In Good We Trust

Ethical Culture, a humanist alternative to traditional religion, focuses on doing good in this world. It promotes ethical relationships in which everyone is treated as being of inherent worth. Created by Felix Adler in the late nineteenth century, it emphasizes "deed before creed" and continues to try to build a better world today.

While the traditional romantic paradigm of Valentine’s Day has its charms, maybe it needs revision. Rather than only emphasizing being swept up in a wave of emotions, healthy romance should take into account reason and action. It should include thoughtful, kind behavior that respects the autonomy and uniqueness of those in love. Valentine’s Day can even reach beyond romantic relationships. Let's celebrate the loving bonds that hold communities together. We need that kind of love more every day, not just February 14th.

Martin Luther King Jr. explained that, “Structures of evil do not crumble by passive waiting. Evil must be attacked by a counteracting persistence, by the day-to-day assault of the battering rams of justice.” We tend to retreat from this challenge. We think it’s not our place to be drum majors of justice. We feel too small in comparison with our moral heroes. But our moral heroes have feet of clay. When we realize that, can we better strive to be like them? In the speech titled “The Drum Major Instinct”, King encourages us to think boldly enough about ourselves to try to be out front, to be a drum major for justice.

The holiday season can bring joy, but also can overwhelm us with consumer anxiety. We're conditioned to focus more on the material gifts we give than nurturing our relationships with those close to us. Paradoxically, this can increase our sense of alienation during a time of supposed togetherness. What can we do to honor the spirit of giving in a way that uplifts us all?

This year of 2023, on Thursday, December 21 at exactly 10:27PM, the sun’s rays will shine on the northern hemisphere at their lowest most acute angle. Since colder air holds less humidity, the stars can seem at their brightest. So when we bundle up, wander into the cold night, and stare up at the stars, we can feel both alone and connected to everything.

If you are in the Philadelphia area, come to 1906 Rittenhouse Square for our humanist Winter Solstice program at 11:00AM EST. If you are elsewhere on our planet on December 17, join our Zoom version at 2PM here: www.tiny.cc/phillyethics

Is the Golden Rule overly idealistic and vague? Don’t we have to consider the issue of power? Tokens of generosity may be a good thing, but they don’t address the profound inequality in society. Some say that the “real” golden rule is, “Whoever has the gold makes the rules.” How do we respond to Kwame Anthony Appiah, who writes The Ethicist in the New York Times, who thinks that the Golden Rule doesn’t go far enough in embracing the uniqueness of every person? We need to empower others and give them space and autonomy and encouragement and… resources. Only then does the sacred nature of the Golden Rule arise.

Do we really need to worry obsessively about deadly sins and the damnation they bring? Or should we nurture moderation and goodness in that is a part of human nature? Hugh Taft-Morales suggests that we stop flagellating ourselves and focus more on sharing the good things in life with millions of people struggling to survive.

In this episode we explore wonder and its place in our lives. Is it something we should pursue, or should we have "loftier goals?" Experiencing wonder in nature can lead to feeling both insignificant and connected to everything. Does that help us live more fully? Maybe the best thing about wonder is when share it with others, bonding together with energy and joy.

Today's show is about the fragility of goodness. Committing to goodness often means opening your eyes and heart to the suffering of the world. It can be heartbreaking. How do we open up without being crushed or retreating into self-centeredness? Philosopher Martha Nussbaum explains how often we construct rational explanations to distance ourselves and create a “goodness without fragility.” Phillip Hallie in Lest Innocent Blood Be Shed was drawn into protective rationalization while researching Nazi atrocities. But settlement house pioneer Jane Addams dealt with this pain through action. I admire her, and try to face the pain of the world and, as consistently as I can, act to comfort and empower others. As Adler wrote, “Suffering is a passive state; the cure of suffering is action.”

What do we talk about when we talk about goodness? The fact is, we’ve been talking about it for centuries, trying to dial it in for ourselves both what it is and how it is all along the way.

Welcome to the first episode of In Good We Trust. My name is Hugh Taft-Morales speaking to you from the Philadelphia Ethical Society, a place where we try to build meaning, offer community, and nurture goodness.