Since 2017, the mission of Edwardsville Unity has been to encourage togetherness and solidarity through education, collaboration and community building activities. All are welcome to join this free and open group. Edwardsville Unity invites people from all religious and spiritual backgrounds, as well as agnostic and atheist beliefs, to participate on an equal footing, taking care that members share their beliefs without promoting them above those of others. Diversity is required to have true unity. Diversity of race, culture, and experience along with all other forms of diversity, are worthy of inclusion. While not strictly a secular group, Edwardsville Unity events include readings, prayers and scriptures from many of the world’s religions that focus on unity rather than promoting specific religious beliefs. These universal truths can be applied to our lives and communities toward the goal of increasing togetherness, regardless of their origins. One example is the quote “So powerful is the light of unity that it can illuminate the whole earth,” from the Baha’i Faith, that highlights the lofty goals inspiring the project’s formation Edwardsville Unity, originally established by local members of the Baha’i Faith, whose core belief is the oneness of all people and religions, identified a need in the community for a space to include both faith-based and secular groups. Our aim is to provide forums for celebrating ideas, culture, art and music from the rich variety within Edwardsville and surrounding areas. Join us in our discussions and events to share your voice and perspective. Collectively, we will contribute to a wider vision of unity for Edwardsville.
Edwardsville Unity is a private foundation organization. Funded in-full or in-part by Illinois Humanities for the COVID-19 Emergency Grant
Current Activities
Edwardsville Unity Member Meetings
- Typically, every other Thursday at 6 PM at the Edwardsville Library
- Sharing and listening to diverse perspectives
- Exploring the skills to build new communities
- Open to all, enabling people from any background to advance on an equal footing to apply unifying principles to their individual and collective lives
Soul Sunday – Interfaith Programs
- Every Sunday at 10:30-11:30 AM at the Fuller Dome, SIUE Campus
- The heart of this spiritual gathering is the sharing of prayers, inspirational readings, and passages from the scriptures of many faiths. Beyond that, there is no set form. You are welcome to simply sit, meditate and enjoy the spiritual atmosphere, or take a more active role by bringing and reading spiritual writings that uplift you. All are welcome.
Children’s Virtue Classes
- Typically, every other Sunday at the Edwardsville Library
- Interfaith lessons on kindness, truthfulness and integrity through stories, songs and crafts. Ages 5-15
Unity Fest 2023
- Leclaire Park, Edwardsville, Saturday, September 30th 11 to 4 PM