Ethical Focus Blog

Platform Video:Religion, Bias and Inaccuracy in Education

2010-05-23T21:20:00.001-04:00

Religion, Bias and Inaccuracy in Education (5/23/2010) from Ethical Culture Society Bergen on Vimeo.

Matthew LaClair is a college sophomore attending the New School in New York City. In September of 2006, when a high school student, his U.S. History teacher was preaching his religion during class, telling the students that if they reject the Lord's salvation, they belong in hell. He also dismissed the theory of evolution and the big bang theory, saying that they are not scientific, and made many other inappropriate statements. Matthew challenged the teacher and school board who refused to deal with the situation in any manner. The story has generated five articles and two editorials in the New York Times, along with a flurry of print, television and radio coverage. Matthew LaClair will talk about this, as well as his experience challenging an American Government textbook for presenting inaccurate and biased information, and how these two situations are examples of problems occurring all around the country.

Matthew has served as a board member of the Secular Student Alliance and as president of Center for Inquiry's Student Initiative Program. He has appeared on Anderson Cooper 360, Air America, Brian Lehrer, BBC international radio and several others. He has also been awarded the James Madison Religious Liberty Award from the Center for Inquiry, the Ethical Hero Award from the American Ethical Union, the Ethical Humanist Award from the New York Society for Ethical Culture and several others. He is a co-host of the radio program Equal Time for Freethought on WBAI 99.5FM. Matthew attended the Sunday school at the Ethical Culture Society of Essex County.

Introduced by Scott Harris.

Platform Video: Ethical Culture on HNN podcast

2010-03-04T19:15:00.007-05:00

If you're planning to be at the Ethical Culture Society on Sunday, March 14, you're in for a rare treat: the making of a podcast. Co-hosts of the Humanist Network News audio podcast, Jes Constantine and Jende Huang, will interview an EC member and conduct an audience discussion forum. The recorded result will be brought back to their Albany, NY, studio and produced into an upcoming episode, which will then be available for download to your computer or portable listening device. How 21st century!

To whet your whistle, listen as Jes and Jende plug the event in HNN episode #47 (listen to the whole episode or fast forward to 46m 20s):

(Scroll down in the above player to episode #43 to hear the interview with Kate Lovelady, Leader of the Ethical Society of St. Louis - starts at 25m 12s and runs for 14 minutes.)

Originated by the Institute for Humanist Studies (IHS), the HNN podcast was retained by the American Humanist Association when the two organizations merged in 2009. The Ethical Culture Society of Bergen County received an IHS grant in 2004 that was used to produce this commercial:

Platform Video: Haiti 101: From Columbus to Clinton

2010-02-07T18:20:00.003-05:00

The following ECS/Bergen Platform address was delivered on Sunday, January 31, 2010, by James Delia, Esq. (introduced by Eric Sandhusen):

Haiti 101: From Columbus to Clinton from Ethical Culture Society Bergen on Vimeo.

Haiti 101: An historical perspective on the creation of the western hemisphere's poorest country) An introduction to Haiti, the western hemisphere's poorest country, including an overview of its history (focusing on European domination/slavery), demographics, politics, religion, culture and economy. Jim will blend in his in-country observations during the past two Julys and will offer a prognosis for the future.

Jim Delia, a new member of EC, was born and raised in Bergen County, growing up in Waldwick. He attended St Joseph Regional High School in Montvale and St Joseph University in Philadelphia, where he earned in B.A. degree in political science. He went on to Seton Hall School of Law, graduating in 1987 with a Juris Doctorate degree. Jim has served as law secretary to Superior Court Judge James Murphy; and in the Bergen County Prosecutor's office, as assistant prosecutor, chief of the White Collar Crime Division and deputy chief of the Criminal Investigation Squad. He led a Grand Jury investigation into allegations of guard brutality committed at the Meadowlands. In 1993, Jim entered private practice as a partner in the firm of Wells, Jaworski and Liebman in Paramus. He is a member of the Ridgewood YMCA and Paramus Chamber of Commerce Boards of Directors.

Jim also has history as a soccer player and coach, playing all the way through college and coaching children from the age of 5 through 18. It is this experience with soccer that gave him the entree to coach in Haiti in 2008. He ventured to Haiti for the first time to run a one week soccer camp for 70 youths from the YMCA d'Haiti . He returned this past July for two weeks and helped establish the first YMCA d'Haiti National Team.

Platform Video: My Personal Memories of Dr. King and the Civil Rights Movement

2010-01-17T20:26:00.000-05:00

The following ECS/Bergen Platform address was delivered on Sunday, January 17, 2010, by Theodora Smiley Lacey (introduced by Barbara Landberg):

My Personal Memories of Dr. King and the Civil Rights Movement (1/17/2010) from Ethical Culture Society Bergen on Vimeo.

Speaker: Theodora Smiley Lacey

Theodora Lacey, a native of Montgomery, AL, is deeply committed to the struggle for equality for all mankind. She became a true champion for civil and human rights working closely with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., during the famed Montgomery Bus Boycott. A recently retired science teacher and an active participant in community affairs she played a major role in the successful integration of the Teaneck Public Schools.

She is the recipient of numerous awards including Teacher of the Year in Teaneck, Most Outstanding Secondary School Teacher Award from Princeton University, Woman of the Year from the New Jersey Senate , honored by the Bergen Record newspaper as One of the Most Intriguing People in New Jersey and listed in Whos Who in Among America’s Teachers. Serving on several boards, civic organizations and as a lecturer, she has traveled extensively throughout Africa, Europe and Asia. Mother of four, grandmother of ten, great grand- mother of four.

Platform Video: Liberalism, Individualism and Values

2010-01-03T09:53:00.000-05:00

The following ECS/Bergen Platform address was delivered on Sunday, January 3, 2010, by Dr. Joseph Chuman (introduced by Ed Gross):

Liberalism, Individualism and Values from Ethical Culture Society Bergen on Vimeo.

Harvard professor Michael Sandel, author of Public Philosophy, “is worried that those espousing a liberal political philosophy, including leaders in the Democratic Party, weaken themselves by refusing to engage in discussion about religious and moral values, especially those that support their political positions,” notes Dr. Chuman. “While I understand the problem that Sandel and others point to, I conclude that the cure is potentially worse than the disease.”

Ethical giving: local and global

2010-01-01T12:10:00.006-05:00

Vibrant communities thrive on companionship, but religious communities like Ethical Culture add compassion and other virtues. To sustain ourselves we give of our time, effort and pocketbook. It is how we both keep the roof over our heads and support others during times of loss and transition.

Charity begins at home, but that is not enough for some. Many seek ways to donate to causes outside of their immediate community. Witness organizations like Catholic Charities, Habitat for Humanity and countless others that extend the reach of local donors to become global.

Humanists who want to extend their giving outside of their local community can do no better than to consider the nascent Foundation Beyond Belief, a non-profit charitable and educational foundation created (1) to focus, encourage and demonstrate the generosity and compassion of atheists and humanists, and (2) to provide a comprehensive education and support program for nontheistic parents. Each quarter, FBB selects ten charities that will benefit from humanist giving.

Their first charity in the area of human rights is the Bergen County Sanctuary Committee, which began in part as a brainchild of our own Dr. Joseph Chuman, leader of the Ethical Culture Society of Bergen County. (Click here for video.) BCSC is a particularly good example of a local charity with global reach in that it provides succor to former citizens of other countries whose search for asylum has brought them to our local area.

So if you've taken care of your local charitable needs and are seeking to make a difference across the globe, consider the Foundation Beyond Belief.

Blythedale Children's Hospital: another Ethical Culture accomplishment

2009-12-07T12:29:00.007-05:00

The corporate department in which I work circulated an internal flier asking employees to consider donating to one of two area children's hospitals in conjunction with its annual charity drive. The company generously matches employee contributions dollar for dollar, so it's a great use of one's personal donation funds.

I checked out both hospitals' websites before deciding. The history page of the Blythedale Children's Hospital (Valhalla, NY) begins thusly (my emphasis):

Blythedale's first recorded history dates back to 1891, when a group of women of the New York Ethical Culture Society began visiting shut-in children in New York City, furnishing them with clothing and food, as well as obtaining medical attention for them.

Slam dunk! Another in a long long of past charitable causes boot-strapped into existence by Ethical Culture. Because of this history that I hold so dear, I'll be giving them a little more than I would have otherwise. It doesn't render the other children's hospital any less worthy, but this one holds a personal connection for me.

Platform VIdeo: Ethical Culture and Human Rights

2009-12-06T21:06:00.000-05:00

The following ECS/Bergen Platform address was delivered on Sunday, December 6, 2009, by Dr. Joseph Chuman (introduced by Ed Gross):

Ethical Culture and Human Rights (12/6/2009) from Ethical Culture Society Bergen on Vimeo.

Dr. Joseph Chuman has been the leader of The Ethical Culture Society of Bergen County for over 35 years. He holds a Ph.D. in religion from Columbia University, where he is adjunct professor of religion and an academic advisor in the human rights curriculum. Dr. Chuman lectures frequently to public audiences on philosophy, social issues and humanist thought.

Ethical Culture Touches Human Beings

2009-12-06T18:59:00.005-05:00

In todays platform at the Ethical Culture Society of Bergen County Dr. Joseph Chuman, our leader, presented a stimulating presentation on the concept of human rights, it's ongoing evolution and it's growing presence in the collective modern consciousness.

One tidbit I found particularly interesting was the impact specifically, Ethical Culture has had on the revolutionary 'Human Rights' gains of our recent times. Major gains like that of child labor laws, civil rights, and public health can be traced back in part, to several of the Ethical Culture movements leaders and activist members.

Recently I took my child to the Tenement Museum on the Lower East Side for a tour of a tenement with interesting historical antidotes that shed light on life in the tenements through a span of time. What I did not hear about in the museums presentation regarding the improvements to public health laws brought upon the tenement dwellings was that it was Ethical Culture leaders that spear headed those efforts. That I learned today at our Sunday platform. It's hard to fathom how many human beings were touched upon by Ethical Culture with just that one successful effort.

Platform Video: What is HumanLight?

2009-11-29T06:38:00.000-05:00

The following ECS/Bergen Platform address was delivered on Sunday, November 29, 2009, by Patrick Colucci (introduced by Susan Lesh):

What is HumanLight? from Ethical Culture Society Bergen on Vimeo.

[The video referenced in this video can be viewed at humanlight.org.]

Everything You always wanted to know about HumanLight, the Humanist Winter Holiday, but Were Afraid to Ask

Ok, so maybe you were not afraid to ask really, but just haven't thought about HumanLight much before, or have never even heard of it? Here's your chance to learn all about the winter holiday designed to promote humanism and celebrate humanist values. Patrick Colucci has been involved with promoting and publicizing HumanLight since it's earliest inception, so he can probably answer any questions you might have. (If he can't answer something, he'll make up a reasonable-sounding guess....we humanists do always try to be reason-based, afterall!)

Patrick Colucci is vice-chair of the HumanLight Committee (www.humanlight.org) and a member of the New Jersey Humanist Network (www.njhn.org) and the American Humanist Association. Based in New Jersey, he's a long-time activist in the movements for Humanism and for peace and social justice.

Ethical Culture Offers Perspective During this Thanksgiving Season

2009-11-23T13:32:00.002-05:00

The Sunday platform this week at the Ethical Culture Society offered a sobering perspective as we head into the upcoming Thanksgiving season. As a way of helping the Sunday School children understand the realities of world hunger, adults too, were privy to the reminder that we are very lucky indeed. I can't imagine the horror I would feel if I had to watch helplessly as my children starve. Amoung the many stories of struggles and resilliance we heard, those were the ones that stuck in my mind.

This week I will say a quiet thanks to the bounty in our community but I will also be mindful of the continued work that needs to be done for those who are not so lucky.

Man is the Measure of all Things

2009-11-19T16:43:00.004-05:00

This week I attended the 'Introduction to Humanism and Ethical Culture' course conducted by Dr. Joseph Chuman at the Ethical Culture Society in Teaneck.

I was reminded of a course I took many years ago in college, 'Old Testament Literature.' I remember then, the amazement I experienced when I became aware of the pervasiveness of Judeo-Christian themes in our modern lives. I felt the same shock when I started to understand better the history of Humanism and it's impact on our modern organizations both in human thought, spirit and institutions through the ages.

When the ancient Greeks first came to the task of designing an educational program with the goal of enhancing the humanity in the educated individual, a massive shift in philosophy was taking place. The focus was no longer on the deities but on man, for the good of men, by making the most of his mind and unleashing his creativity.

However, it was also made clear that the humanities were not designed to deny the existence of god, only to shift the thinking of he/she/it from the foreground to the background. Since my views on god are currently ambivalent, this is a welcome insight. I don't have to decide. In humanism, "man is the measure of all things;" a statement by an ancient Greek philosopher and shared nicely in both Greek and English by Dr. Chuman.

I'm looking forward to part II of this course which will focus on Ethical Culture, it's birth and it's expression of humanistic ideals.

Platform Video: Now You Can Choose! Issues in Sex Selection

2009-11-15T20:15:00.000-05:00

The following ECS/Bergen Platform address was delivered on Sunday, November 15, 2009, by Barbara Katz Rothman (introduced by Janet Glass):

Barbara Katz Rothman: Now You Can Choose! Issues in Sex Selection (11/15/2009) from Ethical Culture Society Bergen on Vimeo.

In the last thirty years we have seen the slow emergence and acceptance of something new under the sun: known fetal sex. Women now know the sex of the fetus they carry; and with selective abortion, selective implantation, or newly developing technologies, they can actually choose the sex of the baby they will bear. How does this change women's experiences of pregnancy? What are the consequences of sex selection for the families involved, and for the rest of the world? Looking beyond the well-known sex imbalances that occur 'out there,' what is happening in American society as fetal sex becomes increasingly one more consumer option?

Barbara Katz Rothman, Professor of Sociology at the City University of New York, is on the Faculty of the Health and Society Program of the Charité -Universitätsmedizin in Berlin, and has served as a Visiting Professor at the Universitat Osnabrueck in Germany, a Fulbright Professor at the University of Groningen in the Netherlands, and a Leverhulme Professor at Plymouth University in the United Kingdom. She is the recipient of the Jessie Bernard Award of the American Sociological Associat ion, has been named a “Mother of Bioethics” by the Women’s Bioethics Network, and has received the Mentoring Award from Sociologists for Women in Society and the Lee Founders Award of the Society for the Study of Social Problems. She is editor of BIOETHICAL ISSUES, SOCIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVES and THE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF CHILDBEARING: CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES. Her books, translated into German, Japanese and Finnish, include IN LABOR, LABORING ON (with Wendy Simonds), THE TENTATIVE PREGNANCY, RECREATING MOTHERHOOD, THE BOOK OF LIFE, and WEAVING A FAMILY.

Austin Dacey: Pyschology Today

2009-11-15T19:54:00.003-05:00

Austin Dacey, who addressed the Ethical Culture Society of Bergen County on March 8, 2009, now has a blog on Psychology Today. His first blog entry is here.

Platform Video: The Right to Blaspheme

2009-11-08T14:16:00.000-05:00

The following ECS/Bergen Platform address was delivered on Sunday, November 8, 2009, by Matt Cherry (introduced by Ken Karp):

Matt Cherry: The Right to Blaspheme from Ethical Culture Society Bergen on Vimeo.

Why does an atheist work at the UN to defend the human right to freedom of religion or belief and does this right protect humanists and atheists? Cherry will also highlight IHEU's current campaign against efforts to have the UN outlaw "defamation of religion" which would amount to a global blasphemy law.

Matt Cherry is IHEU International Representative and leads the IHEU delegation to the United Nations headquarters in New York. He has served two terms as president of the UN NGO Committee on Freedom of Religion or Belief, where he is now vice president. Over the past two decades Matt Cherry has played a leading role in humanist groups in Britain, the Netherlands, and the USA, including five years as executive director of the Council for Secular Humanism and eight years as executive director of the Institute for Humanist Studies. He has co-authored books on secular parenting and humanism in business.

Help for that Elevator Speech

2009-11-01T19:29:00.004-05:00

One of the biggest challenges I often have is explaining to others what my 'religion' is. Even though I personally don't think of Humanism as a religion per se, many others do and anyway, it is an accurate reflection of my world view when it comes to the question 'what do you believe?"

As Dr. Chuman the leader of ECS of BC often states, it's not that we are non-believers, Humanists have many beliefs and values. It is however, not as well immediately understood as saying 'I am Jewish' or 'I am a Christian.' Dale McGowen in the recent workshop Parenting Beyond Belief at the Ethical Culture Society suggested as a way of interfacing with a religious world one should have and practice an 'elevator speech.' An 'elevator speech' is a quick an efficient way of representing ourself so as not to be left stumbling for the explanation.

In November I'll be participating in a two night Adult Education program, "Introduction to Humanism and Ethical Culture." I hope to understand more comprehensively the tradition of Ethical Culture and secular humanism so that I can really have a slamming 'elevator speech!' Check it out on the ethicalfocus.org website. Learn what it means to call yourself a humanist!

Platform Video: Idealism, Pragmatism and Politics

2009-11-01T18:33:00.000-05:00

The following ECS/Bergen Platform address was delivered on Sunday, November 1, 2009, by Dr. Joseph Chuman (introduced by Ed Gross):

Idealism, Pragmatism and Politics from Ethical Culture Society Bergen on Vimeo.

President Obama is a pragmatist “in the colloquial meaning of the word,” says Dr. Chuman. “There are certainly benefits to being a pragmatist. But as a product of a more idealistic age, I can’t help but wonder whether something is lost as well.” Joe will explore these issues further in his Platform address.

Dr. Joseph Chuman, Leader of the Ethical Culture Society of Bergen County.

Dale McGowen, Parenting Beyond Belief

2009-10-23T18:08:00.003-04:00

On Saturday morning, October 17th I did something I never do. I got my butt out of bed to pay money to see a person speak about childrearing issues. In the interest of full disclose I was also the accidental organizer of this event. Without going into the less than interesting details of that arrangement, I also knew this would be something I'd enjoy. It was, as it turns out, very important in the development of a free thinking tradition I hope to instill in my family.

The workshop stimulated so much thinking on my part, I was sad when I realized these stirrings would go ungratified. I wanted to talk more about it but there was a lot of ground to cover and limitations in time. I became aware of the struggle I feel at times as a parent. It's not a terribly dramatic struggle, its rather, the quiet questions and moments of uncertainty that come along with the territory of raising children. These moments we touched upon in the seminar, were the big moments, the big questions, the important ones that you want to get right because you know how it important it is in the development of our little sentient beings. "Mommy do we believe in God?" "Mommy, what happened to Great Grandma? Will she come back?" "Mommy, Esther says you will go to hell because you have a tattoo!"

I really understood from this seminar that the orientation to humanism and free thinking has got to be treated like a work in progress. McGowen gives great resources to help with this endeavor. I'm planning on getting a fascinating book he recommended about creation stories from many of the major religions and great civilizations to begin the dialogue with my children about religion and the recognition I hope to instill that there is not one way to think.

Healthcare reform panel

2009-10-23T09:27:00.001-04:00

FOR: Ethical Culture Society of Bergen County and Bergen Grassroots

FROM: Eisenman-Todd / CONTACT: Paul Eisenman 201-692-9600

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Bergen County—There are many proposals for health care reform afloat these days—Senate and House committees alone have at least five—and two respected area physicians with varying views will discuss elements of their approaches at a forum on Tuesday, Oct. 27 at 7pm. The site is the Ethical Culture Society of Bergen County Meeting Hall, 687 Larch Avenue, Teaneck. The doors open at 6:45, the forum begins at 7pm and is scheduled to conclude at 9pm.

Ethical Culture and Bergen Grassroots, a good government reform group, are co-sponsoring the meeting. It features two physicians who have debated the health care reform issue numerous times throughout the greater NYC metropolitan area. Both have decades of medical practice experience and have been published numerous times.

Dr. Oliver Fein, a practicing general internist with experience in health policy, is President of Physicians for a National Health Program (PNHP) and Chair of its New York Metro Chapter. This nationwide organization supports a Medicare-for-All (single-payer) system as the most efficient and economical form of health care reform. Among other things, Dr. Fein is currently Professor of Clinical Medicine and Clinical Public Health and Associate Dean at the Weill Cornell Medical College.

Richard H. Bernstein, MD, FACP is a medical director at the Visiting Nursing Service of New York and has been practicing general internal medicine for thirty years. Dr. Bernstein is an Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine and Clinical Community and Preventive Medicine at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine.

Joe Chuman, leader of the countywide Ethical Culture Society branch, will moderate the debate.

The physicians will flip a coin to determine who goes first. Each will have 20 minutes to present his reform position and each will have 5 minutes of response after the other’s presentation. The floor will then be thrown open for questions.

Bergen Grassroots, founded in 2005, meets regularly and publicly on the third Wednesday of each month at 7pm in the ECS auditorium. According to its statement of policy, Bergen Grassroots is a political activist group whose members include Republican and Democratic Party members as well as independents. Bergen Grassroots supports candidates for office, sponsors forums like this one to educate the public on political and social issues, engages people in the political process, and seeks to inform lawmakers and other officials at every level of government of its policies and platform.
The Ethical Culture Society of Bergen County, a welcoming humanist community and its Sunday School, meet at 11a.m. on Sundays at 687 Larch Avenue, Teaneck. For more information, call 201 836-5187 or visit www.EthicalFocus.org.

Platform Video: Raising Freethinkers

2009-10-18T18:26:00.000-04:00

The following ECS/Bergen Platform address was delivered on Sunday, October 18, 2009, by Dale McGowan (introduced by Dr. Joseph Chuman):

Dale McGowan: Raising Freethinkers from Ethical Culture Society Bergen on Vimeo.

Much is rightly made of raising children who are compassionate, intelligent, moral, and well-adjusted. But too often, these values are placed in opposition to raising independent thinkers. Allow them to think for themselves, goes the reasoning, and our children just might think their way into immorality and self-indulgent chaos.

Dale McGowan argues that this is one of several areas in which we often work counter to our own intentions, and that parents who raise independent thinkers are actually more likely to end up with compassionate, intelligent, moral, and well-adjusted kids.

McGowan edited and co-authored Parenting Beyond Belief and Raising Freethinkers and serves as executive director of Foundation Beyond Belief, a new humanist charitable and educational foundation. In 2008, he was named Humanist of the Year by the Humanist Chaplaincy at Harvard University.

Dale holds degrees in physical anthropology and music theory from UC Berkeley as well as a Ph.D. in music composition and theory from the University of Minnesota. He and his wife Becca, a first grade teacher, live near Atlanta with their three kids—Delaney (7), Erin (11), and Connor (14).

Platform Video: Reflections on the Lunatic Fringe

2009-10-04T08:00:00.000-04:00

The following ECS/Bergen Platform address was delivered on Sunday, October 4, 2009, by Dr. Joseph Chuman (introduced by Ed Gross):

Dr. Joseph Chuman: Reflections on the Lunatic Fringe (10/4/2009) from Ethical Culture Society Bergen on Vimeo.

The fracas over health care reform has brought to political life an irrationality that is very disturbing. But it is not new to American history. How are we to explain views that are not only extreme but are disconnected from fact? This address will provide some possible responses.

My Ethical Culture: Theresa Forsman

2009-09-27T15:57:00.003-04:00

How does Ethical Culture show up in my day-to-day life? Two ways.

First, it is a great relief, day in and day out, to belong to a community that, in the big picture, shares my values, a great relief to be part of a community that “gets it” in a way that I do. I wasn’t looking for a religion, I wasn’t looking for an organization, when I walked in the door here for the first time. I had seen a little calendar item in the newspaper describing what seemed like a fascinating talk. That talk happened to be at a place called the Ethical Culture Society. So I got myself over here. The talk was, indeed, fascinating. And in the question/answer session after the talk, in comments people made, I realized that here was a group of people who saw the world more or less as I did. I hadn’t known that my particular values had a name: Ethical Culture. Finding that out was a great comfort back then, and now—15 years later—it’s a comfort still.

The second way that Ethical Culture shows up in my day-to-day life is that people here help me walk the walk. Examples set by people in this Ethical Culture Society make it easier for me to put into practice the theory that every human being is worthy of dignity and respect and that by providing this dignity and respect I am thereby elevating my own.

I am very clear on the worth and dignity of each person as a theory, as a belief, but as a practice? Well, that’s much less easy…I am much less clear about putting the theory into practice.

In the daily slog it’s often easier NOT to appreciate the value of each person and to treat him or her accordingly. What helps me do the right thing, more often than I would otherwise, are the examples set by many individuals here. In ways big and small, people here with plenty of responsibilities, plenty of demands on their time—in short, plenty of rational reasons for NOT stepping up and doing the right thing—step up and do the right thing.

I won’t name names, because I would never be able to cover all the good examples that I have learned from and because I don’t want to risk embarrassing anyone. I’ve witnessed many comments and deeds by people in our Society that have shown me how to be when I’m out there in nitty-gritty life and wondering whether I can summon the wherewithal to do the right thing, the Ethical Culture thing. I’ll take this opportunity to say: Thank you for that. My actions don’t always match my Ethical Culture philosophy, but they match more often because of what I’ve heard and seen in you.

Theresa Forsman
September 27, 2009

Platfofrm Video: Reclaiming Ethical Culture Spirituality

2009-09-27T14:05:00.000-04:00

The following ECS/Bergen Platform address was delivered on Sunday, September 27, 2009, by Anne Klaeysen (introduced by Deb Watsky):

Anne Klaeysen: Reclaiming Ethical Culture Spirituality (9/27/2009) from Ethical Culture Society Bergen on Vimeo.

Ethical Culture founder Felix Adler frequently used the language of spirituality: for example, “holy,” “sacred,” “divine” and “soul.” He told us to “conceive of progress spiritually.” Yet over the years, we have become uncomfortable with this language, ceding it too readily to traditional theistic communities, cautious of what supernatural visions we may be conjuring. “What a loss!” says Leader Anne Klaeysen, who will address us on the necessity of developing authentic Ethical Culture spiritual practices.

Introduction by Deb Watsky

HumanLight 2009

2009-09-23T12:59:00.006-04:00

Humanists of all stripes will be interested in the nascent HumanLight celebration. Remember Christmas, Hannukah or Davali from your childhood? Looking for a non-theistic supplement to those supernatural-linked celebrations? The 2009 HumanLight holiday will be on December 23. Join the humanists in seasonal celebration!

Visit the HumanLight website or watch this YouTube video:

Platform Video: The Establishment Clause: Church and State in the 21st Century

2009-09-20T14:15:00.000-04:00

The following ECS/Bergen Platform address was delivered on Sunday, September 20, 2009, by Derek Araujo (introduced by Ken Karp):

George W. Bush transformed the composition of the federal courts through eight years of judicial appointments. The judges he appointed have wrought striking changes in the law, including Establishment Clause jurisprudence. In light of these changes, protectors of the wall of separation between church and state must reexamine their strategic approach to defending our secular democracy.

Derek Araujo: The Establishment Clause in Exile - Church and State in the 21st Century (9/20/2009) from Ethical Culture Society Bergen on Vimeo.

Nation relives a more troubling aspect of its past

2009-09-19T16:24:00.003-04:00

An article by the Leader of the Ethical Culture Society of Bergen County, Dr. Joseph Chuman, was published in today's print and online editions of The Record. In it, Chuman draws parallels between the "suspicious discontent" described by historian Richard Hofstadter in his 1964 essay "The Paranoid Style in American Politics" and the town hall charades of today's vocal opponents of health care reform. (See page A-11 of the September 19 Record, or click here for the online version).

"[I]f we wish to see civility restored to our political discourse", Chuman concludes, "we need to sustain a sturdy faith in reason — supported by the facts — as the governor of public life."

Dr. Chuman will present a full-length address teasingly titled "Reflections on the Lunatic Fringe" on October 4, 2009, at the Ethical Culture Meeting House in Teaneck, NJ.

Platform Video: Ethical Culture's Distinctive Voice

2009-09-13T20:28:00.003-04:00

The following ECS/Bergen Platform address was delivered on Sunday, September 13, 2009, by Dr. Joseph Chuman (introduced by Ed Gross):

For the last twelve months we have been visited by an unprecedented number of newcomers. Clearly people are attracted not only by the warmth of our community but by what we stand for. But what do we stand for? Dr. Chuman reflects on the ideas and values that make up Ethical Culture’s “distinctive voice.”

Dr. Joseph Chuman: Ethical Culture's Distinctive Voice (9/13/2009) from Ethical Culture Society Bergen on Vimeo.

For the last twelve months we have been visited by an unprecedented number of newcomers. Clearly people are attracted not only by the warmth of our community but by what we stand for. But what do we stand for? Dr. Chuman reflects on the ideas and values that make up Ethical Culture’s “distinctive voice.”

Phyllis Ehrenfeld, 76: Sep. 13 memorial service

2009-08-20T10:42:00.006-04:00

A Memorial Service will be held for Phyllis Ehrenfeld Sunday, Sept. 13, at 3 p.m. at The Ethical Culture Society of Bergen County, 687 Larch Ave., Teaneck (201-836-5187).

In 2004, Phyllis and her husband Sylvain helped found the Bergen County Chapter of the UNA-USA. Phyllis served as President since its inception. During this time, the chapter held five major events in Bergen County on important global issues, emphasizing human rights and international cooperation throughout the United Nations. These events were well received by the public.

Phyllis was also the President of the National Service Conference of the American Ethical Union (AEU) and was its representative to the UN.

Phyllis was born on September 28, 1932 and passed away on Tuesday, July 14, 2009. Phyllis and Sylvain have been members of The Ethical Culture Society for over 30 years.

Bergen Record: Atheists Use Billboard to Preach Their Message

2009-08-20T09:55:00.008-04:00

Page A-15 of today's Bergen Record print edition (THU, 8/20/09) covers the latest salvo in the billboard wars (the article is also online here). The setting this time is South Florida. Bergen County residents may recognize the phrase "Don't believe in God? You're NOT alone!" from the billboard that appeared on the NJ Turnpike at the beginning of 2008 (article).

The Florida Atheists and Secular Humanists (FLASH) sponsored the billboard. Included on their webpage is a video from the local South Florida FoxNews affiliate covering impact to the local community (video is about halfway down the page).

FreethoughtAction founder, Jan Meshon, has appeared twice at the Bergen Society. A video of his May 17, 2009, appearance is here.

Herta A. Bodansky, 88

2009-07-31T07:22:00.001-04:00

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

2009-07-31T07:14:00.003-04:00

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

2009-07-21T09:08:00.007-04:00

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

2009-07-20T07:50:00.003-04:00

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

2009-07-19T09:58:00.005-04:00

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

2009-07-04T08:11:00.005-04:00

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.

Vietnam voices: Arthur Dobrin

2009-06-29T08:45:00.003-04:00

Arthur Dobrin, Leader Emeritus of the Ethical Humanist Society of Long Island, is featured in this Newsday article on the summer of 1969. Dr. Dobrin is the author of many books and articles, most recently Spelling GOD with Two O's. He is scheduled to speak at the Ethical Culture Society of Bergen County on September 27, 2009.

Newsweek: Massimo Pigliucci

2009-06-27T15:27:00.003-04:00

Dr. Massimo Pigliucci, who spoke at the Bergen Society in January 2009 on the topic of What's Science Got To Do With It?: When Scientists Talk Nonsense About Religion, is quoted in the June 29 issue of Newsweek. The article, titled Can We Blame Our Behavior on Stone-Age Genes, expresses scientific views that attempt to debunk some of the more outlandish claims of evolutionary psychology, including that of the "rape gene", which claims that rape persists in modern society due in part to the success of men 100,000 year ago who increased their offspring through forced sexual intercourse.

Dr. Pigliucci is quoted as saying "Evolutionary stories of human behavior make for a good narrative, but not good science." Biological change is guided by the environment, including social and cultural factors. If that environment is dynamic, as it is for humans, then behavior will adapt accordingly. Thus, whether or not rape was a successful breeding strategy in our evolutionary past does not necessarily come to bear on today's behavior.

The French'ical Culture Society of Bergen County

2009-06-18T19:29:00.009-04:00

That's right, the French'ical Culture Society.

A film crew from the French television channel Canalplus included almost a minute and a half of the May 24 Platform in the June 7, 2009, edition of their weekly magazine show L'Effet Papillon with Victor Robert. That day's Platform topic was Child Survivors of the Holocaust, a panel facilitated by Dr. Joseph Chuman, Leader of the Society. Joe Chuman (incorrectly identified as "President, Ethical Society" in the snapshot to the right) was interviewed on camera, as was a Sunday school teacher ("Professeur de Catechisme Humaniste").

Follow these steps to view The ECS/Bergen portion of the video:

Click on this link
Grab the slider to move ahead to about 6m 55s (or watch the whole segment)
Enjoy (the ECS part is about 1m 30s and can be viewed in fullscreen mode)

Dust off your French!

(The following instructions as posted in June, 2009, no longer work because the video was removed from its original location. They are retained for historical completeness):

Follow these steps to view The ECS/Bergen portion of the video:

Click on this link
Scroll down to the section titled "Les Prochaines Emissions"
Click on the picture beneath "Emission du 07-06-2009" (June 7)
The show begins after a 15 second commercial. Grab the slider to move ahead to about 17m 36s (or watch the whole show)
Enjoy (the ECS part is about 1m 30s and can be viewed in fullscreen mode)

Dust off your French!

Platform Video: The Rise of Poetic Atheism

2009-05-31T19:53:00.004-04:00

The following ECS/Bergen Platform address was delivered on Sunday, May 31, 2009, by Jennifer Michael Hecht (introduced by Ken Karp):

Jennifer Michael Hecht: The Triumph of Poetic Atheism from Ethical Culture Society Bergen on Vimeo.

Platform Video: Child Survivors of the Holocaust

2009-05-24T19:47:00.000-04:00

The following ECS/Bergen Platform took place on Sunday, May 17, 2009, and featured Carl Hausman, Goldy Hess, Evelyn Ripp, with moderation from Dr. Joseph Chuman, Leader:

Child Survivors of the Holocaust from Ethical Culture Society Bergen on Vimeo.

Parents gather to nurture nonbelief

2009-05-21T20:51:00.004-04:00

As the number of non-believers continues to rise, the needs of non-believing parents do, too. A group of families in Raleigh-Durham, NC, have formed a congregation called Parenting Beyond Belief (Parents Gather to Nurture Nonbelief), named after the eponymous 2007 book. These parents, like parents everywhere, feel the need to come together to raise and nurture their children in a community of like-minded people.

An article from the book Parenting Beyond Belief will be the subject of an August 30 Summer Platform; Dale McGowan, author of the book, will conduct a Parenting Beyond Belief seminar on October 17; and deliver a Platform on October 18. All three events will take place at the Ethical Culture Society of Bergen County. The seminar will also be given on November 7 at the Religious Education Conference and Family Weekend of the American Ethical Union in Stony Point, NY.

Carl Schlesinger: Tap Dance Hero

2009-05-20T10:12:00.002-04:00

ECS/Bergen member Carl Schlesinger is featured in today's Bergen Record (Rutherford dancer, 83, is a tap hero). As much as Carl talks about his career in the printing industry, who knew he was a tap dance hero?

Platform Video: Reaching the Tipping Point: Why I’m Optimistic About the Next 20 Years

2009-05-17T19:36:00.000-04:00

The following ECS/Bergen Platform address was delivered on Sunday, May 17, 2009, by Jan Meshon of FreeThoughtAction (introduced by Ken Karp):

Jan Meshon, FreeThoughtAction : Reaching the Tipping Point from Ethical Culture Society Bergen on Vimeo.

This I Believe: Esther Sandrof

2009-05-10T20:45:00.003-04:00

When asked to come up with adjectives that broadly describe me -- even though I bristle at this type of reductivism -- I would say that I am a progressive, left-leaning, feminist, environmentally-conscious, Toyota Prius-driving, skeptical, accordion-playing humanist.

Probably eight out of ten people that I interact with on a day-to-day basis -- in my family, in my job and here at the Ethical Culture Society -- also define themselves as progressive, left-leaning, feminist, environmentally-conscious, skeptical humanists. Some also drive Priuses (Prii?) and one or two even play the accordion.

I’m a proud integrationist. I believe that life has more meaning, vibrancy and zest when it is lived amid a swirl of ideas, sights, sounds and tastes. I intentionally sought to live in a community that ripples with the spirit of diversity: where people of different races, religions and ethnic backgrounds all co-exist, within close proximity -- albeit sometimes uneasily. I feel strongly that my children benefit from attending schools full of young people from different races, ethnicities and backgrounds.

These integrationist tendencies also manifest themselves in my personal preferences. I play my iPod on shuffle mode to enjoy the juxtaposition of Bach, Sammy Davis Junior, sufi music, delta blues and Tuvan throat singing. My favorite meal is a melange of pesto, bi bim bap, biryani and sashimi (and I am therefore eternally grateful for the food bar at the Whole Foods that recently opened in Paramus.)

So here’s the challenge for a person like me: how to co-exist with people don’t share my zest for mixing things up and who may prefer a more segregated approach to living?

This question has become key to life in Teaneck today.

Teaneck’s self-identify is inextricably wrapped up in its pride about being the first town in America to voluntarily integrate its school system over 40 years ago. In Teaneck, among the “old school” types (like me) there’s this undercurrent of progressive exceptionalism that we wear like a badge of honor.

However, in recent years, Teaneck diversity has also included a growing number people who do not necessarily share the integrationist values that I hold so dear.

Some folks in town spend what I consider to be an inordinate amount of time and energy engaging in religious rituals that hold no meaning or interest to me other than in strictly anthropological sense. They are more or less comfortable with patriarchal constructs within the family and enforced gender separation in worship, school and social events that I believe to be an anathema. These folks allows communal standards to dictate what they can and can’t wear, what they can and can’t eat, when they can drive a car, mow their lawn, hold an umbrella, spend money and be intimate with their spouses.

This exposure to people who don’t share my life choices, has forced me to confront prejudices that I would have otherwise never knew I possessed. It has made me more aware of the particular orthodoxies to which I subscribe, and the degree to which my life is as dictated as theirs by a set of communal standards about how one lives their life.

As I’ve gotten to know my neighbors in the actual rather than the abstract, I’ve found that we have a lot more in common than I would’ve previously allowed myself to believe.

It has been through a gradual process of getting to know people who live their lives by a different paradigm, that I am slowly trying to climb off my high horse of liberal sanctimony when it comes to the life choices of others.

This has helped me to be less adversarial, to feel hopeful about the changes that are occurring in my community and to rededicate myself to finding common solutions to local problems that capitalize on the values that we all share, which, it turns out, outweigh our differences.

So every day, I try to remind myself not to relegate people to categorical boxes. Every individual deserves my respect, not just the people with whom I am philosophically aligned.

This I Believe.

Platform Video: The Case for Islamo-Christian Civilization

2009-05-10T19:16:00.000-04:00

The following ECS/Bergen Platform address was delivered on Sunday, May 10, 2009, by Dr. Richard W. Bulliett, (introduced by Azar Gordon):

Professor Richard W. Bulliet: The Case for Islamo-Christian Civilization from Ethical Culture Society Bergen on Vimeo.

My Ethical Culture: Diane Koszarski

2009-05-07T19:57:00.003-04:00

As delivered to the Ethical Culture Society of Bergen County on Sunday, May3, 2009:

I believe a congregational framework is essential for the expression of our humanist values.

I suppose a humanist with great discipline might engage in worthy social action, ongoing philosophical study and the improvement of interpersonal relationships, all on their own hook – me, I need group support.

I enjoyed seeing the recent New York Times article, “Atheists Shout It From the Rooftops” which covered the formation of a new humanist group in North Carolina. But then I read through the online reader responses – so many, self-identified as atheists, were extremely dubious about the possibility of a group approach. ..

very “Don’t Tread on Me”! in their attitude.

Their reactions made me particularly grateful to have a thriving humanist congregation at hand in which I can participate and from which I can benefit.

For example: I am not a natural student of philosophy, but through

our Platforms, the occasional classes, even coffee-hour discussions, I can take confidence in Ethical Culture’s respectable intellectual pedigree, and get help in fine-tuning my own understandings.

Again, although I believe in our duty to help the less fortunate, I am not a natural front-line activist. But through the outreach projects sponsored by this congregation, there are endless opportunities to make contributions toward the social good.

Finally, in a smallish group like ours, there are so many ways to support the smooth functioning of our community, there is a venue for every talent. Not ready to lead the Finance Committee? Volunteer for coffee next Sunday! I truly believe it is this “behind the scenes” work that leads to our most rewarding connections and friendships.

Those are just three of the ways a congregational approach helps me be a better humanist.

As we support each other in our growth as humanists, as fellow members of a congregation, we create a very special validation of humanism. Our group is a demonstration to the world that humanism is a viable spiritual choice in this day and age. Welcome to the Ethical Culture Society, a humanist congregation.

Platform Video: Liberty and the Inquiring Mind

2009-05-03T14:09:00.000-04:00

The following ECS/Bergen Platform address was delivered on Sunday, May 3, 2009, by Dr. Joseph Chuman, Leader (introduced by Ed Gross, President):

Dr. Joseph Chuman: Liberty and the Inquiring Mind from Ethical Culture Society Bergen on Vimeo.

NY Times: Defecting to Faith

2009-05-02T14:18:00.000-04:00

NY Times Op-Ed columnist Charles Blow points out in this article that many people seem to need "spiritualism" even if it encompasses merely (nontheistic) transcendence from everyday life. Many who are raised outside of traditional religion gravitate to it, but not because of dogma. Rather, it is the sense of community that draws them in. Put another way, it is the pomp, potlucks and picnics that people need, not the father, the son or the holy ghost.
Dale McGowan, who will be offering a Parenting Beyond Belief seminar and a Platform at the Bergen Society in October, is quoted in the article.

Dr. Joseph Chuman: United Nations Resolution "Lamentable and Tragic"

2009-04-28T09:38:00.005-04:00

The Bergen Record has published this letter to the editor (click, then scroll down) from Leader Dr. Joseph Chuman in their April 27, 2009, edition. The letter is in response to Paula Schriefer's "Insidious threat to freedom of expression", which addresses the recent resolution of the U.N. Human Rights Council limiting criticism of religion.

NY Times: More Atheists Shout It From the Rooftops

2009-04-28T09:13:00.003-04:00

See this NY Times article that appeared on page A1 of the April 27, 2009, print edition. The brainchild behind the "Don't Believe in God? You are Not Alone" billboard that triggered the South Carolina movement is Jan Meson of Freethought Action. Jan will address the Bergen Society on Sunday, May 17, 2009, at 11:00AM.

The article was the Times' number 2 most emailed article for a time, and attracted thousands of comments, including this by our own member Terri Karp.

Dr. Anne Klaeyson, Leader of the New York Society for Ethical Culture and Humanist Chaplain at Adelphi University, submitted this letter to the NY Times editor.

Helping to Drill Wells in Burkina Faso

2009-04-27T08:50:00.003-04:00

This is from my brother Adam (I heartily endorse this effort as well!!):

Greetings Family and Friends,

I have been donating time recently to help a non-profit organization write a business plan to present to individuals and companies to help raise seed money. The organization is called the BARKA Foundation and their main goal is to dig water wells in a small country in Africa called Burkina Faso, which is among the world's most impoverished nations. Although there is ample water underground, they have no means to access it and must walk for miles everyday and then carry water in jugs. This water is often polluted, and causes illness. If they didn't have to spend most of their day hauling water, they might engage in more productive pursuits such as school and work, thereby improving their situation.This small non-profit was started by a college classmate of mine, who was once a television producer. He has since changed his name, and dedicated his life to improving the lives of these people. He hopes to build on his previous experiences and expertise by producing documentary films and staging concerts to earn income for the foundation to use to achieve its goals.The BARKA Foundation will be sponsoring a very interesting event in May, called the "Peace, Water, and Wisdom Walk" where people will walk from the Burkina Mission to the UN in New York City, to Bangor, Maine for a total of 500 miles. The purpose of the walk is to raise money to drill wells and awareness of the situation. Along the way, they will stop to conduct educational events with school children who are also helping to raise funds. If you have any questions or comments, please go to the links highlighted above or contact adam.ruderman@yahoo.com If you are able to help with a donation, would like to join them for a portion of the walk, or if you would like to involve your children's school in the effort, that would be great!
Thanks,
Adam

Platform Video: Visiting Nurse Service & Ethical Culture

2009-04-26T11:27:00.000-04:00

The following ECS/Bergen Platform address was delivered on Sunday, April 26, 2009, by Dr. Richard Bernstein (introduced by Dr. Joseph Chuman, Leader):

Dr. Richard Bernstein: Visiting Nurse Service & Ethical Culture from Ethical Culture Society Bergen on Vimeo.

Puffin: Steven Hecht shows his Art

2009-04-22T21:03:00.001-04:00

Steven Hecht, who is a member of the Ethical Culture Society of Bergen County, also collects art, including WPA (Works Progress Administration) art of the 1930s. Steve says that more than 40 pieces of his collection will go on display at the Puffin Forum for two months beginning this Saturday. There will be an opening reception on Saturday at Puffin at 7:00 pm. It’s free. It would be great if our fellow Ethical members and friends would drop in! If you can’t make it this Saturday, Steve says the show will be up for the next two months, so stop by and see it.

The Puffin Forum is located at 20 Puffin Way, just off Teaneck Road. If you’re headed south on Teaneck Road, you’ll pass Holy Name Hospital and Thomas Jefferson Middle School. You will see two gas stations--an Exxon on your right and an Enrite gas station on your left. Make the left onto Puffin Way (formerly East Oakdene Ave.) immediately after the Enrite station. The Puffin parking lot is at the bottom of the hill on the right. (If you are headed north on Teaneck Road, look for the Enrite station – Puffin Way is the first real street on your right.)

Here’s a link to the April event listings at Puffin: http://www.puffinfoundation.org/forum/forum_new/calendar/April.html

Saturday, April 25, 7:00 p.m.
ART OPENING: Still Current:
WPA Art of the 1930s
Much like the severe global financial environment of today, the 1930s were a time of harsh economic duress throughout the world. On the evening of April 25th the Puffin Gallery will have an opening of original Works Progress Administration art works from the collection of Teaneck resident Steven Hecht. The show consists primarily of artists who worked for the WPA and depicts many themes that are germane to the current uncertain economic climate. President Obama’s recent stimulus plan to rebuild the nation’s crumbling infrastructure is eerily reminiscent in these evocative works from 75 years ago. Lithographs, water colors, wood blocks show men pouring steel, repairing rails, as well as farm scenes, carnivals, oil wells, nudes, and abstractions from another time that has direct lineage to today’s world.
Curated by Steven Hecht and Marc Lambert.

Free and open to the public.

Linda

Rational Sunday School

2009-04-22T08:12:00.004-04:00

Rational, humanist, critical thinking, freethinking ... use whatever adjectives you want. Demand for Sunday schools for the children of nonbelievers continues to grow.

This article in The Humanist magazine mentions examples of such Sunday schools in Portland (OR), Long Island (a shout out to our Ethical Culture friend Sharon Stanley!), Albuquerque, Palo Alto, Chicago (also an Ethical Culture group) and Harvard University. Add to these our own Sunday school at ECS/Bergen, as well as others within the Ethical Culture community, and you have a movement.

Ethical Culture Societies have been conducting Sunday schools for 130+ years. It's about time the rest of the world has caught on.

This I Believe: Janet Glass

2009-04-19T15:25:00.003-04:00

As delivered to the Ethical Culture Society of Bergen County on Sunday, April 19, 2009:

I believe in natural burial. By natural burial I mean that we stop cutting down trees to make coffins, that we refrain from destroying rock face to make headstones, and that we don’t poison the earth with the formaldehyde in embalming fluid. Natural burial means we don’t contaminate the air with mercury that results from cremation. Cremation also consumes energy and doesn’t replenish the land. In my idea of natural cemeteries we don’t create gardens that require the use of pesticides and herbicides, and we certainly don’t mine the land for mausoleums of marble and granite. Just put my body in the ground to decompose, let the nutrients nourish the earth for the plants that sustain wild animals. I love the idea of providing habitat for wildlife by my death. The way we organize ourselves in cemeteries now is by religious groups, families, municipalities, and military service. Not by habitat preservation. At least, not yet. In order to sustain eagles, bears and other animals which need a wide range to survive, we need large tracts of land. If I want to plant myself to save habitat, a natural section in a conventional cemetery won’t provide enough land. So, in order for this to work, I need lots of company. A few years ago I looked around for natural cemeteries like one I had imagined, and bought a plot near Ithaca, New York. At that time there were only three like this in the country.

So why do I like to imagine my body helping to nourish a bush which might provide some berries for a squirrel which could feed an eagle? I feel related to all of it and, at heart, I think we all do. Last weekend I was at the computer when I noticed that a mourning dove had landed on the fire escape very close to my bedroom window. I felt my heart actually flutter a little bit and I watched its movements, riveted until it flew away. What is that connection about? And it’s not just me. Babies are always drawn to the sight of an animal, and the elderly are soothed by stroking a dog or cat. Our instinctive connection to animals seems to be hard-wired, yet we’ve betrayed them in so many ways. We have cut ourselves off from their pain in factory-farming, laboratory experiments, circus life, military uses and habitat destruction. In my own life, I haven’t been able to rid myself of animal products successfully enough and, as a culture, we’re still working out how to coexist. But in my death, I might help a bit to restore the balance. Laws still protect burial grounds as sacred. We could make them even more sacred by giving some of the earth back to the other beings among us. As green awareness become more trendy, maybe it’s a chance at collective redemption for the animal suffering we’ve caused. I believe in natural burial as habitat restoration. Let’s push up some daisies. This I believe.

Top G.O.P. Consultant Endorses Gay Marriage

2009-04-18T08:31:00.004-04:00

When it matters to you, you're willing to do something about it. Perhaps this was going through the mind of Steve Schmidt, former senior consultant for the 2008 McCain presidential campaign, when he endorsed gay marriage last month. He reiterated that endorsement yesterday in an address to the Log Cabin Republicans, a group that supports gay rights.

And why does it matter to him? Presumably because his sister is lesbian. Dick Cheney, where are you?

Check out the NY Times coverage.

Darwin Day Family Festival: Revisited

2009-04-10T09:51:00.004-04:00

Did you miss the Darwin Day Family Festival that took place at the New York Society of Ethical Culture on February 7, 2009? The event celebrated the 200th birthday of Charles Darwin and the 150th anniversary of the publication of his seminal work, Origin of Species.

You can listen to much of the proceedings on Scientific American's Science Talk podcast hosted by Steve Mersky (Scientific American's editor-in-chief, John Rennie, was one of the speakers). The podcast is in three parts: part 1, part 2, part 3. Full transcripts of the podcast are also available.

Newsweek: The End of Christian America

2009-04-08T12:06:00.002-04:00

And yet another article on the the shifting religious landscape in America. This time it's Newsweek.

PRESS RELEASE: Mixolydian Band Welcomes Spring with Brass Music

2009-04-02T19:15:00.000-04:00

Professional musicians who include a brother-and-sister team will be a musical highlight at The Ethical Culture Society in Teaneck in the month of May. On Sunday afternoon, May 3, at 2:00 p.m., William Teubner (trumpet) and his sister, Joann Teubner-Prussak (keyboards) and their group, Mixolydian, will perform a program of classical music from different periods and composers.

This program will feature a brass quintet of two trumpets, a trombone, a french horn, and a bass, accompanied by Ms.Teubner-Prussak. Also included in the program are pieces for trumpet solo and piano solo.

Mr. Teubner is a graduate of The Juilliard School with study at The Paris Conservatory. He is a professional musician who has performed in orchestras around the world. Ms. Teubner-Prussak is a graduate of The Mannes School of Music, having studied privately with masters of the organ and piano. In New Jersey she is the music director of the Summit United Methodist Church. She is also a conductor of choral groups in the tristate area.

Wine and cheese will be offered for refreshment as well as non-alcoholic beverages.

Call The Society for more information about this event.

The Ethical Culture Society of Bergen County, a welcoming community and its Sunday School meet at 11a.m. on Sundays at 687 Larch Avenue, Teaneck. For more information, call 201 836-5187 or visit www.EthicalFocus.org.

This I Believe: Leigh Roumila

2009-03-29T14:30:00.002-04:00

As delivered to the Ethical Culture Society of Bergen County on Sunday, March 29, 2009:

THIS I BELIEVE – by Leigh Roumila - January 18, 2009

Narrowing my beliefs down to one single sentence was the hardest part of getting this essay started. At first, it seemed overwhelming because I believe in so many things. But then it hit me. What makes me tear up, what gives me goosebumps, what gives me courage and makes me do things I really really don’t want to do, what supports me when I take the path less chosen, what inspires me and makes me proud to be part of the human race, what leaves me totally awestruck… is the ONE thing I completely believe in.

And that is the POWER OF LOVE.

And of course, I’m not talking about the idea of love that is perpetuated by popular culture, the romantic gimmick that true love is only available to the young and beautiful, that IT finds US and when it does, must, by definition, sweep us off our feet. No I’m talking about the love that lives much deeper. The love that is always right there just beneath the surface, the one we make room for when we overcome our fears and judgments and just forgive ourselves and the others in our life

This love is bigger than us individually; it is a community product that we all together create, sustain and can tap into at any time. Many in this world attribute it to Jesus, or some other spiritual master, and that is what gives those religious beliefs their power, but it is just as available to humanists. It is the glue that connects us to each other and to the world around us and it is behind the golden rule that Ethical Culture embraces: do onto others as you would have them do onto you.

This love causes miracles. Scientists have proven that baby monkies can be given enough food, water and shelter, but still die because they are not held and loved, and as Ellen McGrath points out in an article in Psychology Today, Love is as critical for your mind and body as oxygen. It's not negotiable. The more connected you are, the healthier you will be both physically and emotionally. The less connected you are, the more you are at risk.

I have found that one of the things that makes LOVE so powerful is how often it shows up unexpectedly and completely changes the anticipated outcome. Because of the results love produces, it IS breathtaking, it does have the power to sweep us off our feet.

When I was 29, after 32 weeks of a seemingly perfect pregnancy, I learned that the baby girl within me had died and that I was going to have to “give birth” in order to get her out of my body. My doctors advised that I go into birth spontaneously so as to reduce the risk of complications. So for two weeks I waited, for two weeks I grieved. Finally, unable to endure another moment, I called the hospital and told them to have a bed ready for me. I was coming in and was going to end this nightmare, no matter what. To make a long story short, after about 12 hours of on and off labor, I succeeded in pushing out my dead child. But what happened in that private room was completely unexpected. For the first time in two weeks, there was no sadness. There was no grief. There was no fear. There was only love. The nurse practitioner that had been assigned to me and had stayed with me for most of the night and into the early morning hours, completely opened her heart to whatever happened and in doing so allowed me to open myself in every way, to the power of a mother’s love. Between me, the baby, and this amazing other human being, the love in that room was palatable. And with it came waves of appreciation for the humbling power of the human experience, no matter the outcome.

And now many years later, dissecting that experience, I can see that that great sense of connection came about in large part because of the nurse’s complete focus on another person, her pure intention to be of service to me, her willingness to accept more than one reality, and her determination to ignore those inner voices saying she wasn’t up to the challenge. I left that room a much different person. I bet that nurse practitioner did so as well.

In short, I believe there are only two true emotions experienced by humans. One is fear, and the other is love. Everything else is just a version of one or the other. And as Jimi Hendrix said,

When the power of love overcomes the love of power the world will know peace.

This I believe.

NYSEC Advocacy Forum: Obama and the Future of the Imperial Presidency

2009-03-26T19:02:00.003-04:00

Here is coverage of last night's NYSEC Advocacy Forum with panelists Elizabeth Holtzman, Lewis Lapham, and Michael Ratner and moderator Joseph Chuman. Joe is Leader of the Bergen Society and part-time Leader of the New York Society.

The video coverage in the above link is from Press TV, an Iranian news agency.

WSJ: Obama Walks Religious Tightrope Spanning Faithful, Nonbelievers

2009-03-25T16:42:00.002-04:00

Yet another article covering the president's outreach to nonbelievers, this time in the Wall Street Journal. Of interest is the description of Obama's balancing act: policy changes to satisfy nonbelievers; and personal behavior, such his own use of prayer, to mollify the very religious.

USA Today: God-less 'congregations' planned for humanists

2009-03-21T08:24:00.002-04:00

Interesting U.S.A Today article.

US News & World Report: Leaving Religion Behind: A Portrait of Nonreligious America

2009-03-13T21:16:00.003-04:00

Nonreligious Americans represent the fastest-growing part of the nation's religious landscape

Is this a trend? This time the article is in US News & World Report.

Freethinkers sense nation near cultural shift

2009-03-12T08:29:00.009-04:00

Ethical Culture continues to reap the benefits of rising national and local interest in humanism. This is evidenced most recently by The Bergen Record article of Thursday (3/12/08), in which staff writer John Chadwick reports Freethinkers Sense Nation Near Cultural Shift (click for article).

As if to tie the local and national scenes together, EC Sunday school teacher Lisa Repasky is prominently mentioned, as is the Secular Coalition for America (SCA), the DC-based organization that lobbies exclusively on behalf of nontheists. The Bergen Society's national umbrella organization, the American Ethical Union (AEU) is a member of the SCA.

Such press exposure underscores the need for local and national organizations to work together in common cause. The Bergen Society focuses on local issues, and its Sunday school is youth and family-focused. The SCA, on the other hand, concentrates on national issues of fairness, and leaves local action to its coalition members. But the two groups benefit from each others' efforts. Verily, this is common cause in action.

UPDATED: The Godless Rise As A Political Force

2009-03-06T19:52:00.014-05:00

"Secularist, humanist, freethinking nontheists and atheists are coalescing into a movement with a real agenda"

The title and subtitle of this blog entry are borrowed from the cover story of the March 7 issue of the National Journal (see The Godless Rise As A Political Force (PDF)). In it, Paul Starobin reports on the growing number of religiously unaffiliated Americans and the political movement that grows with them. Center stage is the Secular Coalition for America, of which the American Ethical Union (Ethical Culture's national organization) is a member. Regulars will recall that the SCA's former Director, Lori Lipman Brown, who is prominently mentioned, addressed the Bergen Society last September.

There is an opportunity for religious humanism, the Ethical Culture movement in particular, to rise with this political tide. Ours is perhaps the largest family-friendly organization of nontheists in America today. As adult "questioners" hear more about the larger national movement, it seems inevitable that some will seek a sympathetic setting for their children. Who they gonna call?

If they are lucky enough to live near one, they'll call the Ethical Culture Society (see local Societies). Here their children will be taught critical thinking and ethical behavior without the burden of dogmatic belief. We better be ready!

THIS JUST IN: See Paul Starobin discuss his article (click) with callers on C-Span (was broadcast on Sunday, March 8, 2009, at 9:30am ET). Fast forward to 1:31:30.

Teaneck Kids Help Ugandan Orphans

2009-03-03T14:58:00.014-05:00

Susan Lesh, foreground, serves at the Third Annual Pasta Dinner.
A fundraiser for the Tororo Orphans Club in Uganda. Hosted by the Bergen County Ethical Culture Society Sunday School.

Teaneck, NJ (Feb. 28, 2009) - Uganda may be half a world away, but that was not too far for the Sunday School at the Ethical Culture Society of Bergen County. All of the kids – and lots of adults – raised over $1500 at a pasta dinner in Teaneck, NJ on Saturday, February 28, 2009, to help the Tororo Orphans Club, which provides a home for about 150 children who have lost their parents to AIDS.

The third annual dinner brought several Ugandan dignitaries and representatives to Teaneck for the event. Mr. Duncan Muhumuza from the Uganda Mission to the UN, helped attendees get to know more about his country, discussed the progress that has been made in dealing with the many challenges they face, and expressed his thanks for the caring and concern shown by the fundraising effort. Mr. Alon Katende, a former member Uganda National Soccer Team, spoke of how far the money raised would go in supporting the children's needs – clothing, education, health care, and a chance for a real childhood . Joe Chumann, Leader of the Bergen Ethical Culture Society, recalled his experiences when he visited the capital city, Kampala, and spoke of the courage he saw in children who often had to raise their young siblings alone.

The Sunday School children helped plan the event, and prepared the decorations and the food, which included five different kinds of pasta sauces. After enjoying the sauces they made, they all took part in activities with an African theme - mask making, mat weaving and Mancala (an African strategy game). Over 130 people attended the dinner, making it by far the most successful event so far.

Cheryl Paley, Artistic Director for the AIDS awareness group NiteStar, first brought the group to the attention of the Ethical Culture Society four years ago. She said that she has been asked how and why the Tororo Orphans' Club was chosen to receive the help, when there are so many others in need. Her simple answer was a great lesson for the Sunday School children: “Just pick someone and help them.”

Pictured from left to right; back row; Mr. Alon Katende former member Uganda National Soccer Team; Mr. Duncan Muhumuza from the Uganda Mission to the UN. front row: Joe Chuman, Leader of the Bergen County Ethical Culture Society; Dr. Muhumuza; Allison Cooke, Director or Religious Education; Evelyn Wolff, Chair of the Religious Education Committee.

Article Contributed by Eric Sandhusen & Lisa Repasky-Sandhusen
Photos provided by Gwenaël Calvez

Happy Non-Believers Who Don't Fear Death

2009-02-28T07:57:00.007-05:00

Is god belief necessary for a moral society? Not according to Peter Steinfels' account of Phil Zuckerman's Society Without God in the NY Times. Zuckerman reports that although they are two of the world's least religious nations, "in various rankings of nations by life expectancy, child welfare, literacy, schooling, economic equality, standard of living and competitiveness, Denmark and Sweden stand in the first tier." Can it be? Moral without God?

Although the many nonbelievers interviewed, the review continues, "denied most of the traditional teachings of Christianity, they called themselves Christians, and most were content to remain in the Danish National Church or the Church of Sweden, the traditional national branches of Lutheranism." When interviewed about their religious beliefs, most of these church members were indifferent or oblivious to the theistic underpinnings of their nominal religions. One believer, presumably feeling the pressure of ambient social mores, apologized to a friend for his god belief saying "I hope you don’t feel I’m a bad person."

How ironic! A believer feels so guilty about his belief he is compelled to apologize for it! What would that be like?

A Product Placement

2009-02-20T16:03:00.005-05:00

Mike Rosulek, a graduate student at the University of Illinois created a wonderful set of Darwin-themed T-shirts and posters modelled on the now iconic Shephard Fairey Obama poster. Here's my favorite:

Amy J.L. Baker to be Interviewed by Sam Greenfield

2009-02-18T15:53:00.008-05:00

Amy J.L. Baker, PhD, researcher, author and expert on parent alienation syndrome (PAS), will appear on The Sam Greenfield Show on radio station WVNJ 1160AM on Thursday morning (2/19/2009) at 8:23am. Listen on the radio (1160 on the AM dial) or via the internet at wvnj.com (click on Listen Live). WVNJ is heard in northern New Jersey, Rockland and Westchester Counties as well as parts of New York City, Long Island, and Connecticut. Phone questions to 1-800-962-1160.

Parent alienation syndrome (PAS) can occur when children are manipulated by one parent to turn against the other parent. Dr. Baker is a nationally recognized expert on parent child relationships, especially children of divorce, parental alienation syndrome, and emotional abuse of children. She is the author of Adult Children of Parental Alienation Syndrome: Breaking the Ties that Bind, its companion e-book Beyond the High Road and most recently I Don't Want to Choose: How Middle School Kids Can Avoid Choosing One Parent Over the Other (co-authored with psychologist Dr. Katherine Andre). More information is available on her website.

Dr. Baker is a member of the Ethical Culture Society of Bergen County.

How the US State Dept Reports on Human Rights

2009-02-16T12:20:00.005-05:00

What do Tanzania, Benin, Cape Verde, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Belgium, Portugal, Monaco, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg and Iceland have in common? They are some of the countries whose entries in the U.S. State Department's annual Country Reports on Human Rights Practices were edited by Larry Lesser. Mr. Lesser, recently retired from the US Foreign Service Office, gave a sneak preview of the 2008 report to the Society on Sunday, February 15, 2009.

The report, which by law must be submitted by the Secretary of State to Congress each year by February 25, was initiated during the Carter administration.

This I Believe: Ken Karp

2009-02-15T14:52:00.009-05:00

As delivered to the Ethical Culture Society of Bergen County on Sunday, February 15, 2009:

I believe in science. And I believe in religion.

I believe in science as a brainchild of humankind, and in its inexorable, rational march across time to explain our enigmatic world. Science gives us increasing, although incomplete, knowledge of our universe; improving, although imperfect, medical skills to extend our lives; and accelerating technologies of utility and convenience. With science we have the potential to physically enhance our own form and environment, and we do so today with ever more frequency, albeit, with unfortunately mixed results.

And I believe in religion, also as a brainchild of humankind, and in its well-meaning efforts at interpretation. I don't believe in its specific explanations, at least not in those that include supernatural elements, because I'm a naturalist. But religion, as a biological characteristic, was crucial for early humans. I believe religion was born with our ability to reason, even as our species emerged into its present anatomy. Religion has served us well, when viewed on an evolutionary timescale.

Neither science nor religion would exist without intelligence, as is exemplified by the human mind. Both proffer explanations and both require faith to succeed, but only one has the appealing requirement of rigorous evidence. Modern science in human society is very new, relative to religion, having developed largely within the past four or five hundred years. I believe that science is on a continuing, although erratic, trajectory to supplant the metaphysical components of religion. The two are often self-contradictory, inciting conflict on our ever smaller yet more crowded world. As its mystical aspects recede in importance perhaps religion's remaining strength will continue to blaze: the humanistic philosophy of Do Unto Others with its moral, ethical and cultural underpinnings. For adherents of religion, more than anything else, can be, have been, and will continue to be, brought together in a common cause and an ethical culture.

I believe in science. And I believe in religion. The religion of Ethical Culture.

Massimo Pigliucci in Time Magazine

2009-02-12T20:24:00.011-05:00

Prof. Massimo Pigliucci, who spoke recently at ECS/Bergen, is featured in an article titled Evolving Darwin in the current issue of Time Magazine. In it, he references his Extended Evolutionary Synthesis, which attempts to unify the theory of genes with the theory of biological forms.

Pigliucci spoke at the Society on January 25, 2009. His topic was What's Science Got To Do with It? When Scientists Talk Nonsense About Religion.

Pigliucci is also the author of several books, including the forthcoming Nonsense on Stilts.

Ethical Culture in the News

2009-02-12T19:58:00.004-05:00

Two NY Metro area Ethical Culture Societies are the recipients of recent media publicity. As mentioned earlier in this blog, the Ethical Culture Society of Rockland County's Alan Berger was cited in LoHud.com. And now, the Ethical Humanist Society of Long Island's Sharon Stanley has been blogged by Ute Mitchell of BellaOnline.

The recent Darwin Day Family Festival at the New York Society was Sharon's brainchild.

This I Believe: Bob Gordon

2009-02-08T22:27:00.006-05:00

As delivered to the Ethical Culture Society of Bergen County on Sunday, February 8, 2009:

I WAS ASKED TO GIVE A SHORT TALK, INSPIRED BY THE NPR SERIES, “THIS I BELIEVE.”

I HAD A FIT … [THAT’S THE TITLE]

THIS IS [PART OF] WHAT I BELIEVE

I recently read a NY Times Magazine article on discovering his genome, by Steven Pinker, a Harvard College Professor of Psychology.

Pinker described a mix of three determinants that distinguish the individual: nature, nurture, and “brute chance.” He used this latter term, in part, to account for changes in the chemical soup that can affect a biological entity (such as gene mutation). Alterations can occur to gene components, affecting the actions of those that control when - or if - an activity starts or stops, or the faithfulness of replication.

How, when and to what extents the three determinants contribute are unpredictable variables.

Aside from the fascinating science – or conjecture, if you prefer - what resonated with me … what I found useful and appealing … is the way Pinker references attributes that describe the individual, such as one’s natural inclinations to novelty-seeking, sensation seeking, sexual preference, religiosity, political orientation, openness to experience, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, neuroticism, selfishness, being a thinker, and more - or their opposites - as well as the accidents of life and our reactions to them, all of which collectively describe one’s unique persona.

I believe that Ethical Culture, by its nature, and by its membership and leadership (its nurture), is unparalleled in providing the welcome stimulation to my nature … in providing the panoply of keys that match to my personal receptors ... those gradations and the mix of attributes that define me, warts and all …the prickles, goodnesses and predilections.

In President Obama’s inauguration speech, he used a phrase: “to choose our better history.” I don’t know to what extent I chose my history by associating with ECS 40 years ago, as opposed to just happenstancing into it. I guess that I represent the “brute chance” for the change in the chemical soup of my adult life. But the whole of it all, as I said up front, comes to: “I had a fit.”

I believe I have grown as a result … and, hopefully, added something to ECS in return.

Joseph Addison has said: “Three grand essentials to happiness in this life are something to do, something to love, and something to hope for.”

I believe that these too are given me by ECS.

I believe I am enriched thereby.

And I believe that to the extent that any of us wants to partake, the same is available to all.

National Prayer Breakfast: President Obama Mentions Humanists

2009-02-05T22:28:00.004-05:00

Barack Obama continues to push the presidential envelope, it would seem, when it comes to making a place at the table for non-theists and non-believers.

At today's National Prayer Breakfast, an event that snubs the non-prayerful in name if not in fact, the president is quoted as saying "We subscribe to different accounts of how we came to be here and where we’re going next – and some subscribe to no faith at all..." (emphasis added). Later in the same address he explicitly includes humanists with religious groups that abide by the Golden Rule as the "one law that binds all great religions together".

Something's in the air. Read the entire text here and an interesting blog entry in The Economist here.

This I Believe: Linda Bennett

2009-02-01T14:48:00.001-05:00

As delivered to the Ethical Culture Society of Bergen County on Sunday, February 1, 2009:

When I was a child, my grandmother made her home with us. I didn’t get along with her very well. In my memory, whenever she came into the room, she expected my mother’s full attention. I was to be “seen and not heard” when the grownups were talking. “I got no respect.”

So the importance of respect resonated with me; it is one of my core beliefs. I took to heart the Golden Rule: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” Later, I broadened my understanding: “Do unto others as they would have you do unto them.” And “others” includes children, not just adults.

When my children were young, I made a decision to show them the same respect I would show an adult. My children always seemed to want me as soon as the phone rang, “Mommmeeeee!” (and tugging on me), like Pavlov’s dogs salivating when he rang a bell (“ding, ding”). But I made it a point to ask my child to wait a minute while I heard out the person on the phone, and then I would ask the person on the phone to please wait – and I would give my child my undivided attention for a minute or two. I wanted my children to know that their questions had value and that if they gave me the respect of waiting their turn, I would give them the respect to hear them out.

I wish my husband and I had known about the Ethical Culture Sunday School when our children were young. We would have been so pleased for them to learn humanist and ethical values in a community that shared our beliefs. Since we did not belong to any religious community, they felt somewhat isolated. Most of their friends were Catholic, and when my daughter, Samantha, was in middle school, the Catholic youth group was the place to go. She not only joined the youth group, but also became their first Jewish peer minister (essentially a peer counselor for youth group members who preferred talking to a peer rather an adult). It did not lead her to join the church, however.

Samantha and her then-fiancé, Mark, were married by Joe Chuman five years ago and joined the Society. In Ethical Culture, they found a community that reflected their beliefs.

Living Proof that Family Values Without Religion Build Character

2009-01-27T22:00:00.010-05:00

Ethical Culture is a religion, but not in the popularly held theistic sense. To put it another way, we are a nontheistic religion. We don't address theological topics or subscribe to or against supernatural belief. Our members include atheists, agnostics, theists, deists and probably others. Rather than dogma or ideology, it is, among other things, our congregational and social character that binds us together into a community.

That said (that is, that we are a religion) the title of this post is may not appeal to some of our members. We in EC teach family values to our children in part by bringing them together in a Sunday school. So the following quote from President Obama's autobiographical book The Audacity of Hope would not necessarily serve as an accurate depiction of the experience of most EC families:

"I was not raised in a religious household. . . . Without the help of religious texts or outside authorities, [my mother] worked mightily to instill in me the values that many Americans learn in Sunday school: honesty, empathy, discipline, delayed gratification, and hard work. She raged at poverty and injustice. Most of all, she possessed an abiding sense of wonder, a reverence for life and its precious, transitory nature. …”
“Given the increasing diversity of America’s population, the dangers of sectarianism have never been greater. Whatever we once were, we are no longer just a Christian nation; we are also a Jewish nation, a Muslim nation, a Buddhist nation, a Hindu nation, and a nation of nonbelievers.”

The quote is used in this ad from the American Humanist Association. Although the ad is not a perfect match for EC sensibilities, it resonates. It builds a case that nontheism works and that religious texts, dogma and ideology are not required to build moral character. The most visible recent example of this? President Obama.

Rockland Society in the news

2009-01-27T13:51:00.003-05:00

Alan Berger of the Ethical Culture Society of Rockland County was cited in this article on LoHud.com. Alan continues to work diligently to grow this nascent Society, which is located just across Bergen County's northern border.

This I Believe: Ed Gross

2009-01-25T22:24:00.001-05:00

As delivered to the Ethical Culture Society of Bergen County on Sunday, January 25, 2009:

Since Ethical Culture advocates deed before creed, it may seem unusual, but I believe in the power of words. It takes words to express and communicate the ideas and feelings that motivate our actions. Not surprisingly, many of the words I’ve found most inspiring I heard delivered from this very platform. Joe Chuman’s addresses, in particular, have inspired me to try to be a better person and to put my beliefs into action.
Among the countless writers whose words I’ve cherished over the years, novelists Philip Roth, Kurt Vonnegut, and the under-appreciated John Barth made me laugh as they revealed facets of the human condition. My favorite among non-fiction writers is Lewis Lapham, the former editor of Harpers Magazine. If you’ve never experienced the incredibly interesting ways he uses language to construct arguments -- frequently both surprising and convincing, -- you owe yourself the experience.

I’ve never thought of myself as a particularly spiritual person, but several years ago. Kate Lovelady now the leader in St. Louis, opened my eyes from our platform. She said that, for her, spirituality takes the form of communication with others. Words are, to a great extent, the way we get to know each other. And words are how we try to change each other’s minds. Kate’s are among those that have changed mine.

Ethical Culture on NPR's The Takeaway

2009-01-22T10:09:00.008-05:00

NPR's The Takeaway ran a brief piece on the reference to non-believers in President Obama's inaugural address. In it, Professor Randall Balmer cites the Ethical Culture Society as an example of an organization of non-believers. I don't know about you, but this blogger is starting to feel the bubbling warmth of inclusion.

Click here for The Takeaway's story page.

Click here to go straight to the podcast.

Peace rally in Teaneck

2009-01-22T09:38:00.005-05:00

At least three Ethical Culturists can be spotted in this NY1 video, including Leader Joseph Chuman. Although not verbalized in the video, the phrase Ethical Culture Society appears, most appropriately, under Joe's name (snapshot shown to the right).

Click here for NY1 video.

Lori Lipman Brown steps down as SCA Director

2009-01-21T21:16:00.004-05:00

See this article. Best of luck to Lori Lipman Brown, who has gotten America's first lobby for nontheists off to a flying start.

Can't wait to see the new Executive Director!

Obama and Non-Believers

2009-01-21T08:39:00.005-05:00

Nine years after vice-presidential candidate, Joseph Lieberman, proclaimed that the Constitution guarantees freedom of religion, not freedom from religion, President Barack Obama, with no doubt deliberate forethought, stated in his inaugural address yesterday that in addition to Christians, Muslims, Jews and Hindus, the American mosaic is comprised of "non-believers."

It was more than a sociological observation. It was a definite statement of inclusion in the public square of those who do not hold to a faith in God, and an acknowledgment of them as fully enfranchised citizens and civic actors. Of course, this is something that we have always argued for, but for which there has been scant official acknowledgment. Indeed, those not holding to theistic confession have been marginalized in American life. Being validated by the highest authority in the land is a matter of great significance to this constituency.

In part, it is a product of the spate of atheism books, which at a minimum, have opened space for non-believers, and have engaged a widespread public debate. But there are other factors as well.

In "Dreams From My Father," Obama describes his mother as possessing the values of a "secular humanist." Her father had been a member of a Unitarian Church. This throw light on Obama's own religious identity. He recalls that as a community organizer on the Chicago's South Side he was encouraged to join a church, in part to give him legitimacy with the community on whose behalf he was working. Is this another case of pragmatism trumping ideology? Also, descriptions of his own Christian beliefs reveal a very liberal type of Christianity, where personal autonomy seem to supersede doctrine, even to the point of Obama claiming agnosticism about the afterlife.

Finally, perceptive politician that he is, Obama must be aware that non-believers comprise a significant and growing percentage of the voting public, to the point wherein their numbers cannot be ignored.

But whatever the case, we need be thankful that Obama has widened the circle of inclusion at a moment that could not have been more dramatic.

SCA on NPR

2009-01-09T23:26:00.004-05:00

Lori Lipman Brown, Director of the Secular Coalition for America and past speaker at ECS/Bergen, was interviewed on NPR radio on (of all days) December 25, 2008. Check it out here (Lori is at 9 min, 20 sec).

This I Believe: Diana Weber Gross

2009-01-04T22:12:00.002-05:00

As delivered to the Ethical Culture Society of Bergen County on Sunday, January 4, 2009:

Ethical Culture teaches that in eliciting the best in others we can find the best in ourselves.

We Ethical Culturists have faith that people can grow and change.

Felix Adler taught that any place people meet to seek the highest can become as holy ground.

I am a teacher and I live these principles each day.Tomorrow I begin again - a new year, a new term with the same 450 plus young children whom I will see for a brief span of 45 minutes once each week. My classroom is our holy ground, sanctified again by the happy singing, chanting, clapping, dancing and playing of my charges doing their best. Freely creating musical responses that, I fervently hope, take them above and beyond the present day lives they lead, lives of promise or, perhaps, of poverty and pain, lives filled with nurturance or neediness. Through times of self confidence or self doubt, whether enjoying rich lives or enduring barren ones, I believe the music we make together, if they claim it as their own, can carry on in them, informing their choices and in a small, but not insignificant way, helping them shape a life that without their own music singing inside, would be barren indeed.

This is what I offer my students. A gift of ambitious potential, I think. But the greater gift is mine, because among the patient explanations, false starts and do overs, laughter, crashes, and yes, frustrations, I can at times see my best self, best teacher but even more, best human being I can be, peeking out from behind the piano or conga, over the music stand or a child’s bobbing head and I thank Ethical Culture for teaching me that my work is an expression of my religious life.

Religion is Good for Self-Control

2008-12-30T10:27:00.007-05:00

Based on a report published in the upcoming issue of the Psychological Bulletin, religious belief and piety promote self-control (see For Good Self-Control, Try Getting Religious About It in the NY Times, as well as the original study).

So self-proclaimed heathen and non-believer NY Times science columnist John Tierney wonders whether he should start going to church. The article's authors are careful to point out that faking it probably won't result in the desired effect. Studies have found that true believers gain benefits from attending services but non-believers who follow the same practice do not. However, researcher Michael McCullough suggests that public involvement with an organization that has strong ideals can provide secularists with a similar result. "People can have sacred values that aren’t religious values,” he said. “Self-reliance might be a sacred value to you that’s relevant to saving money. Concern for others might be a sacred value that’s relevant to taking time to do volunteer work."

Here's a place that provides that opportunity: The Ethical Culture Society. And guess what? It's religious about it.

Winter Festival Covered by the Bergen Record

2008-12-29T12:23:00.003-05:00

Here's a nice article in the Record about yesterday's solstice festival:

Winter solstice 'a time of great hope'

By Ashley Kindergan

Christmas and Hanukkah get the lion's share of holiday attention in December.

But for a group of humanists who gathered at the Ethical Culture Society of Bergen County on Sunday afternoon to mark the winter solstice, a sense of community and the symbolic turning point of the shortest day of the year were cause enough for celebration. The actual solstice, the shortest day of the year, occurred on Dec. 21, but the celebration was postponed because of inclement weather.

"This is a way a humanist movement like Ethical Culture can plug itself into the celebration of the season," said Joseph Chuman, the center's leader.

The Ethical Culture Society bills itself as a religious movement focused on the welfare of human beings rather than the existence of a deity or transcendental force guiding the universe. Collecting money to build homes for unwed mothers and working for asylum seekers in the Elizabeth Detention Center are among the congregation's principal causes, for example.

More here…

Ethical Progeny

2008-12-24T19:38:00.000-05:00

Rebecca Gopoian and husband David Heatley collaborated on this cartoon (click here) published recently in The New York Times. Rebecca is a graduate of the ECS/Bergen Sunday school and the daughter of members Bea and Steve Gopoian. This will resonate with you if you're in, or the product of, a mixed marriage.

See if you can find Bea and Steve in the strip!

Rebecca Gopoian: Godless & Penniless

2008-12-24T09:01:00.000-05:00

This blogger is a little late in the posting, but check out the NY Times cartoon editorial from Rebecca Gopoian and husband David Heatley. Rebecca is the daughter of long-time ECS members Steve and Bea ("Pine Cone Necklace") Gopoian.

The cartooning couple had a piece published in The Times the previous holiday season.

How an Obama Administration Would Be Good For Ethical Culture

2008-11-15T08:44:00.005-05:00

Barack Obama's stunning victory is a transformative event in American politics and in the American image. Bringing it home, it might also be very good for Ethical Culture, and the Bergen Society should try to build on it. Here's why:

1. An Obama presidency will open space on the ground for the re-emgergence of progressive grass-roots activism to which Ethical Culture has been historically dedicated.

2. It has mobilized large new sectors of the American public, thus underscoring that the commitment to causes, issues and ideals larger than the self is necessary and fulfilling. This sense of commitment is a manistay of Ethical Culture's institution building.

3. It has restored an element of intelligence to public discourse. For a long time, American society starting in the Oval Office has nurtured a dangerous and foolish anti-intellectualism. No one said, "I'm for Obama because he is kind of guy I would like to have a beer with." Rather his campaign was thoughtful, high-minded, without being condescendingly high-brow or off-putting. Intelligent analysis and discourse was the name of the game. He appealed to Americans on this basis.

Ethical Culture is a thoughtful movement which values reflection on the self, society and the world. A new intellectual climate should be good for us.

Let's build on these possibilities forcefully and without defensiveness.

Why not be good for goodness sake?

2008-11-12T15:49:00.005-05:00

The American Humanist Association is embarking on an advertising campaign on Washington DC Metrobuses. Here's an article about the campaign from the Washington Post:

Taking Atheism for a Ride Around Town

By John Kelly

Wednesday, November 12, 2008; Page B03

If you sometimes find yourself praying for a seat on a crowded Metrobus, some atheists have a message for you: Don't bother.

They would say that, wouldn't they? Prayer's not their thing. And starting Tuesday they'll be bringing their unique brand of holiday message to area commuters. Advertisements will begin popping up on Metrobuses in the District that read: "Why believe in a god? Just be good for goodness' sake."

At a news conference at the National Press Clubyesterday, members of the American Humanist Association -- one of the country's leading atheist and agnostic organizations -- explained what they're up to.

"Our message is that all of us can have moral values as a natural result of who we are as a species and who we have become as a civilization," said Fred Edwords, the association's director of communications. "Each one of us knows what it means, generally, to be ethical."

Read the rest here.

Obama and the Generations

2008-11-06T08:30:00.004-05:00

One of the things I will have to assimilate into my understanding of an Obama presidency is that he is not of my generation. He is the first person to be elected president who is younger than I am, and by quite a bit.

In fact, Obama is closer to the generation of my students and my children than he is to mine. He is not a baby boomer, and this makes a difference in how we respectively organize our political understanding of the world. Barack Obama is not a product of the New Left, nor did he participate in the Civil Rights Movement nor the anti-War Movement.

What this may boil down to is that he does not articulate his politics through much of an ideological lens, nor a strident lens of a moral rectitude or ethical categories. (I am struck at not only how few references to the Civil Rights Movement he made during his campaign, but how his discourse differs from the moral language of Martin Luther King, for example, whose prophetic oratory was riddled with references to justice, and the Manichean dichotomies of good and evil).

We hear little of this from Obama. He seems to be all pragmatism, and given his stated commitment to unify the American people, his pragmatism adheres well with his aspirations.

We have entered a new era. It may not be fully mine as the world turns on, but I remain hopeful.

OBAMA!

2008-11-05T07:22:00.004-05:00

It is more than a political victory -- It's a world-historical moment. Out of the history of American racism, replete with slavery, lynching, apartheid and hatred for the black man, the emergence of Barack Obama as president, reflects shifts in the American landscape -- demographic, political ethical -- which are simply monumental and unimaginable just a short while ago.

Yes, America is changing - from a white-dominant society to an ethnically and racially pluralistic one. It is also changing in its political appreciation of racism. Both the Civil Rights movement of 40 years ago, and the "cultural left," with its doctrines of inclusion and tolerance, have made an Obama victory possible. Moreover, the younger the generations see color less, and humanity more; perhaps a real advance for the universalistic values inherent in humanism.

But Obama's was more than a political campaign; it was a movement. One of the extraordinary features of this almost flawless political campaign was the grassroots engagement of young people, and of constituencies in which political involvement had grown apathetic, cynical and bloodless. Building upon this foundation of activism will be one of Obama's greatest challenges.

There is also great moral power in the imagery of an Obama presidency. It speaks to an American audience with the promise of what is possible and the message that nothing is pre-ordained. And it speaks to an international audience about the resilience of American democracy, and the potency of such ideals as inclusion, equality and opportunity.

Though he will enter office with unprecedented challenges, which may submerge the productivity of his vision, for the moment the Obama triumph occupies a unique position in American history and the American experience.

It is time for us to feel good about ourselves.

This I Believe: Evan Gross

2008-11-01T11:11:00.004-04:00

Bergen Ethical Sunday school graduate and former YES national president Evan Gross spoke at a recent St. Louis Ethical Society Platform. Evan, son of Bergen President Ed Gross and past President Diana Gross, was one of three panelists who addressed the Society on the theme of "This I Believe".

The talk, which was deeply personal, was given on September 27, 2008. It can be heard here (search for "gross").

This I Believe is a popular NPR radio segment, and is based on Edward R. Murrow's 1950's radio program of the same name.

Jesus Sent Home from Paramus School

2008-11-01T09:51:00.007-04:00

In what may be an historic first, Jesus' mother (whose first name, according to a Bergen Record article, is not Mary) was called to take him home early from school.

In an amusing twist of an early season Christmas, eighth-grader Alex Woinski dressed up for Halloween as Jesus. He was told by his Vice Principal, according to The Record, that "the costume was offensive to certain children" and he'd have to go home. (The Paramus Superintendent told the Record that Alex was not asked to go home, but rather to remove his fake beard and crown of thorns. He then chose to go home so he could take off the costume.)

In an interesting side note, a commentator on The Record's website who claims to be West Brook Middle School teacher Barry Marcello proclaims "This concern came from fellow Christians who thought this outfit (especially the thorns) were a bit over the top! ... I am a Christian. JESUS IS SACRED--not something to be poked fun at on Halloween. School administrators are afraid nowadays thanks to people like you who are ready to publicly 'crucify' them for any decisions they make." Take this fellow with a grain of salt, though. There is no teacher listed on the school's website with the name he claims. (Reader comments can be viewed at the bottom of the article.)

Ethical Culture: Fear the Name

2008-10-05T13:43:00.007-04:00

Who would have thought we'd see the phrase "fear the name" used in reference to the Ethical Culture Society of Bergen County?

Charles Stile of the Bergen Record reports in today's column (click, then search for "ethical culture") that Bergen Grassroots offered to sponsor a debate between Democratic county freeholders and their Republican challengers. According to Stile, the Republicans accepted but the Democrats declined. Speculating as to the reason, Stile ruminates that "maybe they fear that name of the debate's venue — the meeting hall of the Ethical Culture Society of Bergen County". True, Charles, it stands as a paragon of ethics!

According to their spokesman Bill Maer, the Democrats "... had a scheduling conflict, and we certainly worked hard to accommodate the organization's schedule." The contending slates debated under sponsorship of the AARP in September and are scheduled to do so again on October 13.

Lori Lipman Brown Addresses Bergen Society

2008-09-22T14:13:00.004-04:00

Lori Lipman Brown, Director of the Secular Coalition for America, addressed the Ethical Culture Society of Bergen County on Sunday. Ms. Brown described three years of ups and downs since the 2005 activation of the SCA, the national lobby representing the interests of atheists, humanists, agnostics, freethinkers and other nontheistic Americans. During this time the SCA's staff has grown from one to five (including two part-timers). By and large, according to Ms. Brown, her efforts have been respectfully received by members of congress, their staffers and the general public.

In light of the presidential election, the SCA has published an online resource for where the Presidential and Vice Presidential candidates stand on issues important to secular voters and their allies. The website, Secular Values Voter (tm) Resources is a potent source of information that can be used to compare the positions of the major party candidates.

Also touted during her address is the SCA's Action Alert page, which can notify interested citizens of opportunities to influence elected officials on federal legislation affecting the rights and values of nontheistic Americans. This reporter can attest to the ease and discretion surrounding this service. If you want to have an impact, sign up for the Action Alert page.

The Platform was attended by an estimated 70 people.

Lori Lipman Brown on Colbert Report

2008-08-30T17:05:00.009-04:00

Lori Lipman Brown, Director and chief lobbyist of the Secular Coalition for America, is hot! In addition to her earlier appearance on the O'Reilly Factor, she recently appeared on the Colbert Report's Better Know a Lobby segment (6:56):

and (1:22):

Stephen Colbert's first order of business is to develop (often absurd) comic situations for the benefit of his audience. Unlike mainstream "serious" interviewers he frequently uses the interviewee as a foil for his gags. This irreverent approach lets America laugh at itself, often at the direct expense of a prominent and serious minded public personality.

Lori is in very good company insofar as Colbert has done this with senators, congresspersons, governors and the like. In the 5 1/2 minute aired portion of Lori's interview for example, he quickly steered the topic to Lori's lobbying efforts on behalf of sex education so he could then sidle his way to sex. He followed that with a rendition of God Bless America, which framed nicely, one must agree, with his earlier attempt to swear in Lori on a bible. Very funny stuff.

Lori held up well, exhibiting the patience and professionalism that has been so effective in her nascent role as America's chief nontheist lobbyist. With their logo displayed repeatedly on this highly popular late night television show, the Secular Coalition for America's mission statement was excerpted in an on-screen graphic: "...to protect and strengthen the secular character of our government".

Lori was able to tell America that the SCA was created "because nontheists felt they needed a voice in Congress [as] they ... watch[ed] their tax dollars ... spent on faith-based schemes", including "children learn[ing] bible stories in science class". All the gags and silliness aside, this is the kind of publicity the doctor ordered. Well done, Lori!

Lori Lipman Brown is scheduled to address the Ethical Culture Society of Bergen County on Sunday, September 21, 2008, at 11:00AM.

How Star Trek Helped Boost Obama Into Orbit

2008-08-06T07:44:00.007-04:00

If Barack Obama can claim political star power, perhaps Star Trek has had something to do with it.

I am surprised that no one has seemingly mentioned it. For anyone who is or was a Star Trek fan, the character Seven of Nine, who appeared in the third instantiation of the series, is simply unforgettable.

Played by the actress, Jeri Ryan, the hyper-curvaceous half alien/half human, like Barack Obama himself, had problems in finding and articulating an integral identity.

But to the point: Jeri Ryan had been married to former Goldman Sachs millionaire, Jack Ryan, who faced off in the 2004 Illinois senate race against Obama. During the race, court records, documenting the Ryans' earlier divorce, were made public at the prompting of the press. Among the proceedings were salacious allegations by Ms. Ryan that her husband took her to strip clubs around the world and insisted that she engage in public sexual activity, which she refused.

These revelations summarily ditched Jack Ryan's senatorial aspirations. The Republican party quickly replaced him with the irrepressible, but hapless, Alan Keyes, whom Barack Obama handily defeated for the senate seat, thus positioning him for launch into the presidential race.

It is likely that Obama would have defeated Ryan in any event, but no one, including Barack Obama, could be certain. Nor can we be certain, if Obama wins the White House this November, to what extent Star Trek would be a factor in that victory.