Mark Wenz
The Unity Church emphasizes individual freedom in spiritual growth, believing that each person has the right to choose his/her own path and beliefs without pressure to adhere to specific dogmas or creeds. Unity affirms the freedom of individuals to explore their spirituality according to their own understanding and experience. This is one of the primary reasons that Unity theology appeals to me.
Eleanor Roosevelt once stated, “With freedom comes responsibility.” Author Charles Betzler frames it this way: “Freedom includes taking responsibility for our lives. As long as it is compatible with the common good, people should be allowed to choose how they want to live. License, on the other hand, is the abandonment of all responsibility. It is carte blanche to do as we wish and is incompatible with virtue and destroys community.”
Almost all religions, including Unity, encourage believers to use one’s spiritual freedom to act charitably and responsibly rather than seeing it as the ability to do whatever you want to do, regardless of how it affects other people or the planet. As I was researching the topic “freedom in religion” in preparation for writing this piece, the words “responsibility” and “community” appeared frequently in my sources. A sampling of what I found in my exploration can be found below.
The Bible states in John 8:32 that “the truth will set you free.” Peter 2:16 teaches us to “live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God.” John was referring to the teachings of Jesus as “the truth,” stating that if one follows Jesus, then one will be free to live a life of glory. Similarly, in Judaism, freedom is not merely the absence of constraint, but a connection to God and a commitment to His will, expressed through free will, ethical behavior, and the pursuit of teshuva (repentance/return). It’s about choosing life, fulfilling responsibilities, and striving for redemption both individually and collectively. In Islam, freedom is a multifaceted concept encompassing religious freedom, freedom of expression, and individual liberty, all within the framework of divine guidance and social responsibility. It’s easy to see the parallels shared by these three Abrahamic theologies.
Religious freedom is also an important concept in both Buddhism and Hinduism. In Buddhism, freedom is primarily understood as liberation from suffering. This freedom is achieved by overcoming desire, attachment, and ignorance, which are seen as the root causes of suffering. It involves cultivating wisdom and compassion and ultimately realizing a state of liberation from the cycle of rebirth. Hinduism also emphasizes personal freedom from the cycle of rebirth through the cessation of desires, attachments, and the consequences of actions (karma). Like in Unity, Hinduism allows for freedom in matters of faith and worship, encouraging individuals to explore different spiritual paths.
I encourage each of you to utilize your spiritual freedom to make the planet a better place for you, your family, and your community. God bless.