Ethical Culture: An Overview
I. Introduction/Disclaimer (Bridget)
A. Who we are/background
B.
What we will discuss today
1. Basic ideas of EC
2. History of movement
3. Modern EC Societies
on the local level
4. How EC can be defined
as a religion
4. Further explanation
of theory
5. Question & answer
C.
Keep a question list for Tom Hoeppner (Ethical Humanist Society of Greater Chicago)
II. Overview of
Ethical Culture/AEU
A. Nontheistic, nondogmatic, humanistic religion
designed to create harmony in society by encouraging people from all faiths to
continually work toward philosophical consensus.
B. Ultimate aim of human life is to work to
create a more humane society
C. Historically religions have had failure in
marrying theory & practice
1. Lose focus on
behavior because of:
a. Conflicts
about creed
b.
Orthodoxies of ritual
c. Questions
of true identity/faith
2. Action gets lost in discussion of
ideas
D. Similarities to Humanism/UU
1. Celebration of arts/creativity/science
2. Emphasis on social responsibility
3. Fellowship – relationships make us better
people
III. History of
Ethical Culture (Thomas)
A.
Felix
Adler (1851-1933)
1.
Born in
2.
Grad.
w/Doctorate Summa Cum Laude from rabbinate in
3.
Abandoned
rabbinical post upon return to US to join and eventually take over the Free
Religious Association
4.
Founded
NY Society for Ethical Culture in 1876
5.
Founded
several Ethical schools in NY including first free kindergarten in NY
6.
Served
as distinguished lecturer for
B.
Beginning
of Ethical Culture Movement
1.
Modern
incarnation born of Felix Adler in 1876 in NY
2.
Additional
societies, based on the NY model, opened in
3.
Each
society quickly adopted projects of social change and activism including
opening free schools for working families’ children, creating a visiting nurse
program, formal schooling for crippled children, signing a petition to create
the NAACP, and providing learning opportunities for inner-city slum children.
4.
Today, AEU
is governing organization for EC Societies
5.
Member
of IHEU (Int’l Humanist/Ethical
6.
Member
of Council of Ethics-Based Orgs. at U.N.
IV. Facts about Local Societies (Bridget)
1.
Fellowships of people who seek a clarification of the values of life and a
faith to live by.
2. 20+ Societies in
3. Democratic process - each society
has an elected Board
4. Choose own name; not required to
include word “humanist”
5.
Societies have Leaders/Adjunct Leaders (certification)
C.
Functions
of an Ethical Culture Society (societies choose their own)
1.
Meetings
2.
Ethical
Action (volunteering, letter-writing)
3.
Ceremonies
(baby naming, weddings, memorial, Coming-of-Age)
4.
Ethical
Education
a.
Adults’
Activities (book/writer’s groups, discussion, film, dinner)
b.
Children’s
Activities (Sunday School, YES)
5.
Festivals
(spring, winter, etc.)
6.
Individual
assistance/guidance (Leader or Committee)
V. EC as a religion
(Thomas)
A.
AEU
legally recognized as religion in
1.
Religious
validity has been challenged and upheld by US Supreme Court (Torcaso v.
Watkins, 1964). It was noted that a non-theistic religion is for legal purposes
as valid as a theistic religion.
2.
Each
society must still make individual case for recognition in their state. (e.g.
B.
Defining
Religion:
1. Connection between humanity & “Universal
Being” (doesn’t apply)
a. Indifference/apathy toward
God/afterlife
b. Focus on the here & now
2. Passionate devotion to a supreme cause (does apply)
C.
Admissible
dissent
1.
Treat
all members respectfully, regardless of opinion
2.
Members/Leaders
free to hold theistic/atheistic/philosophical beliefs, but they must not
characterize the Movement (private beliefs)
3.
AEU has
stated its position on topics but members/leaders not required to share the
same opinion.
4.
“Serious interest in the moral end” sufficient
for membership – newer members may not be able to see the supreme moral end.
5.
Goal is
philosophical consensus, not dogmatic homogeneity
VI. Philosophy of
Ethical Culture (Bridget)
A. Adler:
“We have found a new bond of fellowship, a new common ground upon which
agnostics and theists and good men of all shades of belief and opinion can
stand together; it is the common pursuit of righteousness, the supreme desire
to see righteousness flourish on earth.”
B. Supreme
Ethical Rule: To elicit the best in oneself and others by drawing out the
unique difference that constitutes each self.
1.
Reinforced by Ethical Manifold: Diversity held together in unity
a.
Look beyond the differences between religions & embrace common core of
ethics shared worldwide
b.
Attribute a unique worth/respect to each person, whether evidenced or not
C. Defining Ethics
1. Purposeful lack of
1-sentence absolute definition
a.
Flexibility - Knowledge of “rightness” constantly evolving
b. The Golden Rule – Adler/Russell, “moral egocentrism”
2.
Adler also felt that despite innumerable creedal differences, most religions
share a common moral vein – starting place
3. What criteria do we
use to define ethics?
a. Drawn
from world philosophy & religion, science
b. Supernatural
sanctions for morality are unnecessary
c. Humans have infinite value & mustn’t
be degraded/abused
d. Love of goodness, others are true motives
for right conduct
e. Self-reliance & cooperation are the true sources
of help
f.
Individual considers the convictions of others but finds final authority in
his/her conscientious and reasoned
judgment
g. Work towards philosophical consensus
D. Praxis
1. Adler, “had enough of
a religion which operates only on Sundays”
2. EC committed to ethics-based “deed before
creed” philosophy
a. Thought must become choice
b. Eliciting the best from others
b. Doing the
best you can with the raw material you have
c.
Find truth through action (action
contributes to intellectual growth)
d.
Caveat: Unthinking action may do harm!
3. Challenge to live
ethically in your day-to-day life
E. 8 Commitments of Ethical Culture
(handout)
Q & A period