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Discussion: Religious Identity and Ethical Culture
Facilitator: Ethical Culture Leader Randy Best, Northern Virginia Ethical Society
Date: Thursday, May 23, 8:00 – 9:30 PM Eastern Time
Fee: None. Registration is required.
Course Materials: Strayhorn v. Ethical Society of Austin, TX. (Please read this beforehand).
The illustration above is ambiguous. Does it advocate “No Religion” or does the red slashed circle negate the idea of “No Religion”? So it is with Ethical Culture.
The status of Ethical Culture as a “Religion” has long been a source of disagreement and debate amongst its members. Felix Adler, the founder of Ethical Culture, set the stage for this ambiguous position when he wrote:
The Ethical Movement is religious to those who are religiously minded, and it is simply ethical to those that are not so minded…
This places Ethical Culture in the unique position of being a religious organization where many of its members do not consider it to be a religion.
What do you think? What leads you to your conclusion?
Using the 2003 Texas Court of Appeals decision in Strayhorn v. Ethical Society of Austin as a starting point, we will address what constitutes a “Religion” and, more importantly, do you consider Ethical Culture to be a Religion.
Is Ethical Culture/Ethical Humanism your Religion? Come tell us why or why not.
About Randy Best, Ethical Culture Leader
A life-long member of Ethical Culture, Randy was born in St. Louis and grew up attending the St. Louis Ethical Society where his parents were life-long members.
Randy graduated from Grinnell College, Harvard University, and the Humanist Institute. Prior to becoming an Ethical Culture Leader, he worked in Public Transportation and University Administration.
Since 2016 Randy serves as the Leader of the Northern Virginia Ethical Society. Randy is also current President of the National Leaders Council and chair of the Leadership Training Committee. Previously, he was Leader of the Ethical Humanist Society of the Triangle and the Ethical Society Without Walls.
Randy lives in Bethesda, Maryland and has four grown children.
