The great religions, despite their tremendous diversity, are all based on the assumption that the human condition is in some sense problematic. As humanists, we don’t need to seek invulnerability from life’s hardships.Read More
Ethical Culture
The Enduring Relevance of Ethical Culture
Today, our world is much different than when Felix Adler founded Ethical Culture in 1876. Yet, of all the “religions of humanity” created in the 19th century, it alone has survived into the 21st. In this platform address, leader Joseph Chuman discusses why Ethical Culture has endured.Read More
“Should We Trust The Experts?” talk by Massimo Pigliucci
“For every expert, there is an equal and opposite expert” – Arthur C. Clarke
For any subject, unless we are an expert ourselves (or an expert in expertise itself!), we have to figure out whom to believe, which experts we can trust, which should be ignored. This is not an easy and we are reminded of that in headlines almost every day about climate change, vaccinations, evolution, etc.
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Einstein’s Religion
Einstein, a friend of Ethical Culture, believed that behind or within reality there exists an order that is rationally structured and is scrutable–but only partially–to the human mind. Einstein also believed that ethical behavior should be based on sympathy, education, and social ties and needs.Read More
Changing Lives One Future Chef at a Time
Today’s Platform address was by Deniz Vergara, Chef Instructor at Eva’s Village in Paterson, NJ, in a talk titled, “Changing Lives One Future Chef at a Time.” Eva’s Village is a faith-based, social services organization founded on Matthew 25:40: “Whatever you did for the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.”
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The Enduring Relevance of Ethical Culture
Since the New Deal, government has taken on many of the social services formerly left to religious organizations. On the philosophical side, as more people attend college and learn humanities, they absorb values similar to ours. Where does this leave Ethical Culture in modern times? Society Leader Joseph Chuman answers that question.Read More