Book Discussion Series: Braiding Sweetgrass
Philadelphia Ethical Society 1906 Rittenhouse Square, Philadelphia, PA, United StatesWe will read and discuss Robin Wall Kimmerer’s groundbreaking book Braiding Sweetgrass to gain a deeper understanding of relationships, sustainability, and our place in the natural world. This meeting will cover the last three sections: “Braiding Sweetgrass,” “Burning Sweetgrass,” and “Epilogue: Returning the Gift.”
Peeling the Onion (in-person)
Get to know other Ethical Society members and some of our Philadelphia neighbors through this fun activity. Peeling the Onion lets participants share stories from their lives, creating opportunities for conversations and new friendships. Come alone or bring a friend! You can (but don’t have to) attend both this event and the one on January [...]
How Poor People Build Community Amid Barriers to Inclusion
On ZoomJoan Maya Mazelis, Associate Professor of Sociology Rutgers University-Camden Like most Americans, people in poverty cling tightly to the belief that they should manage their struggles independently. For that reason, they frequently avoid social ties. Yet when these people do seek assistance, they may learn that personal failings alone do not cause poverty. Mazelis [...]
Color Lines
Philadelphia Ethical Society 1906 Rittenhouse Square, Philadelphia, PA, United StatesW. E. B. DuBois famously declared that "the problem of the Twentieth Century is the problem of the colour-line." This line cut deeply into DuBois, cleaving his body, mind, and soul in two, creating a painful “double-consciousness.” Fredrick Douglass, however, spoke of the color line primarily as outside of himself, a boundary drawn between races which divides [...]
An Introduction to Ethical Humanism
Philadelphia Ethical Society 1906 Rittenhouse Square, Philadelphia, PA, United StatesHugh offers an informal overview of the history, philosophy, and community of Ethical Culture. While this is primarily intended for people wanting to know more about our unique brand of humanism, all are welcome! [in person only]
Lunch with Hugh
Philadelphia Ethical Society 1906 Rittenhouse Square, Philadelphia, PA, United StatesCome to the Leader’s office for an informal conversation about whatever is on your mind! Bring your lunch. [in person]
The Law is Ordered: Racial Classifications, American Law, and the Faith Traditions that Challenged Them
On ZoomTimothy Welbeck, Director of Anti-Racism Research at Temple University Civil-rights attorney and scholar Timothy Welbeck will explore the history of racial classifications and the law in the United States. How have various faith communities challenged these legal standards and accompanying social conventions as they strive to create a more equitable society? Welbeck is Assistant Professor [...]
Make Room for Love
On ZoomIn honor of Valentine’s Day, members of the Philly and Baltimore Ethical Societies will meet on Zoom to discuss love in its myriad forms. Love between friends. Love within families. Love for a pet. Universal love. And, yes, even love between romantic partners! Share a memory, a quote, or a favorite poem, if you choose [...]
Book Discussion Series: Oath and Honor
On ZoomIf you worry about the future of democracy, this important new book by Liz Cheney won’t set your mind at ease. But it will make you better informed. “The warning Cheney issues is clear and persuasive,” writes Carlos Lozada, in The New York Times. “A second presidential term for Donald Trump would pose great risks [...]
Humility and the Cave
Philadelphia Ethical Society 1906 Rittenhouse Square, Philadelphia, PA, United StatesHugh Taft-Morales, leader of the Philadelphia Ethical Society Many consider Plato’s parable of the cave a foundation of western philosophy. It offers insight into human ignorance, the potential for transcendence, and the cruel fate that can befall anyone challenging conventional thinking. What did Hugh Taft-Morales find two decades ago after crawling into an actual cave [...]