Eric Butterworth

Here’s a detailed biographical and thematic profile of Eric Butterworth, the metaphysical writer and Unity minister:

Eric Butterworth – Life, Message, and Legacy

Delve into the life, teachings, and influence of Eric Butterworth (1916–2003), Unity minister and New Thought author known for Discover the Power Within You and teaching practical mysticism.

Introduction

Eric Butterworth (Wilfred Eric Butterworth, 1916–2003) was a leading New Thought / Unity Church minister, author, lecturer, and spiritual teacher. He is best known for his accessible writings on metaphysical spirituality, the divine potential in humanity, and “practical mysticism.” His writings and lectures over more than half a century influenced countless seekers in the Unity movement and beyond.

Early Life & Formation

• Birth and family background
  Eric Butterworth was born September 12, 1916, in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. His mother, May Butterworth, was herself ordained as a Unity minister in 1941, which gave Eric early exposure to the Unity spiritual environment.

• Education & early spiritual training
  Butterworth attended ministerial training at Unity Village, Missouri (late 1930s to early 1940s). He served in the U.S. Army during World War II (in the Medical Corps), acting as trainer, chaplain, and counselor. After war service, he resumed ministerial studies and was ordained in 1948 in the Unity movement.

Ministry & Teaching Career

• Butterworth held ministerial posts in several Unity congregations, including in Kansas City, Pittsburgh, Detroit, and later New York City.

• In Detroit, he helped found the Detroit Unity Temple, which became one of the largest Unity congregations, drawing over 2,000 attendees on Sundays.

• In 1961, he began a prominent New York ministry, giving weekly lectures at prestigious venues—Carnegie Hall, Town Hall, and then Avery Fisher Hall. The audiences numbered in the thousands.

• Butterworth’s style was to present metaphysical/spiritual ideas with clarity, warmth, and applicability—what is often termed “practical mysticism.”

Major Works & Themes

Bibliography Highlights

Some of his best-known books include:

• Discover the Power Within You

• Spiritual Economics: The Principles and Process of True Prosperity

• In the Flow of Life

• Practical Metaphysics

• Unity: A Quest for Truth

He published around sixteen best-selling books over his lifetime.

Core Spiritual Themes

Eric Butterworth’s thought centers on several recurring ideas:

1. Divinity within
   He taught that God is not someone “out there,” but the divine presence is within each person. Recognizing and expressing that inner divinity is central to spiritual growth.

2. Practical mysticism
   Rather than purely abstract contemplation, Butterworth emphasized applying spiritual principles in daily life—relationships, work, prosperity, healing.

3. Abundance, prosperity, and universal laws
   He believed prosperity is a spiritual right, not just material gain, and that aligning with spiritual laws brings flow and abundance.

4. Positive mindset and inner transformation
   A recurring idea is that changes in consciousness (belief, attitude, thought) precede changes in outer circumstances.

5. Unity and oneness
   Butterworth’s affiliation with the Unity Church places him within a tradition that emphasizes unity (non-duality, reconciliation between spirit and form) and inclusive spirituality.

Impact & Recognition

• His books and lectures drew a wide following within New Thought and Unity circles, and beyond, reaching those interested in self-development, spiritual metaphysics, and metaphysical Christianity.

• He was the first Unity minister to appear on Oprah Winfrey’s show, and Discover the Power Within You was listed by Oprah as one of her all-time favorite books.

• The “Eric Butterworth Collection” is maintained in Unity’s archives, preserving his lectures, correspondence, and writings.

• His teaching style—clear, encouraging, bridging mystical depth and everyday relevance—earned him titles like “20th-century Emerson” within the Unity movement.

Final Years & Death

Eric Butterworth passed away on April 17, 2003, at age 86. Notably, just days before his death, his wife Olga delivered the last sermon he had written on Easter Sunday.

Selected Quotes

Here are a few representative quotes that capture his spiritual message:

“The more we understand the concepts of Jesus, the more we realize that the only time we can truthfully say, ‘That’s just the way I am,’ is when we are referring to the divinity within us.”

“The goal should not be to make money or acquire things, but to achieve consciousness through which the substance will flow forth when and as you need it.”

“What is an acorn? It is an oak tree in the making. What is an egg? It is the first stage of a performance that will lead to a bird. What is man? A man is what he can be.”

“Affluence = abundant flow.”