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Ethical Culture Society of Bergen County NJ

Ethical Culture Society of Bergen County NJ

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

March 5, 2023

Sacred places, which are physical locations, and sacred spaces, which are culturally defined, foster attachment and an increased commitment to preserve, protect, and celebrate. They can strengthen community and foster personal transformation and healing. But how are sacred places created? What gives a sacred space its power?

Refreshing the peace pole on the Society’s grounds.

While many religions might have a quick response, that question is far more challenging for those of us who work in secular spaces. This is an important question for groups such as environmentalists, human-rights advocates, activists working toward community revitalization, and others who want to set aside something as inviolable or beyond the reach of mere “brute commercialization.”

The questions we’re exploring

Does a sacred place simply have a supposed connection to the divine, or are there cultural, artistic, architectural, ritualistic, or prescribed human activities that enhance attachment to a place? If these practices are better understood, could they be employed by civic groups and organizations working to preserve existing spaces or to enhance connection to reclaimed and restored spaces?

We would like to distill a set of best practices from the literature and, with assistance from a gathering of nonprofits, determine how they could be used in our work, and understand what training and skills would be needed to put these practices in place.

Bring your ideas and curiosity

Want to participate? Please come to the organizational meeting on Thursday, April 6, 11 am at the Society’s meetinghouse, 687 Larch Ave., in Teaneck. Lunch will be provided. If interested, contact Leader Curt Collier at [email protected] or sign up. The group will meet monthly during the workweek.

This work is funded by a $6,098 grant from the New Jersey Council of the Humanities.

Curt Collier

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Address: 687 Larch Ave, Teaneck, NJ 07666
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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
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We believe in ethics. We believe in people.

Please believe in us.

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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

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