As Unitarian Universalists living in a religiously pluralistic society, we are quite used to being able to discern our own beliefs and to choose (or not choose) a faith tradition to follow. After you read the workshop plan, imagine yourself living in a time and place when you did not have the power to determine your own beliefs and choose your own faith tradition. How would your life be different?

How important to you is the freedom to follow the dictates of your own mind and heart? How do your imaginings help you empathize with and understand the situations our religious ancestors in Poland and New England? As you lead this workshop, continue to reflect on your own relationship to religious power and authority, and encourage participants to do the same.

Before you lead the workshop, take time to complete this sentence: "At the end of this workshop, I hope the participants leave feeling... "