The Society meets on Sunday mornings, provides guinea pigs for your favorite pot luck dishes, and a network of friends for when you are in need. It also has counselors and ceremonies for life transitions such as birth, mating and death. It provides parents with help in bringing up their children to be civilized human beings. For atheists, agnostics and the independent thinker of a spiritual bent, shouldn't it be considered a valid alternative to joining a religion you can't really embrace wholeheartedly?
2007-07-12 09:59:15 · 9 answers · asked by auntb93 7 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
lupinesidhe, the primary difference is the intellectual and spiritual freedom, the freedom of interpretation. I consider that a very critical difference. Some members believe in one or more gods in some form or other, and some do not. It's a very accepting group, although the one thing it is NOT accepting about is unethical (i.e., unjust, uncaring, intolerant) behavior.
2007-07-12 10:34:56 · update #1
I have to admit that I'm in a unique position here, as the Ethical Society of St. Louis is one of the largest, maybe even the largest in the country. But there's also an on-line society, eswow.org which is "Ethical Society Without Walls."
2007-07-12 14:01:21 · update #2
Is the Ethical Society a valid alternative to religion?
As in the Ethical Society of St. Louis? Valid to whom? Alternative to religion for the otherwise non-religious?
An active member of almost any organized religion would probably tell you NO, only their version of religion is the correct one. Sad, but true.
For any tolerant person who is not into creeds, the Ethical Society provides a social community of caring people with which to share. Members are bound by their belief in ethical behavior and the promotion of ethics in local culture and for humanity as a whole.
The St. Louis chapter is exceptional. It is considered a charitable, religious, and educational organization, with over 400 members.
Compared to doing everything by yourself or with a small group of friends, it might be considered a very valid alternative to joining a church. In terms of promoting positive change in society, the Ethical Society might be better than many churches which promote intolerant behavior.
2007-07-12 13:04:47 · answer #1 · answered by Richard 7 · 6⤊ 0⤋
First define "Ethical Society".
Now meet my friend Rudolf. He lives in 1939 Germany and is a National Socialist.
Guess how he defines "Ethical Society."
"Ethical Society" is a transient statement that has abolutely no hope of remaining constantly valid throughout the ages. It's meaning changes with time and culture and is in the grand scheme of "Good" and "Evil" entirely meaningless.
At least with a religion handed down by a divine being you have some shred of hope that the rules and standards of "Ethical" remain constant and hold some shred of meaning as time goes on.
2007-07-12 17:05:37 · answer #2 · answered by Shawn L 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
For ever.. religion has been about rules... religion is canonic... rules for living your life here on this planet... to ensure people floow those rules.. there is always a sanction... the threat of one at least... the laws of man and the laws of "God" are sanctions for living your life here on this plant... throughout time man has imposed "God's" sanctions to control civilisations.
It is well understood that law is important for there to be order. The common law system for example .... man made laws developed as sanctions... one by one law makers decided what should and what should not be sanctioned... in the old days of the common law system the law came from "the busom of judges". Similarly, religion comes "from God" expressed via the busom of prophets.. the pope... whatever religious leader. Eventually these were codified.. the bible old testament, koran, legislated laws of the land ... These laws, if they do anything at all, help to control the way that people live on earth and without them there would simply be chaos and anarchy.
World leaders undertand this principle well. They always have. Take a look at ancient civilisations ... the civil rulers also were the guradians of the relevant religion and this comes as no surprise to me. For someone to own something of great value, there has to be something preventing others who do not having it, from simply taking it by force. Religion uses "hope" for that purpose. With religious cannons, seems to me, that there is always the promise of a better life next time around if you follow the rules this time around.
Well for an agnostic like me, the promise of a better life next time around isnt a better life for me.. but it is a better life for my offspring that live on with my genetic string. And waht is important to me? The survival of a diverse sustainable environment is one. If an Ethical Society is all about that.. then I am in.
2007-07-12 18:16:23 · answer #3 · answered by Icy Gazpacho 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
What is the difference between this and mainstream religion? Other than no stated belief in a deity?
2007-07-12 17:02:23 · answer #4 · answered by lupinesidhe 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I've often thought of forming something to that effect.
2007-07-12 17:02:56 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you're not following God, you're on your own. Good ethics should be part of everyone's makeup.
2007-07-12 17:03:16 · answer #6 · answered by nita5267 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
As long as it gets tax free status, why not.
2007-07-12 17:01:59 · answer #7 · answered by ɹɐǝɟsuɐs Blessed Cheese Maker 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes. I was married by them. They are ok!
2007-07-12 17:02:03 · answer #8 · answered by ms_coktoasten 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
sounds great!
2007-07-12 18:53:42 · answer #9 · answered by Lady Morgana 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋