서 쓰여졌습니다.(마치 우리나라 사회나 국사책을 읽는 듯 합니다)
- '첫째','둘째','셋째' 이런식으로 밑줄 쳐가며 읽기 좋게 정리되어 있습니다.
- 각 항복별 분량이 아주 적절하게 배치되어 있습니다.

국사교과서를 보면 흥미위주의 '영토경쟁'과 대규모 '전쟁'에 대한 이야기들 뿐만 아니라 다양한 '사회문화'와 '경제' 등에 대한 내용이 더 많은 것처럼 '이슬람'에 대해 공부하기 좋은 책입니다. (개인적으로 밑줄 많이 치며 읽었습니다. 마치 시험공부하듯 외워야 될거 같아서) 또한,조금은 '편파적이다'싶을 정도로 철저하게 이슬람의 시각에 따라 편집되어 있습니다. 이것도 마치 국정 교과서 같은 냄새가 나죠.

아무리 그래도 '이슬람'에 대한 정보를 많이 얻고 싶다면 이 책은 꽤나 추천할 만합니다. (교과서라니까요)

그외에 이 책만의 매력이 몇가지 있습니다.
- 표지의 빨간옷을 입은 인물의 표면은 다른 부분과 다릅니다. 마루 장판을 만지는 기분이랄까요? 서점에서 한번 만져보시기 바랍니다.
- 흥미롭고 해상도 좋은 칼라 사진이 가득합니다. 사진만 봐도 책에 끌립니다.(이상하게도 작가의 사진은 흑백이더군요-_-)
- 저자분이 남한 출신이 아니라서 그런지 아니면, 나이가 들어서 그런지 몰라도 생소한 문어체 용어들이 많이 나옵니다.
(파천황적, 기복무상, 질정, 언필칭... 등등)

'한손에 코란, 한손에 검'이라는 말은 이슬람사람이 한 얘기가 아니랍니다. 누가 했는지 궁금하시면 직접 읽어보시기 바랍니다. 또한, 이 책을 읽고나서는 '코란'이나 '모하매드'라고 말하지 않고, '꾸르안'과 '무함마드'라고 말해야 할것 같은 생각이 들게 되는 책입니다.

- 접기
Crafter 2002-09-26 공감(3) 댓글(0)
Thanks to
공감



친절하게 이슬람 세계로 안내해 드립니다

정수일 선생님의 쉽고 자세한 '강의노트'라고 생각합니다. 선생님의 학문적 깊이와 따뜻한 애정이 함께 있는 책이라고 할까요? 우선 선생님의 학문적인 깊이는, 놀랍다고 밖에 할 수 없습니다. 중국에서 태어나 중동과 말레이시아를 거쳐 대한민국에 이르는 동안 그가 사용한 언어만 해도 여러가지이고요, 풍부한 한문과 아랍어 실력, 감옥 안에서도 책을 집필하는 학문적 열정, 짧은 시간 내에 두꺼운 책들을 술술 번역하는 부지런함, 정치에서 경제 사회 문화 여성 문제등 여러 가지 이슬람이 관련된 것이라면 어떤 것이든지 모르는 분이 없으신 분이십니다... + 더보기
리뷰어 2003-06-27 공감(1) 댓글(0)
Thanks to
공감



모든 분들의 일독을 권합니다.

이전에 정 수일 선생의 책을 읽으며 느낀 점은 '쉽게 읽히지 않는다'였습니다. 그러나 이 책은 저의 이러한 선입견을 깨어 주었습니다.

책의 서두에 저자는 이스람은 '순종과 평화'를, 무스림은 '복종하는 자'를 뜻하는 말임을 설명하면서 이스람 문명과 그안에서 삶을 영위하고 있는 사람들의 성격을 설명하고 책의 실제적 말미라 할 수 있는 12장에서는 '이슬람 근본주의'라는 말이 왜 근본적으로 말이 될 수 없는 말인지를 설명하면서 서방에서 일방적으로 왜곡한 현대의 제 이슬람 조류에 대해서 설명하고 있습니다.

그사이사이로 이슬람을 유지하는 오주(다섯개 기둥 : 알라가 유일신이고 무함마드가 그의 성스러운 사자라는 신앙증언, 예배, 종교부금이라는 뜻의 자카트, 금식, 성지순례)와 육신(여섯가지 믿음 : 유일신 알라, 천사 경전, 예언자, 최후 심판, 정명-시아파의 경우 자유의지)에 대해 설명하고 있습니다. 이외에 코란에 대한 설명과 이들의 정치/경제/생활문화등에 대해서 설명하고 있습니다.

너무 선의의 해석을 한다는 아래 독자평이 있습니다만, 이 또한 서방 일변도의 교육과 서방 언론 의존에 기인한 편견이 아닐까 싶습니다.

중동 아프리카 지역 수출을 맡게 되면서 시장에 대한 공부 차원에서 선택한 도서였는데 이런 류의 도서로는 희안하게 중간에 다른 도서로 방해받지 않고 일독을 완료했습니다.

모든 분들께 일독을 권합니다.
- 접기
한계령너머 2004-01-26 공감(1) 댓글(0)
Thanks to
공감

What is the Salvation Army, and what do they believe? | GotQuestions.org

What is the Salvation Army, and what do they believe? | GotQuestions.org


Home Content Index Christianity Protestant Christianity Salvation Army
QUESTION

What is the Salvation Army, and what do they believe?

ANSWER

The Salvation Army describes itself as “an evangelical part of the universal Christian Church with its own distinctive governance and practices.” Most people recognize the red-and-white shield of the Salvation Army as representing a social services organization that responds to disasters, feeds the homeless, and runs thrift stores. Many do not realize the underlying purpose of those efforts is rooted in the gospel of Jesus Christ.

The Salvation Army was founded in 1865 by William Booth, who saw a great need for reaching the poor and destitute in England with the gospel of Jesus Christ (Luke 14:21). He began an evangelistic ministry on the streets, and as these people responded to the gospel, Booth directed them to the various churches and chapels in their neighborhoods. As these “undesirables” came into the very proper Victorian churches, they were often rejected because of their unorthodox dress and habits. To provide a place for them to worship and be discipled, William Booth founded the East London Christian Mission. When Booth was dictating a letter referencing believers as God’s army, the name “Salvation Army” was coined, and Booth began forming his mission in a military structure.

Booth named himself the General of the Salvation Army, and his wife, Catherine, was named “Mother of the Salvation Army.” From the beginning, women were given the same freedom and authority as men, and Catherine was an ordained minister in the organization. Ministers were given military officer ranks in keeping with their duties and experience, and church members were called soldiers. One reason for this military identification was a reminder that as Christians, they were in permanent mission to the unconverted. William Booth identified the approach to his work in “three S’s” - Soup, Soap, and Salvation. In order to give the message of salvation, the physical needs of the people were met. That method is still kept today.

While the Salvation Army was started as an independent Christian Church, Booth was careful to avoid criticizing other churches. He viewed each church as a part of the Body of Christ, and therefore harmony and cooperation were to be encouraged. One Salvationist expressed differences between churches this way: “In the overall economy of God there are no inherent contradictions, but there are creative paradoxes.” Since many in the churches seemed to rely on the outward symbols of the faith (baptism & communion), yet didn’t live out a personal faith, Booth eliminated all forms of outward observance in his church. The Salvation Army sees all of life as a sacrament to be lived for God, so baptism and the Lord’s Supper are not practiced, and the style of worship can vary significantly from location to location. The emphasis in the Salvation Army is on personal religion and individual regeneration, with a commitment to unceasingly proclaim the gospel.

The basic doctrines of the Salvation Army are like most evangelical churches: a belief in the Trinity, the full divinity and humanity of Jesus Christ, the full depravity of man at birth, the atoning death of Jesus Christ for man’s sin, and the essential need of repentance and faith for salvation. Following Arminian theology, the Army teaches that continued salvation depends on continued obedience to the Word of God.

Keeping with the social efforts that began the mission, the Salvation Army has always included social justice and charitable work as a key part of its ministry. In World War II, the Salvation Army operated 3,000 service units for soldiers and sailors, which led to the formation of the USO. 

Today the Army carries on a wide range of work, including prison visits, disaster response, refugee assistance, addiction and dependency treatment, daycare and children’s homes, homeless and domestic violence shelters, thrift stores, hospitals, clinics, and schools. 

They are recognized worldwide as a charitable organization that exists to help others. In fact, the Salvation Army is one of the world’s largest providers of social help. It has permanent ministries in 127 countries and 175 languages and provides assistance to millions of people every year.



FOR FURTHER STUDY

Who are the Quakers, and what does the Friends Church believe? | GotQuestions.org

Who are the Quakers, and what does the Friends Church believe? | GotQuestions.org


Home Content Index Christianity Protestant Christianity Quakers / Friends
QUESTION

Who are the Quakers, and what does the Friends Church believe?


ANSWER

The Quakers, or the Religious Society of Friends, began when people within the Church of England saw corruption and false doctrine rise in that body in the 1650s. With Puritanism also came a type of Phariseeism driven by personal pride and doctrinal divisiveness. A non-conformist movement was started by those who sought to distance themselves from Puritanism. 

The earliest dissenters went about seeking others of like mind and practice and were thus called “Seekers.” When they met together, it was not to formally pray or preach, but simply to wait together for God to speak to them. Other dissenters, such as the Ranters, embraced extreme doctrines. The Ranters believed that whatever might have been sinful before faith in Christ was no longer sinful because of the grace of God. The Ranter’s antinomianism contradicts the clear teaching of Romans 6:1–2.

Seeing the problems among the Ranters, other dissenters sought “the right way to peace with God” and turned to “the light of Jesus Christ within them,” according to William Penn. The Quakers viewed the traditional Christian as “conceited of himself, and strong in his own will and righteousness, overcome with blind zeal and passion.” George Fox, the founder of Quakerism, said the name “Quaker” was first used as a derogatory term in court, “because we bid them tremble at the Word of God.” Quakers were persecuted widely in England and the American Colonies and were often imprisoned or put to death for their beliefs. Because of this widespread persecution, William Penn founded the Pennsylvania Colony to provide a safe haven for Quakers.

The practical emphases of Quaker doctrine have always been 
1) reliance on the direct guidance of the Holy Spirit, 
2) love for one another, 
3) love for enemies (pacifism), and 
4) the sufficiency of truth-speaking (not taking any oaths). 
With their emphasis on “the inner light” and the movement of the Spirit, Quakers typically shun systematic theology and doctrinal creeds. 

Most Quakers hold to evangelical doctrines, [?] 
but a small minority holds to liberal theology and universalism. 
Some support a traditional view of marriage, 
while others affirm and support gay marriage.

One of the distinctives of Quakerism is the practice of “group spiritual discernment,” whereby the Friends wait on God to lead them in whatever business is at hand. This sensitivity to the Spirit’s moving is indeed valuable and often lacking in other churches. 

On the other hand, if the people in the group have not sufficiently studied the Scriptures for God’s revealed will, the group may “feel led” to something that violates Scripture. This is why the apostle John commanded us to “believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God” (1 John 4:1). Historically, the Quakers have always tried to emphasize the social aspects of the gospel. They were involved in ending slavery and increasing the rights of women and minorities. One of Amnesty International’s founders was a Quaker, and the Quakers have been strong supporters of that organization ever since.

FOR FURTHER STUDY





===
===
Test the Spirits

4 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. 

2 By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 
3 and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already. 
4 Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. 
5 They are from the world; therefore they speak from the world, and fthe world listens to them. 
6 We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and ithe spirit of error.

What is Unitarian Universalism? | GotQuestions.org

What is Unitarian Universalism? | GotQuestions.org

What is Unitarian Universalism?

NSWER

Unitarian Universalism is a fairly small, yet widely influential, religious group. Having some 300,000 registered members, mostly in the United States, they are becoming more and more popular. Relativism, tolerance, and alternative lifestyles are all buzz words used by Unitarian Universalism.

The Unitarian Universalist name comes from their denial of the doctrine of the Trinity and their belief that all human beings gain salvation. According to Universalists, the mere idea someone might go to hell is not compatible with the character of a loving God. Its roots go all the way back to the sixteenth century when Unitarian beliefs became popular during the Reformation. Unitarian thought and Universal thought were merged together during the late eighteenth-century in America during the Age of Reason. The intellectual elite of that time refused to believe in such biblical teachings as total depravity and eternal damnation, but rather embraced the idea of a loving God who would never cause someone to suffer.

Adherents of Unitarian Universalism base their beliefs primarily upon their own experiences and are not committed to any one religious system. They believe that individuals have the right to decide for themselves what to believe in and that others should not infringe upon this right. As a result, one such believer might lean toward liberal Christianity, while another might lean toward New Age spirituality. There is no real dogma beyond tolerance—for everything except biblical Christianity. Unitarian Universalists view the Bible as a book of poetry, myth, and moral teaching, a completely human book and not truly the Word of God. They reject the Bible’s portrayal of a Triune God, leaving the concept of God up to each individual’s imagination.

To the Unitarian Universalist, Jesus was a good moral teacher, but nothing more. He is not considered to be divine, and every miracle associated with Him is rejected as being outside of human reason. Most sayings of Jesus recorded in the Bible are regarded as embellishments on the part of the authors. Among the Universalist beliefs: Jesus did not die to save mankind from sin, as man is not a fallen sinner; emphasis is placed on humankind’s capacity for goodness; sin is completely relative, and the term itself is rarely used; man saves himself through personal improvement, salvation being a purely worldly experience, a "waking up" to the world around oneself. This is very important, for death is final. Most Unitarian Universalists deny the existence of an afterlife, so all we have on earth is all we’ll ever get.

The Bible, on the other hand, refutes these falsehoods. Jesus does save mankind, which was in a fallen state since the Garden of Eden and separated from God by sin (John 10:15Romans 3:24-255:81 Peter 2:24). 

Man is not good, but sinful and hopelessly lost. It is only through the grace of God and faith in the shed blood of Christ on the cross that mankind can be reconciled to a holy, transcendent God (Genesis 2:16-173:1-19); John 3:36Romans 3:231 Corinthians 2:14Ephesians 2:1-31 Timothy 2:13-141 John 1:8).

Unitarian Universalism has nothing in common with biblical Christianity. It is a false gospel, its teachings are contrary to the Bible, and its members strongly oppose traditional, biblical Christian beliefs (while purporting to be free of discrimination or prejudice of any kind). The Bible clearly refutes Unitarian Universalism on all the major points of its teachings.

What is the Unity Church / Unity School of Christianity? | GotQuestions.org

What is the Unity Church / Unity School of Christianity? | GotQuestions.org

What is the Unity Church / Unity School of Christianity?

Unity Church, Unity School of Christianityaudio
ANSWER


Unity is an organization related to the New Thought movement. It was formerly called Unity Church (or Unity School) of Christianity. It is not to be confused with Unitarian Universalism or Christian Science, although they have many beliefs in common. Unity has its headquarters at Unity Village, near Kansas City, Missouri. 
From their own website: "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." 

There are approximately 110,000 members in over 300 Unity churches. It is one of the largest metaphysical groups in the United States, and its magazine, Daily Word, has millions of readers.

The Unity Church got its start through an illness. Myrtle had developed tuberculosis and was searching for anything that would heal her. After attending a lecture by Dr. Eugene Weeks, a disciple of Quimby’s New Thought teachings, she learned about metaphysical healing. Two years after this lecture, and after much research and personal application of metaphysics, she claims she was healed. Her husband, while skeptical at first, began to study metaphysics also, as well as other religions and philosophies. 

What emerged was the Unity School of Christianity, named after Charles heard a voice say to him, "Unity." This name was appropriate, as the Fillmores' religious philosophy was a mix of New Thought, Christian Science, Divine Science, Hinduism, Theosophy, Rosicrucianism, Spiritualism, etc. To quote Charles, they "borrowed the best from all religions." Excited by Myrtle’s healing and by the knowledge they had recently acquired, they began holding meetings to teach others their new theology.

The Unity Church claims that, through adherence to its teachings, people can be happier and healthier and can achieve their divine potential. 
Although it calls itself Christian, there is much that separates the Unity movement from true, biblical Christianity
Their website states that "Unity is an open-minded, accepting spiritual community that honors all paths to God and helps people discover and live their spiritual potential and purpose." 
They claim to follow the teachings of Jesus, but their self-definition contradicts this because Jesus said, "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No man comes to the Father, but by Me" (John 14:6). 
Jesus did not honor any other path to God but Himself (John 3:16-1810:7-13). Acts 4:12 says, "And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved."

The following is a brief explanation of some of the ways Unity beliefs are in conflict with true Christianity:

God: Unity considers God as an idea or a power, rather than a Person. Scripture paints the opposite picture. From Genesis to Revelation, God presents Himself as a Father (Matthew 5:16), Creator (Isaiah 43:15), Provider (Philippians 4:19), and Healer (Exodus 15:26Deuteronomy 32:39). He exhibits the personality and traits of a Person. He speaks (Job 2:2Acts 22:10), feels (Judges 2:20), loves (Psalm 37:28), sings (Zephaniah 3:17), fights (Exodus 14:14), and delights in those who love Him (Psalm 37:23).

Jesus: The Unity website says this about Jesus: "We believe that Jesus expressed his divine potential and sought to show humankind how to express ours as well. We see Jesus as a master teacher of universal truths and as our Way Shower. In Unity, we use the term Christ to mean the divinity in humankind." The Bible teaches that Jesus was "the only begotten Son of the Father" (1 John 4:9). He did not "possess a divine Spark"; He was the Word become flesh (John 1:1Philippians 2:5-11). He accepted worship, which only God can righteously do (Matthew 2:11John 9:3820:28Hebrews 1:6). His purpose was not "to express his divine potential and seek to show humankind how to express ours." He said the night before His crucifixion that "it was for this very reason I came to this hour" (John 12:27). If Jesus came to show us how to "live our divinity," why did He state that His death on the cross was the reason He came?

Humanity: Unity teaches that "our essential nature is divine and therefore inherently good. Our purpose is to express our divine potential as realized and demonstrated by Jesus and other master teachers." This is directly contrary to biblical teaching. Romans 3:10 says, "There is none righteous, no not one." Titus 3:5 says, "He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy." Romans 5:12 states clearly that we are not born good: "Death spread to all men because all sinned." Verses 9 and 10 say that we were under the “wrath of God” and that “we were enemies” of God. The Bible is clear that man is inherently sinful and cannot attain righteousness by his own efforts. Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection paid for our sin and purchased a way for us to be reconciled to God. C. S. Lewis summarized the truth about Jesus when he wrote, "You can shut Him up for a fool, you can spit at Him and kill Him as a demon; or you can fall at His feet and call Him Lord and God. But let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about His being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.”

Heaven and hell: The Unity site declares that "heaven and hell are states of consciousness, not geographical locations. We make our own heaven or hell here and now by our thoughts, words, and deeds." However, Jesus said, "This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous and throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth" (Matthew 13:49-50). The apostle Paul spoke of being "absent from the body and present with the Lord" (2 Corinthians 5:8-10). Hebrews 9:27 is clear that "it is appointed unto man once to die and after that, the judgment." Jesus showed us exactly what happens after death in the story of the rich man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31). It is impossible to read the Bible honestly and not see the themes of eternal life and judgment.

The Bible: The Unity site claims that "the Bible is Unity’s basic textbook." But this statement is deceptive. Judging by their many erroneous doctrines, Unity does not view the Bible as infallible or literal. The founders of Unity saw the Bible "as history and allegory and interpreted it as a metaphysical representation of humankind’s evolutionary journey toward spiritual awakening." They claim to consider it inspired, but they clearly believe that inspiration did not come from a perfect, unchangeable God (Numbers 23:19Hebrews 13:8James 1:17). The term inspired appears to refer to human inspiration rather than “God-breathed” (2 Timothy 3:16).


The Unity movement cannot be accurately described as a "church." The term in Scripture always refers to a body of believers, saved through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ (Matthew 16:16-18). 

Since “faith in Christ” means something entirely different in the Unity organization, their doctrine does not lead to salvation, heaven, or a relationship with the true and living God. 

Such pseudo-Christian religions are far from harmless.

Any group that denies the triune nature of God (Matthew 28:19), the depravity of man (Romans 3:23), the infallibility of Scripture (John 17:17), and the deity and lordship of Jesus Christ (Philippians 2:11) is not of God. 

The Bible has strong words for those who pervert its teaching.

 Galatians 1:7-8 says, "There are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed." Proverbs 14:12 also applies to groups like Unity: "There is a way which seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death."


RELATED ARTICLES
What is religious syncretism?What is Christian Science?What is the Unification Church?What is Unitarian Universalism?What is the Way International?Return to:

Questions about Cults and Religions

What is the Unity Church / Unity School of Christianity?

=====

Galatians 1 NIV - Paul, an apostle—sent not from men
https://www.biblegateway.com › passage › search=Galat...




1 Paul, an apostle—sent not from men nor by a man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead— 2 and all the brothers and sisters ...


Galatians 1 King James Version - Bible Gateway
https://www.biblegateway.com › passage › search=Galat...




1 Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;) · And all the brethren which are with me ...
관련 질문


What does Galatians chapter 1 mean?


The meaning of Galatians one is an introduction to the book of Galatians. Paul is stating that he has been told by God to write to the people of Galatia on His account. Paul wants the people to do what is right in the eyes of God.