Platform Video:Religion, Bias and Inaccuracy in Education

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

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: What is HumanLight?

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.

HumanLight 2009

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:

Phyllis Ehrenfeld, 76: Sep. 13 memorial service

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.

Related links:

• Obituary: Musings In Obama's America
• Memorial Service announcement: Teaneck Suburbanite
  

Bergen Record: Atheists Use Billboard to Preach Their Message

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

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

Differences between UU (Unitarian Universalism) and Ethical Culture

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

The Transition Moment

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Vietnam voices: Arthur Dobrin

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

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

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:

1. Click on this link
2. Grab the slider to move ahead to about 6m 55s (or watch the whole segment)
   
3. 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:

1. Click on this link
2. Scroll down to the section titled "Les Prochaines Emissions"
3. Click on the picture beneath "Emission du 07-06-2009" (June 7)
   
4. The show begins after a 15 second commercial. Grab the slider to move ahead to about 17m 36s (or watch the whole show)
   
5. 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

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

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

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

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

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.

Platform Video: The Case for Islamo-Christian Civilization

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

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.