In Good We Trust

This year of 2023, on Thursday, December 21 at exactly 10:27PM, the sun’s rays will shine on the northern hemisphere at their lowest most acute angle. Since colder air holds less humidity, the stars can seem at their brightest. So when we bundle up, wander into the cold night, and stare up at the stars, we can feel both alone and connected to everything. If you are in the Philadelphia area, come to 1906 Rittenhouse Square for our humanist Winter Solstice program at 11:00AM EST. If you are elsewhere on our planet on December 17, join our Zoom version at 2PM here: www.tiny.cc/phillyethics

Does the Golden Rule overlook power dynamics? Acknowledging its limitations, the podcast explores alternative approaches to embrace uniqueness, empower others, and promote multiculturalism.

Do we really need to worry obsessively about deadly sins and the damnation they bring? Or should we nurture moderation and goodness in that is a part of human nature? Hugh Taft-Morales suggests that we stop flagellating ourselves and focus more on sharing the good things in life with millions of people struggling to survive.

In this episode we explore wonder and its place in our lives. Is it something we should pursue, or should we have "loftier goals?" Experiencing wonder in nature can lead to feeling both insignificant and connected to everything. Does that help us live more fully? Maybe the best thing about wonder is when share it with others, bonding together with energy and joy.

Today's show is about the fragility of goodness. Committing to goodness often means opening your eyes and heart to the suffering of the world. It can be heartbreaking. How do we open up without being crushed or retreating into self-centeredness? Philosopher Martha Nussbaum explains how often we construct rational explanations to distance ourselves and create a “goodness without fragility.” Phillip Hallie in Lest Innocent Blood Be Shed was drawn into protective rationalization while researching Nazi atrocities. But settlement house pioneer Jane Addams dealt with this pain through action. I admire her, and try to face the pain of the world and, as consistently as I can, act to comfort and empower others. As Adler wrote, “Suffering is a passive state; the cure of suffering is action.”

What do we talk about when we talk about goodness? The fact is, we’ve been talking about it for centuries, trying to dial it in for ourselves both what it is and how it is all along the way. Welcome to the first episode of In Good We Trust. My name is Hugh Taft-Morales speaking to you from the Philadelphia Ethical Society, a place where we try to build meaning, offer community, and nurture goodness.

What does it mean to be good? How do we be good not just for ourselves, but for others, too? These are the questions at the heart of Ethical Humanism, a non-theistic movement that’s been around since 1876, but is more relevant today as ever. Hosted by Hugh Taft-Morales, an Ethical Humanist Leader in Baltimore and Philadelphia, In Good We Trust is an exploration of being good, being human, and trying to do both at the same time. It’s a great podcast to listen to if you’re into being human. In Good We Trust is brought to you by the Philadelphia Ethical Society, and is available soon wherever you get your podcasts, including Apple and Spotify. For more information on the Philadelphia Ethical Society, visit phillyethics.org.