MYRTLE & REGENERATION: Words & Deeds

In considering Myrtle Fillmore's views on regeneration, I think it is very important to go beyond what she said and wrote. It is critical to also examine how she lived in reality and other biographic facts.

John Mitchell was the Attorney General in the Nixon Administration. He became very famous for saying, "Look at what we do and not just at what we say." This turned out to be a very prescient admonition! Thus I will first examine Mrs. Fillmore's words regarding regeneration. But then, equally as important, we should look at she lived her life at several key junctions.

The Words:

Myrtle Fillmore was very clear in her stand on regeneration and the Biblical support for her position. She noted that, "Years have no power to take from life that which God has ordained shall be endless, permanent, enduring, eternal life...Doesn't Jesus Christ tell us plainly, 'He that believeth on the Son hath eternal life?' "I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish.' 'For as the Father hath life in himself, even so gave he to the Son to have life in himself.' 'I cam that they may have life, and may have it abundantly.' 1/

She went on to note that "Jesus Christ resurrected His body temple from the tomb, and He lives in this spiritualized body now...He promised that the things He did all His followers would do' " 2/

Neal Vahle, in his biography of Myrtle Fillmore, insists that "Myrtle believed human beings could-- through the proper understanding and application of Truth Principles-- regenerate the cells of their bodies, remain youthful and vigorous despite advancing years, and ultimately overcome physical death...This was not a task for the faint hearted. 'It is no easy matter,' she warned.' " 3/

She believed that "Thoughts are formative", and the key was "As he thinketh within himself, so is he." 4/

 Myrtle Fillmore had a very striking similarity to Adam Smith (who is often pointed to as the father of modern Economics. No, I have not come across and evidence that Myrtle ever read Adam Smith. But the online lectures by Rev. Thomas E. Witherspoon on the history of Unity indicates that both Charles and Myrtle were interested in the entrepreneurial spirit both in religion and commerce.) Smith's great classic, THE WEALTH OF NATIONS, is very interested in how a poor society can become wealthy. But for Smith it was NEVER 'wealth for wealth's sake.' For Smith is was always about something he called 'Natural Liberty.' He saw wealth as a way of producing a society that could be interested in freedom, liberty, and the development of the individual and culture. In a same way, for Myrtle Fillmore, regeneration was not about looking like some young movie star for all ages. Regeneration was about becoming more of love and service to "the Christ within." Health and vitality were important so that they could be productive resources leading to the abundant life-- which meant more spiritual growth and realizing an even greater unity with the One.

The Deeds:

Beyond Myrtle's words, what can we learn from her life about her views on regeneration?

I believe we can learn several important points, including:

-- Myrtle did not believe that Planet Earth and our current bodies (however transformed) were the only way that a person could experience spiritual growth. I think Myrtle had some very similar views as Joseph Campbell. In his book A Hero of A Thousand Faces, Campbell points out that despite their differences, there is a very similar pattern to the hero stories and myths from around the world. It might take different twists and turns in different cultures, but the pattern was clear. But there was no one path that resulted in spiritual transformation.

--Myrtle believed in regeneration, but felt for her it would happen for her in a different realm and place from Earth-- and she did not have to keep on working with the same body. But regeneration would come. She knew when it was time for her to make her transition in 1931 (despite her seeming good health!) Her friend Earnest Wilson asked her to stay on Planet Earth. But Myrtle responded: "Now Earnet, you know better. It's time for me to make the change. Besides, you know I can help more from the other side of life than I can from this." 5/

--Thus, regeneration was very important to her theology and goals. But she did not think it could only happen one way. Like Joseph Campbell, she believed that regeneration could have 'a thousand different faces.'

A Closing Thought:

When we think about regeneration and Myrtle-- and Charles-- Fillmore, I think we should keep in mind Albert Einstein and quantum mechanics. Einstein always have some serious doubts about quantum theory. Yes, it worked, he said. But "God does not play dice with the universe."

Currently, most leading physicists of our day would see Einstein as the "odd man out" in terms of quantum mechanics. But you never know! It could very well be that by the 22nd Century there is a major change in physics and Einstein's views on quantum mechanics are seen as prescient as John Mitchell's views of the actions of the Nixon Administration. :))

In a similar manner, some of Myrtle and Charles' views on regeneration may seem questionable to some today. But who knows if they turn out to be as prescient as Einstein's views on quantum mechanics?


1/ Myrtle Fillmore, Healing Letters, p. 91

2/ ibid.

3/Neal Vahle, Torch-Bearer to Light the Way,  p. 92

4/Myrtle Fillmore, HTLGHY, p. 75

5/ Neal Vahle, op. cit./ p. 137-138.