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Ethical Culture Society of Bergen County NJ

Ethical Culture Society of Bergen County NJ

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  • About
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    • From our Society’s President, Susan Lesh
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      • How does Ethical Culture make a difference in society?
      • What social life is there in Ethical Culture?
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  • Ethical Kids
    • Sunday School
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      • Sunday school FAQ
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    • Interim Leader Curt Collier
    • Leader’s Talks
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      • Speaking of Ethics: Living a Humanist Life
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    • All Social Action Articles
    • Battling Racism
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  • Adult Ed
    • Job Club
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    • Do Tell!
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A Welcoming Humanist Community

in Bergen County, NJ

Visit Sunday morning!

The Ethical Culture Society of Bergen County

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

January 2021  Update on Re-entry to Our Meetinghouse

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

Families of all backgrounds, particularly with mixed religious heritage, have had their children learn to find answers to the most important questions.

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

Interim 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.

Upcoming Events

Sun 18

Job Club Workshop

April 18 @ 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Mon 19

Conversemos (Let’s Talk)

April 19 @ 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm
Fri 23

Mindfulness at Midday: Meditation, Movement, and Discussion Group

April 23 @ 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm
Sun 25

Platform: Growing Up and Healing the World

April 25 @ 11:00 am - 12:30 pm
Sun 25

Job Club Workshop

April 25 @ 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Mon 26

Socrates Cafe

April 26 @ 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm

View More…

Recent News And Opinion

Book Review: ‘The Earth is Weeping: The Epic Story of the Indian Wars for the American West’

April 7, 2021

This book on the Indian Wars, published a few years ago, stayed with member David Bland and changed his way of thinking about global events in the 21st century. So he is sharing a review.Read More

At Online YES Conference, 28 Teens Discuss Education

March 25, 2021

Garrick Sandhusen from our Society was one of 28 teens who attended the online YES (Youth of Ethical Societies) Conference this month. The teens led discussions on many aspects of education, this year’s topic.Read More

What is the Commemorative Fund Committee?

March 25, 2021

The Martin Luther King Birthday Committee’s annual scholarship program was one of the recipients of donations from our Society’s Commemorative Fund Committee. Susan Lesh explains the origins and recent activity of the Commemorative Fund.Read More

It’s Spring!

March 23, 2021

Beautiful birds, pussy willows, building renovations, and lots of vaccinations–signs of spring and other fresh starts abound, says Society President Susan Lesh in this column. After a year of restrictions, she sees lots of hopeful signs.Read More

Gathering in the Great Outdoors

March 23, 2021

Several members have answered the invitation of our Social Affairs Committee to lead a hike, a stroll, or other fun get-together. In March, small groups got together for an invigorating hike, an inspiring morning of bird-watching, and a fun kite-flying adventure.
See the Photos

A Visit in Sand County

March 21, 2021

A visit to a naturalist author’s former cabin is the backdrop for Leader Curt Collier’s discussion of the power of relationships to transform lives and to build connections with one another and with nature.Read More

Despite the Snow, Cold, and Covid, Camaraderie Finds a Way

February 24, 2021

The power of suggestion–“Want to come out for a while?”–spurred Society members Ron and Lisa Schwartz to create cocktail parties in their driveway. Now, hearty souls in warm clothing drop by for some socially distanced fun!Read More

Curt Collier

The Power of our Ethical Culture Way of Life

February 24, 2021

In his first column as our interim leader, Curt Collier explains why he is on a mission to create caring relationships with others, to create safe places where dialogue can emerge, and where we deeply listen to others. Read More

One Step at a Time–and Watch the Ice!

February 24, 2021

We are moving forward with vaccinations, with staying connected, and with selecting our interim leader, says Society President Susan Lesh. Hope is alive for getting together in person soon–until then, we have to be careful “on the ice.”
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 or just show up
We show all kinds of films, including Indies, Lost Classics and some mainstream Hollywood productions to provoke discussion. Some are pure fluff - but really good fluff! We follow the film with a discussion. But this isn't a classroom and the discussions aren't academic. There is an opportunity to share your reaction with others informally. Story Telling

Bergen County Film SeriesFirst Friday, 7pm

RSVP on MeetUp or just show up
Come spend an evening developing any true personal story - 15 minutes or so – about a real event or experience, big or little, that you might like to share with an audience. Workshops are led by members who have MOTH development training. Learn: How to select a life event, frame the story, develop it, and share it in an entertaining way. Testimonial 3

Do Tell! True Stories NightUsually 2nd Friday, 7pm

RSVP on MeetUp or just show up

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: admin@ethicalfocus.org

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Recent Posts

  • Book Review: ‘The Earth is Weeping: The Epic Story of the Indian Wars for the American West’ April 7, 2021
  • At Online YES Conference, 28 Teens Discuss Education March 25, 2021
  • What is the Commemorative Fund Committee? March 25, 2021
  • It’s Spring! March 23, 2021
  • Gathering in the Great Outdoors March 23, 2021

We believe in ethics. We believe in people.

Please believe in us.

Topics

atheism atheist church book review children civil rights climate change community compassion death democracy Doris Friedensohn Elizabeth Warren environment Ethical Brew Ethical Culture ethical dilemmas ethical education ethics everyday ethics Felix Adler 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 Susan Golden technology Trump unemployment winter solstice world health

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 affinity groups like our monthly Men's Dinners and Women's Dinners.
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
© 2021 | The Ethical Culture Society of Bergen County NJ

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  • 687 Larch Av, Teaneck NJ
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