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Philosophy and Beliefs of Ethical Culture What does it mean to be an ethics-centered religious community? This list of frequently asked questions will give you insight into what members of the Ethical Society of St. Louis—and members of the 25 other Ethical Culture societies and fellowships throughout the United States—believe. Click on the links below to jump to particular information in the FAQ. We also invite you to visit our online library for platform presentations and other readings on ethical living and to check out some other resources, such as Web sites and books, that provide more information on Ethical Culture.
What philosophy of life inspires the Ethical Societies?
The challenge to any religion is to go beyond ritual worship and pleasing imagery. Whatever metaphor one prefers, personal God, higher power, or Ethical Culture, the test of a religion is whether it conveys principles for living a good life. Ethical Culture is clear about the essential role that ethical principles play in human relationships. Despite how uncertain we might feel about our personal standards--or how best to apply them--for an Ethical Culturist, there is unquestionably good and evil, right and wrong. For a good life, love must prevail, truth must be respected, honesty esteemed, justice secured, and freedom protected. Learning how to realize these ideals in personal and political relationships is the purpose of Ethical Societies. Is Ethical Culture a religion? Some people choose the Ethical Society as their community without viewing Ethical Culture as their religion because to them "religion" means dogmatism and the worship of a supernatural God. For many members, however, the Ethical Society serves as a religious congregation where they build a community of friends, find inspiration and purpose, celebrate the seasons, and clarify their world views. Professional Ethical Society Leaders fill the roles of religious clergy, including meeting the pastoral needs of members, performing ceremonies, and serving as spokespeople for the congregation in the community. Do Ethical Societies have a creed? No. Deed Before Creed is our motto. The philosophy of Ethical Culture respects the beliefs of each member. No one is bound by any community creed or dogma. Rather, Ethical Societies emphasize the importance of developing a clear personal philosophy that makes your life understandable and meaningful. Learning to benefit from a diversity of viewpoints is one of the challenges of membership. Members encourage each other to think freely and to disagree--without being disagreeable. What are the basic beliefs of Ethical Culture?
What does ethics mean? Ethics defines the elements essential to human well-being and proposes principles to be used as guidelines for generating an ethical culture. Ethics also refers to the specific values, standards, rules, and agreements that people adopt for conducting their lives. Ethics, most broadly, is the study of human behavior and its consequences in the light of what is ideally possible. For example, ethicists might study a society's mores or morals to determine what effect they would have on humankind if they were used as universal standards. Ethics are not merely social conventions, like table manners. Rather, ethics define the social conditions necessary for human beings to thrive. How can ethical principles be applied in daily life?
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