One thing that most fundamentalist theists and some current anti-religious books have in common: they assume everyone means the same thing by such words as "God."  Ethical Culture is nontheistic, and by that we mean that we don't require belief in any deity as part of our identity.  That doesn't mean all members of our community are atheists or even agnostics.  The god some of us disbelieve in isn't necessarily that god that others in our community believe in.  Jone will explore some of the newer concepts of deity that are current in liberal religious circles, and also explore whether there are other beliefs that might be more difficult to reconcile with an ethical humanism than some versions of god-belief.

When we sing our children to sleep, what words do we use?  Are they the ones we remember from our own childhood?  Or do we make up new words? Join Amanda Poppei of the Washington Ethical Society to talk about the importance of words and language in our religious communities from this unique perspective.  And come early tojoin a pick-up chorus and sing some lullabies with Melodie!

We're closed on April 12 -- no platform meeting!

Jone Johnson Lewis, NoVES Leader, says: "I keep hearing that we can't take on global warming in the current economic downturn, or that we have to choose between working on issues like poverty or racism or sexism or a better relationship with the environment.  But do we really have to choose or can we see these challenges as interconnected, and look for actions that are also interconnected?"

Felix Adler was not a big fan of psychology.  As William James and Sigmund Freud became more popular, and interest in the inner life grew, the Victorian Adler resisted what he considered this narcissistic invasion of the private world. Today, however, counseling is an important part of Ethical Culture; it nourishes ethical relations and our congregational life.  Hugh Taft-Morales explores two counseling orientations – those of Alfred Adler and existential therapists such as Victor Frankel - that reflect many Ethical Culture values.  He will share some of his personal experience in therapy as well as his philosophy of counseling to bring out our best.

HIV/AIDS has hit Sub-Saharan Africa harder than any other world region -- destroying lives, deepening poverty and hampering the overall advancement of nations.  Africare is there, helping Africans to fight the epidemic through several programs.  Abdalla B. Meftuh, MD, MPH is currently providing technical assistance and back-stopping to Africare’s four-country (Mozambique, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda) COPE (Community-based Orphans Care, Protection and Empowerment) Project.  COPE aims to empower young children crippled by the loss of their parents and caretakers by giving both the children and the larger community the tools they need. The Africare work addresses basic needs like food, shelter, education, health care and age-appropriate income-generating activities.

"Father of the Harlem Renaissance," Alain Locke promoted African American artists, writers, and musicians, encouraging them to depict African and African American subjects, and to draw on their history for subject material. A Harvard Phi Beta Kappa graduate and the first black Rhodes Scholar at Oxford University, Locke had his greatest impact upon African American art while at Howard University (1917-1953). There Locke served as chair of the philosophy department and conveyed to his students the value of the fine arts. He started a drama group, the Howard Players, and a literary magazine, the Stylus.

We've been hearing a lot about leadership lately.  But what exactly is leadership?  Some confuse leadership with authority or power.  Others mistake an engaging personality with leadership.  But leadership is far more than this, and with leadership comes ethical obligations -- for both the leaders and for those who follow.  Jone Johnson Lewis will address the role of leadership in families, work, and politics -- and what an ethical humanist perspective on leadership might look like.

Many have attempted to discern whether change is predictable.  Some religions view history as a circle, with events repeating themselves endlessly.  In modern times, we've seen analysis of historic trends as cycles and swings from one view, to its opposite extreme, and back.  Fashion seems cyclical -- just ask the mother worried about her daughter's new outfit, one so similar to the fashion she donned in her youth.  Jone Johnson Lewis will ponder change, swinging pendulums, and cycles, questioning the role of change in human life. 

In honor of Memorial Day, we'll also remember some members of our community who have died in the last few years.

From June 5 through 7 most members of the Northern Virginia Ethical Society will attend the Society's annual retreat, held in a rural area near Sharpsburg, Maryland.  During this three day period members will relax, enjoy each others' company, participate in classes and workshops and enjoy the natural beauty surrounding the retreat center.  A Sunday Platform will be held at 11 am on June 7, at which Leader Jone Johnson Lewis will give the Platform talk.

From June 5 through 7 most members of the Northern Virginia Ethical Society will attend the Society's annual retreat, held in a rural area near Sharpsburg, Maryland.  During this three day period members will relax, enjoy each others' company, participate in classes and workshops and enjoy the natural beauty surrounding the retreat center.  A Sunday Platform will be held at 11 am on June 7, at which Leader Jone Johnson Lewis will give the Platform talk.

From June 5 through 7 most members of the Northern Virginia Ethical Society will attend the Society's annual retreat, held in a rural area near Sharpsburg, Maryland.  During this three day period members will relax, enjoy each others' company, participate in classes and workshops and enjoy the natural beauty surrounding the retreat center.  A Sunday Platform will be held at 11 am on June 7, at which Leader Jone Johnson Lewis will give the Platform talk.

Matthew LaClair stood up for religious freedom and separation of church and state in the face of opposition and ridicule from school administrators and from his fellow students. During his junior year in high school, Matthew had a history teacher who promoted creationism and other personal religious beliefs in the classroom. When Matthew confronted the teacher and asked the school officials to address this, he became the target of harassment and even a death threat from fellow students. Despite this opposition, Matthew worked to make sure that the First Amendment is respected and upheld at his high school.

From: Andrew Stanton, Board President 2008-2009

Dear NoVES members,

In the May newsletter the Board indicated that this year's annual Membership meeting would be held at the Retreat in Sharpsburg, Maryland, on Sunday, June 7.

Annual Board retreat. Members of the Society are welcome to attend or to make proposals. Please email the President to propose an item for the agenda or to indicate you'll attend (we would like to make sure there are enough seats for everyone).