Ethical Culture is a movement devoted to the ethical improvement of society and the individual. The movement teaches the basic worth of every human being and the importance of ethical principles as a guide to life. Although Ethical Culture has been called a religion, it permits members freedom of belief on every issue, including religion.
Ethical Culture societies typically meet once a week, usually on Sunday. The meeting includes music, a reading from an inspirational text, and an address on a topical matter, normally from an ethical point of view. Societies do not have rituals or symbols, though leaders officiate at weddings, funerals, and similar “life cycle” events.
Felix Adler, the son of a rabbi in New York City, founded the Ethical Culture movement in 1876. Adler called the movement the New York Society for Ethical Culture. It originated as a lecture organization but soon involved itself in social reform. Under Adler’s leadership, Ethical Culture societies formed in Chicago in 1883, Philadelphia in 1885, and St. Louis, Missouri, in 1886. The individual societies united as the American Ethical Union (AEU) in 1889, which still serves as the national organization for the movement. A special committee of the AEU trains society leaders.
The movement’s goal of improving the welfare of humanity led societies to engage in progressive activities in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s. Ethical Culture societies became active in education. The movement was also a leader in assisting the poor and in establishing boys clubs, visiting nurse associations, and legal aid societies. It also worked for the abolition of child labor.
After its establishment in the United States, the Ethical Culture movement rapidly became international. In England, the London Ethical Society was organized in 1886. During the 1890’s, societies formed in Germany, France, Austria, Italy, Switzerland, and Japan. In 1896, they united as an international federation called the International Ethical Union.
In 1952, Ethical Culture societies combined with a number of humanistic organizations to establish the International Humanist and Ethical Union (IHEU), headquartered in London. During the late 1900’s and early 2000’s, Ethical Culture in the United States supported prison reform, drug rehabilitation programs, abortion rights, and other causes. Organizations affiliated with the IHEU now exist on all the continents except Antarctica.
See also Adler, Felix .
