Ethics in Action: What Can I Do Right Now?
— Jone Johnson Lewis, Leader, Riverdale-Yonkers Society for Ethical Culture First, breathe. Yes, breathe. Three deep breaths, with long exhales, every time you start to feel anxious, fearful, overwhelmed, or confused. Second: save contact information for the...
Stories and Story-Telling
It’s November, and stories are part of this month. Whether thinking about writing fiction (#NaNoWriMo) or about the cultural stories of Thanksgiving and what they cover up, we understand the power of stories to tell truth or cover truth.
What Does It Mean to Be a Community of Healing?
Many people who come to an Ethical Culture Society come from an experience of another religion. They sometimes leave because their old faith isn’t big enough for their new ideas, or because the old faith didn’t accept them as who they are, or because they came to...
Ethics Matters: Promises
This month’s theme is “promises.” What do promises have to do with ethics? They’re central!
Differences Between UU and Ethical Culture
Note: the original of this message was written in 1998 as a contribution to the then-existing AEU email list, Dialogue. Minor edits through 2016. In my experience, and from long and many talks with people who identify themselves as Ethical Culturists or Ethical...
Ethics Matters: Hospitality
Radical Hospitality and Ethical Culture - Jone Johnson Lewis, Leader In 1873, a young Felix Adler, recently returned from Germany with a doctorate in Semitics, spoke to his father’s congregation, Temple Emanuel, in New York City. Felix Adler was only 22 years old; his...
Ethics Matters: Freedom and Delight
~ Jone Johnson Lewis As we move into full-tilt summer, please note that we'll remain open on Sundays. I encourage you to attend when you can, help create a welcoming atmosphere to the visitors we continue to get most Sundays, and also connect to your Ethical Culture...
Ethics Matters: Blessings
The Good That Happens to Us and the Good We Do - Jone Johnson Lewis, Leader The whole concept of “deserve” is rooted in ancient ideas of reward and punishment, or concept of something that is owed to us – that the universe, or God, or other people are obligated to pay...
Ethics Matters: Faith
The only force that can overcome an idea and a faith is another and better idea and faith, positively and fearlessly upheld. – Dorothy Thompson Faith is a passionate intuition. - William Wordsworth Springtime in the Bronx: April 2015 Reflections Our Ethics Matters...