Bending the arc of the universe

Auckland Unitarians

With Rachel Mackintosh Recorded at Auckland Unitarian Church 21 January 2024

Alice laughed. “There’s no use trying,” she said. “One can’t believe impossible things.”

“I daresay you haven’t had much practice,” said the Queen. “When I was your age, I always did it for half-an-hour a day. Why, sometimes I’ve believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast.” “THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS”, LEWIS CARROLL (CHARLES LUTWIDGE DODGSON)

We know, because of science, the enlightenment, telescopes, that compared with us, the universe is big. We may have seen that meme that shows two photos of the Milky Way, one taken before, and one taken after we have made a mistake: clue, it’s the same photo.

My musing today has as its starting point, not Alice, actually, but the quote: “the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice.”

My sermon topic “Bending the arc of the universe” has taken liberties with the quote already, and may seem arrogant – how could we bend the arc of the universe? – but I am aiming rather for audacious. As Paul said when I sent him my title, “May as well aim big.”

Meditation / Discussion Questions:-

• What makes you pause in wonder?
• And what action for justice does this inspire in you?

For more information see:- https://aucklandunitarian.org.nz/bending-the-arc-of-the-universe/