Herta A. Bodansky, 88

Long time Ethical Culture member Herta Bodansky passed away on July 19, 2009. Read her obituary here (search for "herta").

Differences between UU (Unitarian Universalism) and Ethical Culture

This illuminating article was written by Jone Johnson Lewis, Leader of the Northern Virginia Ethical Society (NOVES). Jone is also an ordained Unitarian Universalist minister.

The Transition Moment

In a Christian Science Monitor article on the ABC News website, author and educator Dale McGowan is quoted as follows:

"This is the transition moment right now. Some groups are really diving in [to foster a robust sense of community], and some of them are holding their noses and standing on the diving board. They're not quite sure what to do."

He is referring to the growth of self-organized groups of non-believers in the U.S. Increasingly, according to the article's author G. Jeffrey MacDonald, such groups are coming together to bond and create communities. Tom Hoeppner, Membership Chair of the Ethical Humanist Society of Chicago (sister of the Bergen Ethical Society) describes the benefits some non-theists find in ritual: "... you build up not just common intellectual values, but the emotional and personal connection with people."

McGowan will be offering a half-day workshop Parenting Beyond Belief at the Bergen Society on October 17, 2009. More information and access to tickets can be found in this brochure.

The words of God do not justify cruelty to women: Jimmy Carter leaves Southern Baptist Convention

Former president Jimmy Carter reflects on his decision to leave the Southern Baptist Convention:

"I have been a practising Christian all my life and a deacon and Bible teacher for many years. My faith is a source of strength and comfort to me, as religious beliefs are to hundreds of millions of people around the world.

So my decision to sever my ties with the Southern Baptist Convention, after six decades, was painful and difficult. It was, however, an unavoidable decision when the convention's leaders, quoting a few carefully selected Bible verses and claiming that Eve was created second to Adam and was responsible for original sin, ordained that women must be "subservient" to their husbands and prohibited from serving as deacons, pastors or chaplains in the military service. This was in conflict with my belief - confirmed in the holy scriptures - that we are all equal in the eyes of God."

Read Carter's entire editorial as published in The Observer on July 12, 2009, and reposted on the Carter Center website.

NY Times' The Questioning of Judge Sotomayor : Dr. Chuman Letter to Editor

A letter written to the NY Times by Dr. Joseph Chuman, Leader of the Ethical Culture Society of Bergen County, was published in the July 18 print edition. The letter can be found here (search for "Chuman").

Secular Coalition for America: The Beat Goes On

The labors of the Secular Coalition for America (SCA), which advocates in Washington for non-theistic issues, continue to bear fruit. Consider the following:

• The Nation: Rediscovering Secular America (including an early connection made by the SCA with then Senator Obama)
  
• Freethought Radio interviews new SCA Executive Director Sean Faircloth (click on the archive for June 27, 2009, and fast forward to 18min 17sec)
• Nevada Public Radio interviews SCA Founding Director Emeritus Lori Lipman Brown (look for Lori's name and click on Listen or Download MP3; Lori spoke at the Bergen Society in September, 2008)

The American Ethical Union (AEU), which is among the coalition's ten non-theistic organizations, hosted the SCA board at the recent AEU Assembly in St. Louis.