Ethical Culture’s historical and current commitment to ethical action intends to nurture social justice.  This requires the courage and the flexibility to learn through practice.  Often social justice demands that we not simply do what is possible, but that we change what is possible.

Here are Hugh's notes on The Primacy of Ethics and Inherent Worth.  If you were taking this class with Hugh in person, this is what you would be seeing on the blackboard.

This topic explores how nurturing of ethical relationships is central to Ethical Culture.  Not only does this activity spring naturally from our nature as social beings, it serves as the most effective method of expressing our respect for the inherent worth of all people, including our self.  Ethical relationships arise out of mutual respect and cooperation, and offer us the best hope of establishing social justice.

This topic covers a wide range of issues, from a brief history of Ethical Culture to various important aspects of its identity. 

Some of the aspects to be addressed include Ethical Culture:

• as evolving, open, and pragmatic
• as resepcting reason, obsersvation,and the scientific method
• being non-theistic
• as a religious experience
• promoting the primacy of ethics

Four major areas of its identity - the primacy of ethics, inherent worth, ethical relationships, and ethical action - will be covered in greater detail as future topics.

We're in the process of posting this course.  Please feel free to take a look at what is here so far, and please contact Hugh( htaft-morales at eburke.org)  if you are interested in enrolling in this course.  

Your teacher will be Hugh Taft-Morales, Ethical Culture Leader. The course is intended for people new to Ethical Culture, or long-time members who would like a basic refresher.

YOU MUST BE LOGGED ON IN ORDER TO ACCESS ALL THE MATERIALS FOR THE COURSE.

The course is divided into four sections as follows:

     (I) History and Identity

    (II) The Primacy of Ethics and Inherent Worth

   (III) Nurturing Ethical Relationships

   (IV) Ethical Action and Social Justice

Begun in 1876 by Felix Adler, Ethical Culture places ethics at the center of our shared human life. It offers people the support of a community of individuals all wishing to live closer to their ideals.

Diverse in many ways, we share a deep respect for the worth of every person, a desire to build social justice, and a commitment to building ethical relationships. As an educational, religious and social justice movement, Ethical Culture stands out as a common sense alternative to the extremism and intolerance of contemporary times. Sometimes called a religion for people who don’t like religions, we encourage free thought and compassion in all our associations.

Want to know more? Join us on-line for this exploration of this inspiring branch of humanism.

This course is currently available only for independent study.  If you are interested in participating in this course as part of a group, please let Leader Susan Rose know at susan.rose at eswow.org.

Introduction to Felix Adler is open to those eager to read and discuss selected writings of Felix Adler, the founder of Ethical Culture. No prior knowledge of Adler is required. The course is intended to nurture three things: 1) an appreciation for the roots of Ethical Culture; 2) an understanding of strengths and limits of Adler’s thought; and, 3) an on-going dialogue about the meaning and future of Ethical Culture. We will explore Adler’s perspectives on religion, the spiritual pains of humanity, service, relationships, democracy, as well as probe the deeper meaning behind terms such as “eliciting the best” and “the ethical manifold”. Readings will come primarily from Adler’s works, including The Religion of Duty (RD) and An Ethical Philosophy of Life (EPL). We will also read some critiques of Adler.