EthicalStL.org

"So much in the world is changing. Is there still hope. If hope is present where and when do I see it?"

Brethren: The courageous story of Black soldiers who fought for the Union cause. They were formed in St. Louis in Benton Barracks, which is currently Fairground Park. The 62nd and 65th not only fought for the right to become American citizens, but were the founders of Lincoln University in Jefferson City, Missouri.

On Mother's Day, we'll reflect on what it means to live (and care) in an imperfect world. In a time when division, cruelty, and unrealistic ideals dominate the headlines, Humanism offers something grounding: the courage to repair, the strength to hope, and the wisdom to know that mending what matters is sacred work. Louise will explore how Humanist values guide us through brokenness, help us hold space for growth, and invite us to show up (with compassion and courage) even when the stitching isn't straight. All are welcome, wherever you are on your ethical journey.

Get ready to take your next step—whether that's marching, voting, organizing, or simply asking better questions. Let's disrupt with purpose, build with care, and move forward together. Bring a friend who's ready to stir up some necessary trouble.

Artificial intelligence (specifically large language models that generate "original" writing) have radically rocked the world of higher education. This presentation will offer an overview of how these generative AI tools work, why they've thrown educators into a panic, and how we've been adapting to this new landscape, especially when it comes to writing as a form of learning assessment.

The Saint Louis University Prison Education was founded in 2007 at the Eastern Reception and Diagnostic Correction Center in Bonne Terre, MO. Since then, it has reached over 4,500 incarcerated individuals through an accredited associate of arts Program, an arts program, and a college preparatory program. The Program has transformed the lives of many men, some of whom are not continuing their education at SLU. But it has also transformed the educators who have had the privilege of teaching our incarcerated students. Paul Lynch, a long-time teacher and former Program director, will speak about his own transformative experience.

Is what you believe true? In a world filled with information (and misinformation), the ability to discern truth is crucial. This talk introduces a simple yet effective thought experiment with six key questions designed to help you critically examine your beliefs and protect yourself from being fooled by inaccurate or misleading information.

Felix Adler believed that philosophy should speak to everyone, not only scholars. At its heart, ontology—the study of being—is about exploring what it means to exist and how we find our place in the world. For Adler, this exploration was the foundation of ethical Humanism, a philosophy grounded in naturalism, reason, and empathy. These values help us understand reality and navigate moral choices with compassion and thoughtfulness, essential tools for facing the Anthropocene.

Great Rivers Greenway, your regional public agency connecting together three counties with greenway trails, turns 25 this year! Hear about how a greenway is brought to life with and for our communities, and how the agency has evolved over their first 25 years, deepening their impact and exploring what else greenways can do for our region. Join us in imagining how building civic trust, transparent processes, environmental dedication, equitable economic impact, choices for active living, connected communities, public art and more can make the difference between a nice amenity and a critical piece of community infrastructure with long-lasting impact. But the question remains, how do you bring this bold vision to life across 3 counties and 120 towns of varying means and capacities in a thoughtful way?

Through the development of artistic venues, studios and workspaces, short and long-term residencies, and community-based programming, the Kranzberg Arts Foundation provides essential infrastructure for the arts to thrive in the St. Louis region.

Inez Bordeaux was born in St. Louis but lived abroad as the child of an Army Veteran. She moved back to South City St Louis in 1999, where she married and is raising her four kids. Inez has been a public servant for all of her adult life, first in healthcare, working as an LPN for 18 years, having started as a CNA. Then, as Manager of Community Collaborations before being promoted to Deputy Director of Community Collaborations at ArchCity Defenders. There, she focused on getting the community politically educated and civically engaged around the issues directly impacting their lives and working to change the material conditions of people affected by the criminal legal system, homelessness, and other systems of oppression. Inez currently serves as the 3rd Ward Committeewoman for Democratic Central Committee.

Evolutionary Biologist Jonathan Losos will discuss some recent developments in how scientists study evolution and then discuss the relationship between evolution in the natural world and human ethics.

This talk will touch upon three questions. First, what does the concept of justice mean within an American context? Second, what do we know about the extent and depth of poverty and economic inequality in the United States? And third, why do the high levels of poverty and economic inequality that we find in the U.S. undermine the notion of American justice? I'll argue that answering these three questions is important to providing both an empirical and a moral justification for the concerns and anger that people have been expressing over the past decade regarding economic inequality in the United States.

At the Ethical Society of St. Louis, pledges of financial support from our Members and Friends enable everything we do – everything from maintaining our beautiful building to equitably paying our valued staff, welcoming excellent musicians and speakers to our stage, supporting ethical action in the community, offering meaningful, inclusive, and humanist programming for all ages through a broad array of groups, clubs and events.

From our speaker, Dr. Aimee James, “I will talk about what we can do to reduce cancer risk, including recommendations for cancer screening and early detection. The talk will address current recommendations for cancer prevention and early detection, and some of the evidence behind the recommendations. It will touch on how we can navigate health information to make informed decisions, and how we can support those around us in evidence-based action and health promotion. It will conclude with how we can apply what we know to promote equitable access and health for our communities and the role research plays in this context. Key questions to consider will include: What are the ways we can to promote health? How do we make sense of and filter through all the information we see and hear? What can we do to support those around us in learning health information and access the care they need? What questions can we ask to learn more about research and health?”

"Gateway to a New Life" tells the story of Afghan refugees forced to flee their country as it fell under the control of the Taliban. Many new arrival Afghan families have settled in St. Louis, a struggling city that needs–and wants–the energy and spirit of new immigrants.

"Main Character Energy" is another way to describe hyper-individualism, or the erroneous idea that there is separation between us as human beings. Building strong community means reconsidering each of our individual needs, wants, and desires and instead focusing on what is best for the community. Let's think about bringing more "Supporting Cast Energy" into 2025

We will provide an overview of the Ethical Society of St. Louis' history of support for Humanist schools in Uganda in cooperation with the Uganda Humanist Schools Trust (UHST), then provide updates on progress and challenges at the schools during the past year, and finish with a call for our community to continue our support for the students and schools in the upcoming year.

Members of the Board of Trustees take to the Platform to answer questions from the congregation.

The presentation will discuss the 2024 election results (national and local) and two ethical issues associated with elections: acknowledging the election results (particularly for the losers) and listening to your political opponents. The presentation will also discuss what the election results say about opportunities for change and growth of American democracy.

Missouri KidsFirst empowers adults to protect children from abuse and neglect through community education, professional training, and child advocacy. Our speaker, Jessica Seitz, will discuss the work and mission of Missouri KidsFirst. More details to come.

The second Monday of every October is recognized as Indigenous Peoples' Day in the City of St. Louis to acknowledge Native Americans. However, many St. Louisians are unaware of the rich history of Native Americans with relationships to the land and the current status of Native people. This un-awareness contributes to issue of visibility of Native Americans and numerous inequities that we see today. Eric will discuss a variety of topics related to Native history, contemporary issues, and Native perspectives to improve your knowledge of Native Americans.

Politicians fight endlessly. Why? A flaw in our voting system discourages leaders from working together. But there is an easy fix, which families, nonprofits, and businesses use all the time to find common ground. Reformer Benjamin Singer helped pass the innovation into law in the City of St. Louis. Benjamin will share how Show Me Integrity discovered the solution and made it a reality, and how this one simple change can incentivize leaders to bring the St. Louis region and Missouri back together, stop bickering, and serve the people.

Am I doing enough? How do I justify self-care when others are suffering? How do I balance personal well-being with the moral imperative to take meaningful action? In this talk, we'll look at how American individualism and superhero narratives shape our understanding of what counts as “doing something,” and we'll re-anchor ourselves in collective strategies for long term change and growth.

Come learn from our diverse and exceptional panel of both long-time and new lay leaders. They will discuss the impact of volunteering and leadership in their own life and in our community.

In a polarizing world of politics, how can congregations be supportive in eliminating misinformation and disenfranchisement to clear the way for positive community changes?

Rev. Brian, an ordained clergyperson in the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster, will explore the Pastafarian Path to enlightenment. This spiritual journey does NOT require that you earnestly confess your transgressions and restrict your sex life to the “missionary” position; retreat into silence, meditating on your breath with a silly smile; endure a month's days of starvation and evenings of gluttony; refrain from drinking alcohol, coffee, Coke and Pepsi and wear church sanctioned underwear; or sacrifice your son's foreskin for your religious beliefs. Do you think life is absurd? Do you think this is funny? Yes? Congratulations—you have found The Way!

I took some time to interview several members of our organization about what brings joy to their lives. In doing so, I have been able to identify various commonalities that they've spoken about. After doing so I've divided these themes into Barriers, Boundaries, concepts that are beyond just yourself. In a time of political strife that many of our members appear to be obsessed with, it's important to actively seek joy and engage in things that bring it about within yourself and your community. Many people still associate me with the darkness of my opening words back in September, but I'd like to shed some light on how life can be beautiful after tragedy.

After a short reflection on my own journey to embracing my aspec identity, this presentation will introduce the definition of Asexuality and several key terms. Asexuality will be discussed in the context of human diversity, amatonormativity, queer platonic and other “non-traditional” relationships, and various types of attraction. Emphasis will be placed on Asexuality as a prompt for a paradigm shift in addition to being a sexual orientation in need of embrace and recognition.

What if the ballot initiative reinstating Roe doesn't pass? What if it does? What will be different for people seeking abortion care in Missouri? What has changed in the past two years since Roe fell? Get an inside view of what's going on and what you can do.

Hatred and bias against Jews as a people or ethnic group has existed for thousands of years. The Holocaust, in which the Nazis and their collaborators murdered six million Jews in Europe, was one of the worst examples. But antisemitism didn't start or end with the Holocaust, and antisemitism in the modern world is both a prelude to, and inextricably woven into, other forms of prejudice, bias, and hate. Together we will learn more about the deep roots of this bias, how it continues to affect our communities today, and what we can do to recognize and fight it.

This is not “why are we here” in a “what is the meaning of life” kind of way, but -literally- why are we here together, on a Sunday, in this room? Why do we come here each week? What draws people to the Ethical Society and places like it? How can we maximize the potential for community-building and friendship here? What are the current needs of people in secular spaces like this? Join Interim Director Amy Miller for an exploration of these and other relevant questions.

Seth Andrews is a broadcaster, storyteller, author, activist, and public speaker best known as host of the popular website, podcast, and online community, The Thinking Atheist.

Members of the LGBTQ+ community are frequently socialized in the context of “hard.” A copious amount of time is spent discussing how we face disproportionate levels of discrimination, higher rates of mental health challenges, and other hardships. However, we are more than the hurdles we face. Ky Miller will lead us through an exploratory celebration of queer culture, allowing us to connect with what is actually a really fascinating – and fun – culture. We will spend intentional time dedicated to honoring the sacred and transformational magic that is experienced in connecting with ourselves authentically and expand our perspective of Revolutionary Queer Joy as a fundamental component of liberation.

Missouri, like most states in the center of the U.S., has no extant tribes like some other states have. Therefore, the knowledge of either the history of Natives or the experience of contemporary Native Americans is one step further removed from people's consciousness. Using startling facts as stepping stones to fascinating and forgotten stories, this presentation starts to remedy this phenomenon.

As an analogue to our special Mother's Day Platform last month, please join us for a special Father's Day Platform. We will engage with reflections on themes of “fatherhood,” both what it is and what it could be: protection, wisdom, tenderness, strength. Interim Director Amy L. Miller will present a short talk while our musical guest will reflect musically on the theme.

Is Diet Culture actually a cult? And are most Americans signing on for an accidental membership in the cult? Is it possible that the majority of us have been indoctrinated with the powerful propaganda of this 90 billion dollar a year industry and we have little awareness that the same tactics used by high-control religious organizations and cults are employed in the ways that we engage with food and our bodies? In this conversation, we will examine the classic components of cults and how these same methodologies are used to keep the American populace engaged in Diet Culture.

This presentation is driven by the necessity to seize the moment. The formula for flight is speed + thrust + lift – drag = Flight! Our region will never reach its full capacity unless we can mitigate the economic drag that plagues our Black and brown communities. That economic drag was caused by generations of (conscious and unconscious) disinvestment in these communities. In order to grow this region robustly and equitably, we must reinvest in those communities.

Interim Director Amy L. Miller presents a special Platform honoring the values of unconditional positive regard, nurturing, love, and protection that are associated with the “mother,” (while leaving space for those who have complicated feelings about Mother's Day).

Facts, myths, and opportunities related to Earth's climate and our species include key concepts of weather and climate, greenhouse gases, carbon footprints and policy options. St. Louis enviro-educator Green Jean Ponzi weaves these threads with perspective on human patterns and impacts toward finding paths to just, responsible action. Local examples offer courage to engage and persist in change-making.

Contrary to common belief, the conflict in Palestine is not ancient nor is it religious. Rather, it's the result of Western empires intervening to facilitate a settler colonial project in the Holy Land over the last 100 years. This talk will discuss the history of settler colonialism, what it looks like, and why it's relevant when discussing Palestine today.

An overview of psychedelic pharmacology and then a look into the clinical and neuroscientific data that have led to growing interest in psychedelics and psychedelic-assisted therapy.” Dr. Siegel will present the risks and challenges of psychedelics for treatment in mood and addiction disorders, and consider what impacts these treatments may have on the mental health system.

This presentation will give a brief overview of the Missourians for Constitutional Freedom campaign. This campaign is to push a constitutional amendment that will end the cruel Missouri ban on abortion. Presentation attendees will hear more about the campaign, have an opportunity to sign the petition, and learn ways that they are able to plug in and be part of the campaign going forward!

Sixteen years ago, she was just a kid that didn't want to live. Six years ago, she wasn't sure if teaching was for her. 2023 Illinois Teacher of the Year Briana Morales shares candid moments from both personal life and a career dedicated to working with youth furthest from justice in an alternative setting to illustrate how the love and compassion of educators can break many chains and heal unspoken wounds for our young people. Morales' journey is living testimony of the philosophy that she seeks to impress upon her students and those who seek to know and understand them better: we can turn our pain into power and that can reveal our purpose. Briana Morales is a proud Latina and freedom fighter for students in alternative education, where she has spent her career loving and learning alongside students furthest from justice in East St. Louis, IL. She focuses on empowering her students with personalized, competency-based education where their cultural funds of knowledge are honored and students work at their own pace to master content rather than traditional learning that focuses on seat time and completion of work. Morales was honored as a 2021 National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) Early Career Educator of Color and has shared the journey her students have embarked on to turn pain into power through poetry both locally and nationally. Her commitment as a school board member for the Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice, School District #428 has allowed her to elevate the voices of justice-impacted youth. Morales has been active at the state level in education policy work around diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. Most recently, she was a champion of $300K in state funding to provide professional development to in-service educators around cultural responsiveness. She is deeply passionate about creating healing-centered spaces where Black and brown students can feel seen, heard, and, one day, be free to be their authentic selves. Her love offering toward this future is her nonprofit, (Sister)Hood of Hope, Inc., dedicated to honoring brighter futures for girls of color everywhere by empowering them through the community of sisterhood. Morales believes in education as a tool that equips young people to become change agents in their community and have a fighting chance at the life they deserve. She is currently a doctoral candidate in diversity and equity in education at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. Briana is the 2023 Illinois Teacher of the Year.

The legal battle over abortion rights in Missouri underscores a fundamental clash between religious beliefs and constitutional principles. Laws such as H.B. 126, passed in 2019, impose severe restrictions on abortion access under the guise of religious conviction, disregarding the diverse religious perspectives within the state. This legislation, triggered by the Supreme Court's decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, immediately banned most abortions in Missouri. Such laws, supported by legislators who justify them on religious grounds, blatantly disregard the principle of separation of church and state. Missouri's abortion restrictions, dating back to 1986 and exacerbated by subsequent bills in 2014 and 2017, significantly impede access to abortion services, imposing burdensome requirements such as mandatory waiting periods and physician-specific counseling. Despite objections from clergy members representing various Christian denominations, Judaism, and Unitarian Universalism, the legislature persists in enacting laws that reflect a singular religious viewpoint. In response to these restrictions, a coalition led by Americans United and the National Women's Law Center filed a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of Missouri's abortion laws. Their argument is based on the violation of Missouri's constitutional provisions safeguarding the separation of church and state. The litigation, supported by clergy plaintiffs like Rev. Traci Blackmon and Maharat Rori Picker Neiss, aims to overturn these laws and restore reproductive autonomy. The legal proceedings commenced with a hearing on June 13, 2023, where the plaintiffs argued against a motion to dismiss the case, which was largely rejected by the court on June 30, 2023. Subsequent motions and arguments have been filed, with the defendants contending that they should prevail without further proceedings. The litigation represents a critical effort to defend individual liberties and uphold the principle that laws should not be based on religious doctrine, but rather on constitutional rights and freedoms.

Arts organizations such as St. Louis' Prison Performing Arts have nearly eliminated recidivism for participants that continue after confinement in their Prison Performing Arts Alumni Theater Company. Through personal experience of going from nursing professor to drug addict, our speaker Julie Antonic will share how this arts organization transformed her life, as well as countless others across the country. The stigma of being an ex-felon creates huge barriers when felons return to their communities. When prisoners and ex-prisoners are given a voice, that platform can change everything. In Act I of Julie Antonic's life, she was a travel RN, an adjunct professor of nursing, and became an addict after being diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. In Julie's current Act II of her life, she is an actress, playwright and spokesperson for Prison Performing Arts. She is an artist and co-owner of Altitude Video Production, which produces aerial cinematography for events, real estate and more. She recently did a talk at TEDxSt.Louis Women, and lives in Blue Springs, Missouri. There she is the secretary of the friendliest yacht club on the planet and sails a 52 year old sailboat with her wife.

In a time of global strife, staying in touch with one's own humanity and the humanity of others becomes ever more important. Join Interim Director Amy L. Miller to discuss healthy ways to communicate with each other, celebrate our differences, and be in community.

Recent research has shown that most stars have planetary systems, and that a non-negligible fraction of those planets are likely to be in the so-called “habitable zone,” where life may be possible. This makes the old question of “Are we alone?” more pressing: Does life exist elsewhere in the universe, and if so, is some of that life “intelligent” and able to communicate or otherwise interact with us? I discuss various aspects of these questions, including the research on exoplanets, the possibility of space travel, UFO (recently renamed “UAP”) phenomena, and the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI). I conclude with some thoughts about the ethical meaning of a “yes” or a “no” answer to the “Are we alone?” question.

Social media has become a large part of our everyday lives. As a society, we continue to devote an increasing amount of time to these online platforms, engaging with a wealth of information from our friends to celebrities, family members to politicians, cat videos to devastating world news. Increasing rates of social media use along with high rates of mental illness have led many researchers to begin examining how social media use and mental health may be related. Perhaps surprisingly, only a few consistent conclusions have been drawn in this area, leaving researchers and community members alike wondering if and how social media use may be affecting our mental health. This presentation will focus on a newly developed model of understanding social media use that categorizes social media behaviors into four broad patterns. Topics discussed will include an overview of what these four different patterns of social media behaviors are, how they have been observed to impact people's emotions in the moment, and how they are shown to correlate with various components of psychological wellbeing.

The Pledge Campaign is the time of year when we dream about what the Ethical Society of St. Louis could be and do if we had all of our needs met, and strategize ways to meet those needs. We need strong roots to build a strong future. Now is the time to reinvest in the future of the Society and to imagine what we can create together. This Platform talk is offered in conjunction with President-elect Scott Wright's Opening Words for this day, as we launch pledge season together.

Does the pursuit of morality come at a cost to personal well-being? Several conceptualizations of morality emphasize its role in regulating or sacrificing the pursuit of one's own interests for the sake of others. This might imply that being and becoming more moral would be personally costly. In this talk, however, I present empirical evidence showing that 1) moral people tend to experience more happiness and meaning in life and that 2) people believe that becoming more moral would contribute positively to various aspects of their well-being. I will discuss the implications and limitations of this research in relation to the broader question of when morality and well-being are likely to go hand in hand and when they might come into conflict with one another.