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60th Anniversary of Human Rights, December 10th, 2008
Guest Platform by Martha Gallahue, Ethical Culture Clergy Leader Intern
At this time, the future of human rights has never before been more jeopardized. Last summer, a mid-eastern coalition of States challenged UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon that the Universal Doctrine of Human Rights was merely a western imposition upon sovereignty. Vicious wars in the Congo, Darfur, Somalia continue and tensions between Pakistan and India grow. Thus, this anniversary may be a turning point where human rights will either emerge as an ethical cornerstone to all humanitarian law or it will recede into the background as some sort of western utopian scheme dreamed up to promote western values.
I choose to be hopeful about the progress of human rights throughout the world for three reasons. 1) More people particularly women are learning about their inherent rights to dignity and safety from violence. Once people know of their rights, there will always be those remarkable ones who will give their lives to seeing them realized. Those of us who know of our rights continue to make connections with those who do not to send the message. This occurs at meetings of non-governmental organizations at the United Nations. Read more »
Tags: Doing Ethical Culture at the UN
by Martha Gallahue, Leader Intern, National Service Committee
Yesterday, during our General Meeting, I took my turn in presenting a quiet reflection from our various spiritual traditions. Here is what I said: "Ethical culture celebrates the composite whole in greatest diversity." We have a motto that is above our Platform space. You can find it at The New York Society for Ethical Culture. It reads, "Where we meet to seek the highest is holy ground." Just as we are here together to work toward the highest possibility for the United Nations, my people gather to seek their own in community. Highest may be understood to be that exquisite sense that happens when we realize the all that surrounds and permeates what is alive down to the smallest pebble. Highest may be a communal experience of harmony forged from persevering struggle for the best. Read more »
The Religious Character of Ethical Culture as a Humanist Movement
Guest Platform by Tony Hileman, Ethical Culture Leader
Original address to the Riverdale-Yonkers Society for Ethical Culture, October 12, 2008
Opening Words
My opening words are from a 1966 statement by the National Leaders Council of the American Ethical Union. Then called the National Fraternity of Leaders, its language is not gender sensitive.
"We believe that from the beginning, the founders, leaders, and innumerable workers of the Ethical Movement have been Humanists in their practical labors, social vision and reform, humane ideals, and stress upon human capacities and dignity. They have been Humanists in placing man's relationship to his fellow man and his community at the center of their moral and spiritual quest; and they have been Humanists in believing that man must assume responsibility for the direction of his life and destiny." Read more »
The World Where We Live - Part 1 (Kate Lovelady - April 19, 2008)
Platform Address Part 1 of 3 by Kate Lovelady
Co-presented by Kate Lovelady, Randy Best, and Tony Hileman
American Ethical Union Assembly, Austin, TX, April 19, 2008
For the platform address today you'll be hearing from three leaders: me, Randy Best, and Tony Hileman, and then the National Leaders Council will be welcoming Tony officially into Leadership with a certification ceremony. First Randy, Tony, and I will each be sharing our unique thoughts on the theme of this Assembly, "Where We Live."
I’m going to speak from a personal and environmental point of view, primarily because I am a dreadfully literal-minded person. When I think about Where I Live, I see the big blue marble, the earth as seen from space, and I see my yellow house with its front porch and daffodils in St. Louis. And I think how those two images are related: how my practical, mundane choices of where and how I live, affect that big blue marble.
Read more »
The World Where We Live - Part 2 (Randy Best - April 19, 2008)
latform Address Part 2 of 3 by Randy Best
Co-presented by Kate Lovelady, Randy Best, and Tony Hileman
American Ethical Union Assembly, Austin, TX, April 19, 2008
In addressing the theme of this Assembly, I am going to follow the example of Barack Obama's minister, the Reverend Jeremiah Wright.
It’s not my job to make you comfortable.
As you know, this year's theme is:
Where We Live... An exploration of issues and ideas that affect where and how we live.
Our experience of the world creates our values which influence our decisions about where and how we live.
As a humanist, I experience the world as lacking inherent meaning -- it is therefore up to me to discover values through my life experience and make meaning.
Jennifer Michael Hecht wrote in her book Doubt: Read more »
The World Where We Live - Part 3 (Tony Hileman - April 19, 2008)
Platform Address Part 3 of 3 by Tony Hileman
Co-presented by Tony Hileman, Kate Lovelady, and Randy Best
American Ethical Union Assembly, Austin, TX, April 19, 2008
As Humanists, we all value and appreciate courage, we try to do brave things and avoid doing foolish things. This morning I'm realizing a bit late that to follow either of the previous speakers, Kate Lovelady or Randy Best, might be considered brave. But to try to follow both of them is downright foolish. But, as I said, it's too late now so I'm gong to try.
The theme of this year's Assembly is "Where We Live." And there's been no shortage of talk about that, mostly from Texans who want to make sure you know they're from Texas. I want to thank our hosts from Austin. But in doing so I feel a need to rise in defense of the great state of Indiana.
Now unlike Texans we Hoosiers don't usually brag about our home state. In fact we seldom mention it at all. We figure if the other person is from Indiana we'll recognize it soon enough. And if they aren't, well, there's just no need to embarrass them.
Now I know it riles a Texan to hear that, and a riled Texan is not something you want to come near. But those of you so riled should just settle down and settle back because I'm going to keep talking until I feel it's safe to quit. I figure as long as I'm up here I'm out of harm's way, though that could be a false sense of security. Read more »
Why Humanists Need Chaplains
Discussion of platform Why Humanists Need Chaplains.
I've set up this forum for people to discuss this Platform.
Do you have your own ethical practices? What are they?
Discussion ties to the platform Living Your Ethical Culture -- Developing Your Own Ethical Practices.
Since we do not have precscribed practices in Ethical Culture, many people have developed their own ways of connecting to their ethical values. It can be helpful to learn what others are doing - perhaps it will be something you want to adopt too. Someone might want to try and adopt your practice or a variation of it. Please share your practices with us.
Living Your Ethical Culture – Developing Your Own Ethical Practices
Living Your Ethical Culture – Developing Your Own Ethical Practices
SusanRose, Sep 17 2006
I hope no one is expecting me to explain to them how to live an Ethical Culture life – your Ethical Culture life no less. I’m still trying to figure out how to live my Ethical Culture life, something I’ve been doing in one form or another for a long time. I’ll share with you some of my experiences and thoughts, but I’ll also tell you that I’ve come to realize that I like to give talks on topics such as Living Your Ethical Culture because they serve as a good reminder for me to pay attention to living my Ethical Culture.
Ethical culture is a difficult religion. A while ago I was speaking with a friend who has only heard of Ethical Culture through me. She wanted to know more and asked me some questions based on her experience of religion. She wanted to know if we have any rules that everyone is expected to follow. She also wanted to know if we had any practices or something that everyone is expected to read at certain times. When I told her the answers were all no, she said to me, “Ethical Culture sounds like it is a very easy religion. There are no rules to follow and if there are no rules you can’t be punished for breaking them. And you have no practices to follow. That’s a lot easier than the religions I know about. You can do anything you want.” I told her it wasn’t quite like that. Read more »
An Introductory Conversation with ESWoW Leaders - Susan Rose and Randy Best
Discussion of platform An Introductory Conversation with ESWoW Leaders - Susan Rose and Randy Best (or the dangers of ad lib-ing without notes).
I would like to hear form some of our registered users about who they are and their expectations for the ESWoW Website.
