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Ethical Culture Society of Bergen County NJ

Ethical Culture Society of Bergen County NJ

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A Welcoming Humanist Community

in Bergen County, NJ

Visit Sunday morning!

The Ethical Culture Society of Bergen County

Ethical Culture is a religion that puts ethics and human flourishing at the center of the search for a meaningful life.  Sign up for our newsletter.

Our Society’s Covid-19 Guidelines

Sunday Platform: 11 am

Our thought-provoking platform addresses cover a wide range of subjects relating to ethics in modern life. Please join us, then stay for coffee and conversation.

Sunday School

All are welcome to our Ethical Adventures Family and Friends Circle, a family-friendly gathering for ethical exploration and adventure.
Pride Flag

Progressive Social Action

Ethical Culture has an extensive history of accomplishments in the area of Social Action, as well as regular panels and educational seminars.

Curt Collier

Leader Curt Collier served as head of three other Ethical Societies. He sees his role at Bergen as helping us to determine our new direction.

Social Life

Get-togethers take many different forms, either spontaneous or recurring: dinners, parties, hikes, picnics, and cultural outings.

The Arts & Ethical Brew

Ethical Brew is a live venue for music and social action. Half the proceeds are donated to worthy causes. Many members are musicians, writers, and visual artists.

Latest News and Opinion

Church-State Separation: Who Stands to Lose if the Wall Fails?

Brian Silva of Americans United for Separation of Church and State kicks off our church-state speaker series with his talk: “Who Stands to Lose if the Wall Fails? Real Life Consequences of the End of the Establishment Clause.”Read More

Two Grants Help Fund ‘Great NJ Science Show’

The Blue Foundry Foundation and the Puffin Foundation are providing financial support for our ‘Great NJ Science Show,’ which will provide informal science education for youth.Read More

Meet Our Newest Members, Andy and Deborah Krikun

Our newest members, Andy and Deborah Krikun, both have taught in our Sunday School. They bring expertise from their careers in music and digital media.Read More

Struggle over Church-State Separation has Deep Roots in America

Even our secular culture was directly shaped by Calvinist ideas and as a reaction to them, says Leader Curt Collier in this column, which also outlines our upcoming church-state speaker series.Read More

I’m Not a Hater, So Why Do I Hate?

In this opinion essay, member Ed Gross explains the conundrum he struggles with: ‘I believe right-wingers hate left-wingers like me. But if I hate them in return, wouldn’t it mean I’m no better than they are?’Read More

As I See It: Artificial Intelligence Redux

After trashing ChatGPT, Society President Jim Norman finds that he has to take AI seriously, after all, even as he still grapples with important questions about it.Read More

Ethical Kids!

Let us say more about our programs to grow Ethical Kids.

Team 1

Our Sunday SchoolToddlers through Teens

We provide a sense of belonging in an established community of people actively living according to their ethical ideals.
Read More...
Team 2

You've got FAQsWe have Answers

What is the Ethical Society and the Ethical Movement? Which goals are stressed when developing curriculum? How are parents involved in the classes?
Read More...
Team 3

Youth GroupAges 14 to 22

Our Youth Group is a place for our Sunday school graduates (usually aged 14 to 22) to do good work and hang out.
Read More...

Proud History of Progressive Social Action

Ethical Culture has an extensive history of Social Action and our Society has initiated major social justice projects. This is a summary. See more on our Social Action page.

Early Accomplishments

1950s - 1970s

  • Founded the Fair Housing Council of Northern New Jersey
  • Active in desegregating the Teaneck Public Schools
  • Founded Camp Elliott, a multi-racial summer camp

Focus on Justice

1980s - 1990s

  • Spearheaded a multi-faceted commitment to housing justice and sheltering the homeless
  • Engaged collectively in civil disobedience and create The Sanctuary for Central American Refugees, preparing us for the next challenges

Still Making a Difference

2000 to Present

  • Founded the The Northern New Jersey Sanctuary Coalition. Along with other organizations, it provies humanitarian services for political asylum seekers.
  • Founded the group which became the Bergen County Brady Chapter to end gun violence

Adult Ed: Personal Growth for Grown-Ups

We are committed to the ideal of lifelong education. We learn from each other in variety of programs that address all subjects related directly or indirectly to ethics.

Our longest-running Adult Ed program is an official chapter of the Socrates Cafe movement to bring philosophy outside the academic setting. It started in Montclair, NJ to help those of us who are not professional philosophers develop our critical-thinking skills by interacting respectfully and actively with others who share a love of ideas. Philosophy Discussion Program

Socrates CafeLast Monday, 7pm

RSVP on MeetUp
This is a space for mindfulness practices. We utilize lightly guided meditation, various forms of movement such as yoga and qigong, and discussion periods—all in a supportive environment that is suitable for participants at all levels of practice. Since it’s inception as an online experience, Mindfulness at Midday has become a place for learning, growth, and the development of meaningful connection for participants from the local area and farther afield.
Hola

Mindfulness at MiddayMost Fridays at Noon

RSVP on MeetUp
Conversemos offers people with at least basic knowledge of Spanish an opportunity to be immersed in the language and culture. Facilitated by a native Spanish speaker.

Get the Zoom link by RSVPing on Meetup or emailing [email protected] a day before the meeting. Testimonial 3

Conversemos (Let's Talk)Usually the third Monday, 7:30pm

RSVP on MeetUp

Our Most Viewed Articles

iChildhood

In this column, Janet Glass explores the challenges of raising children in a wired world, which requires a new type of awareness from parents.

The Spread of Democracy

Democracy is spreading. This column by our representatives to the UN describes what that means for human rights.

Religion and Religious Violence

Leader Joseph Chuman discusses how religion relates to violence in general and to terror in particular.

The Israel-Palestinian Conflict: Each Side’s Contrasting Narratives

Each side in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has its own narrative. What is important for understanding of both sides is to know what they leave out.

How to Tell the Difference Between Right and Wrong

Let us make up a myth to provide ourselves with moral backbone. As long as we are careful to bear in mind that it is a myth, the overall effect should be positive.

Ethical Dilemmas of Globalization

Some say globalization has created a runaway world. Our UN correspondent looks at the contentious issue of globalization in trade and its effects on the poor as well as the rich.

Darwin’s Challenge to Religion and the Religious Response

Leader Joseph Chuman looks at why creationism is so popular and offers a proper religious response to Darwinism.

Free Will: The Last Great Lie

Robert Gulack assembles all the available evidence, which has piled higher and higher in the last 100 years, to refute the notion of free will.

What to Do When Life Is Not Fair

The antidote to injustice is action. Take unfairness and transform it into a task, says Leader Joseph Chuman.

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Connect with Us

Address: 687 Larch Ave, Teaneck, NJ 07666
Phone: 201-836-5187
Email: [email protected]

Sign up for our newsletter.

 

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Recent Posts

  • Society Gets Grant to Explore Concept of ‘Sacred Spaces’ January 31, 2023
  • Church-State Separation: Who Stands to Lose if the Wall Fails? January 30, 2023
  • Two Grants Help Fund ‘Great NJ Science Show’ January 29, 2023
  • Meet Our Newest Members, Andy and Deborah Krikun January 29, 2023
  • Struggle over Church-State Separation has Deep Roots in America January 28, 2023

We believe in ethics. We believe in people.

Please believe in us.

Topics

atheism atheist church book review children church-state separation civil rights climate change community compassion death democracy Doris Friedensohn Elizabeth Warren environment Ethical Brew Ethical Culture ethical education ethics family Felix Adler gender global warming happiness healthcare humanism humanist humanists human rights Israel Joseph Chuman meetinghouse Middle East politics racism religion Robert Gulack Secular Humanism social action Socrates Cafe Sunday School technology Trump unemployment world health youth

What We Do For Fun….

There's always time for play: celebrations, discussions (some in Spanish -- find Conversemos on our calendar on the fourth Tuesday of the month), hikes, picnics, cultural outings, and more. Come join us!
Kids get into the act
Diane running the show

Important Links

  • Member of the American Ethical Union
  • Ethical Brew
  • Sanctuary Committee
  • BC Gun Violence Prevention
  • NJ Website Designer
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  • Calendar of events
  • 687 Larch Av, Teaneck NJ
  • 201-836-5187
  • Contact Us
  • DONATE