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
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.
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

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.

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...

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...

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.

Socrates CafeLast Monday, 7pm
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Mindfulness at MiddayMost Fridays at Noon
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Get the Zoom link by RSVPing on Meetup or emailing [email protected] a day before the meeting.

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