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Ethical Culture Society of Bergen County NJ

Ethical Culture Society of Bergen County NJ

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      • How does Ethical Culture make a difference in society?
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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.

Sunday Gathering: 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

What Makes a Space Sacred? You’re Invited to Help Create the Answer

What gives a sacred space its power? Are there cultural, artistic, architectural, or ritualistic activities than enhance attachment to a place? You’re invited to help find the answers and distill a set of best practices.Read More

Grant-Writing Workshop for North Jersey Nonprofits

Want to know how to successfully apply for grants that will help your organization reach its goals? Society Leader Curt Collier is offering a workshop designed for beginner grant writers.Read More

Take a Stand: Banned Books & Banned Humans Festival

Our Banned Books Festival has expanded this year to include banned humans, those whose voices are silenced when books are forbidden. Find out how you can participate.Read More

As I See It: I’ll be Canceling my ChatGPT Subscription

After reading the biography that ChatGPT wrote about his life, including his death in 2014, Society President Jim Norman wants to cancel his subscription.Read More

We’re Offering Science to Youth Because Early Experience is Powerful

Early experiences can shape us in powerful ways. That’s why our Society is focusing on youth participation in two new science and environmental projects, says Leader Curt Collier in this column.Read More

Welcome to Our Great New Jersey Science Show

Bill Nye meets ‘Saturday Night Live’ at our Great New Jersey Science Show, where young adults share their scientific knowledge cabaret-style. You’re invited!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

Member News

Meet our talented members

My Father’s Ashes

Bob Gordon figured that if he survived advanced cancer, he’d want to go skiing the following winter in Cervinia, Italy. His son and ski buddy, Gregg, found a measure of closure in leaving Bob’s ashes on a mountain there.Read More

‘Ascension Blocked:’ A Poem of a Heart Attack

Member and poet Milind Padki shares a poem he read recently at our Open Mic Variety Night.Read More

Community Weekend is Back!

Community Weekend at Stony Point Center is back! Members, to join the fun June 2-4, please fill out registration form.Read More

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

Sign up for our newsletter.

 

Recent Posts

  • My Father’s Ashes March 26, 2023
  • ‘Ascension Blocked:’ A Poem of a Heart Attack March 24, 2023
  • Community Weekend is Back! March 17, 2023
  • Gender Explorations Accountability Circle Update March 5, 2023
  • What Makes a Space Sacred? You’re Invited to Help Create the Answer March 5, 2023
Our Society’s Covid-19 Guidelines

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 transgender 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), 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
© 2023 | The Ethical Culture Society of Bergen County NJ

Copyright © 2023 · Kreativ Pro On Genesis Framework · The Ethical Culture Society of Bergen County · Log in

  • Calendar of events
  • 687 Larch Av, Teaneck NJ
  • 201-836-5187
  • Contact Us
  • DONATE