It may be said with a degree of assurance that not everything that meets the eye is as it appears. — Rod Serling

I have always been delighted at the prospect of a new day, a fresh try, one more start, with perhaps a bit of magic waiting somewhere behind the morning. — Joseph Priestley, chemist, minister, Unitarian

As Unitarian Universalists affirm the compatibility of religion and science today, our religious forebears celebrated both faith and reason. Joseph Priestley, 18th-century chemist and Unitarian minister, believed that it was deeply religious to seek the truth, both natural and spiritual. In Unitarian Universalism, critical questioning can be a religious experience; we support one another to search for personal truths and come to our own conclusions. This session looks at Priestley, known for serendipitous scientific discoveries, because sometimes a miracle appears while we are searching for something else.

Goals

This session will:

• Encourage exploration of the natural world
• Explore the miraculous nature of scientific discovery
• Engage participants in experiments inspired by Priestley’s work
• Cultivate wonder and awe in playful appreciation.

Learning Objectives

Participants will:

• Share miracle moments
• Practice curiosity and questioning as spiritual values, through engaging in simple scientific experiments
• Consider the concept of “serendipity”
• Learn about Unitarian Universalist heritage and history through a story about Joseph Priestley.