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What is the Philosophy of Ethical Culture?

Ethical Culture is a humanistic and non-theistic religious movement inspired by the idea that ethics are essential to building personal relationships and creating a more just and humane society.

In the words of Arthur Dobrin,  Leader Emeritus of the Ethical Humanist Society of Long Island:   "When we join the Ethical Movement we do so not because we are fleeing from our past but because we now accept a new form that for us is deeper and more meaningful. We desire to enter a wider spiritual fellowship, united with men and women of every heritage. What we seek is a reverence for a human personality, a passion for social justice and an attempt to apply the best of the world's wisdom to contemporary living."

The following articles and excerpts are representative of literature from the Ethical Culture tradition.   They span the history of the movement, which originated in 1876 in New York City.   This section is a work in progress and we intend to add new articles as they are edited for this medium.  More reading is available at the Society where books are available for sale as well as at the web site of the national organization, the American Ethical Union www.aeu.org.

1. The Humanist Way

   by Edward L. Ericson Read Article

2. What is Ethical Culture?

   by Algernon Black Read Article

3. An Ethical Concept of God

   by David Muzzey Read Article

4.What is Non-Theistic Religion?

    5. Is Ethical Culture a Religion?

    by Jone Johnson Lewis     Read Article

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