Hugh Taft-Morales Leader, Philadelphia Ethical Society There has been renewed attention in the last few years to the link between public health and civic responsibility. That connection was recognized in the 16th century by Martin Luther, who wrote, “It is even more shameful for a person to pay no heed to his own body and [...]

Casey Butcher POWER Interfaith Casey Butcher, POWER’s community organizer in South Philadelphia and Center City, will discuss the history of Philadelphia’s Chinatown, its outsized importance for the city and region, and the current struggle to protect its integrity. If the proposed arena construction is approved, the neighborhood is expected to become a construction site for [...]

Hugh Taft-Morales Leader, Philadelphia Ethical Society Traditional patriarchal narratives portray leaders as drum majors, out in front, leading the parade. Felix Adler hesitated before settling on “Leader” as the title for clergy in Ethical Culture. He worried that loyalty to the drum major would dominate. He wanted everyone to become a leader. How should Ethical [...]

Susan Brotherton PES member & Temple University School of Social Work faculty member Susan is the former director of Philadelphia Social Services for the Salvation Army. Prior to that position she served as the director of trauma informed services for the Red Shield family residence, an emergency housing program serving Philadelphia families. Susan will speak to the [...]

Hugh Taft-Morales Leader, Philadelphia Ethical Society To welcome spring, let’s celebrate rebirth both in nature and in the human spirit. Share your favorite poem about spring, renewal, and awakening. Those fully-vaccinated and boosted are welcome to join in-person at 1906 S. Rittenhouse Square. Please wear a mask indoors (N-95). OR You can join here online [...]

Shelia Murnaghan University of Pennsylvania Homer’s Iliad primarily celebrates male heroism on the battlefield. However, the poem also raises women’s voices, especially through the genre of lament. Sheila Murnaghan, the Allen Memorial Professor of Greek, at Penn, explores the distinctive perspectives of the Iliad’s women on heroic values and gender relations in wartime. Murnaghan’s research [...]

Hugh Taft-Morales Leader, Philadelphia Ethical Society Richard Kiniry (1943-2019) served the Philadelphia Ethical Society for 20 years.  He was a beloved self-described curmudgeon and a philosopher.  Though thoroughly naturalistic and deeply skeptical, Richard promoted Ethical Humanism as a religious response to a broken world.  In preparation for a celebration of Richard's life on April 15, [...]

Anne Klaeysen New York Society for Ethical Culture Today is Easter Sunday, a reminder that belief in the power of miracles can change lives.  This is also National Poetry Month, a celebration of the comparable power of poetry.  As poet Jane Hirshfield put it, "Poetry is the attempt to understand fully what is real, what [...]

Hugh Taft-Morales Leader, Philadelphia Ethical Society Many who adopt a naturalistic, rational perspective to life feel uncomfortable acting on anything other than evidence and reason. Ethical Culture does not dabble in supernaturalism; and leaning too hard into the irrational is unwise.  Yet some aspects of experience that exist beyond reason enrich our lives.  Think of [...]

Camp Linden Committee Philadelphia Ethical Society The Children's Summer Program at Camp Linden, the Society's major community-service project, introduces inner­city children to the wonders of nature through a program of environmental education and swimming at our property in rural Chester County. Learn about its impact and experience highlights of our engaging environmental curriculum. Retrieve nectar [...]