Ethical Culture is a fellowship of people who seek clarification of the values of life. We cherish freedom of the mind and freedom of conscience. We affirm the worth and dignity of every person. We strive to emphasize ethics in our interactions with others. The Ethical Society of Austin is our local Ethical Culture congregation.
We are a welcoming humanist community of believers and non believers.
The Eight Commitments of Ethical Culture were written in collaboration with Leaders and members of the American Ethical Union, coordinated by Lois Kathleen Kellerman, Leader Emeritus of the Brooklyn Society for Ethical Culture.
1. Ethics Is Central – The most central human issue in our lives is creating a more humane environment.
2. Ethics Begins With Choice – Creating a more humane environment begins by affirming the need to make significant choices in our lives.
3. We Choose To Treat Each Other As Ends, Not Means – To enable us to be whole in a fragmented world, we choose to treat each other as unique individuals having intrinsic worth.
4. We Seek To Act With Integrity – Treating one another as ends requires that we learn to act with integrity. This includes keeping commitments, and being honest, open, caring and responsive.
5. We Are Committed To Educate Ourselves – Personal progress is possible, both in wisdom and social life. Learning how to build ethical relationships and cultivate a humane community is a life-long endeavor.
6. Self Reflection And Our Social Nature Require Us To Shape A More Humane World – Growth of the human spirit is rooted in self-reflection, but can only come to full flower in community. This is because people are social, needing both primary relationships and larger supportive groups to become fully human. Our social nature requires that we reach beyond ourselves to decrease suffering and increase creativity in the world.
7. Democratic Process Is Essential To Our Task – The democratic process is essential to a humane social order because respect for the worth of persons requires democratic process which elicits and allows a greater expression of human capacities.
8. Life Itself Inspires Religious Response – Although awareness of impending death intensifies the human quest, the mystery of life itself, and the need to belong, are the primary factors motivating human religious response.
The Ethical Society is an organization that believes it is up to humans to make a difference in the world. We practice deed before creed – meaning it’s what you do in life rather than what you believe – that makes you an ethical person. Meetings are open to everyone. As a community we are committed to making a difference, bringing out the best in ourselves and others, exploring ethical ideas, addressing social issues and celebrating life and community.
