The Ethical movement, also known as Ethical Culture or Ethical Humanism, was founded by Felix Adler, the son of a New York Reform Jewish rabbi, in 1876. Adler was initially expected to enter the rabbinate. During his studies at the University of Heidelberg, Adler was influenced by neo-Kantian philosophy, including the idea that the existence of deities could neither be proven nor disproven and that morality should be treated as an independent force.
In 1873, Adler returned to the United States. His departure from traditional theology was met with resistance from his father’s congregation. After delivering a single sermon, he left that path and took a position as a professor at Cornell University. In 1876, he established the New York Society for Ethical Culture. By 1886, the movement had expanded to cities including Philadelphia, Chicago, and St. Louis. These societies shared the view that industrial society had introduced new moral challenges that existing religious institutions were not addressing, leading to an emphasis on a “deed before creed” approach.
During its early decades, Ethical Culture developed as a combination of a secular movement and a congregational institution. It rejected formal creeds and rituals but adopted regular Sunday meetings and moral education programs for children. The movement focused on public service and philanthropy, including founding the first free kindergarten for working-class families in the United States and contributing to the creation of organizations such as the National Child Labor Committee and the American Civil Liberties Union. Membership practices were initially restrictive, requiring sponsorship, and women were not admitted as full members until 1893.
In the mid-1880s, the movement expanded into Great Britain through the efforts of Stanton Coit, a colleague of Adler. By 1910, more than 50 ethical societies had been established in the United Kingdom. Coit’s leadership also led to internal disputes. In 1892, he left his position at the South Place Ethical Society after disagreements over authority. He later founded the West London Ethical Society, which he renamed the Ethical Church in 1914. Coit promoted the use of theological language in a humanist context and reorganized meetings into forms resembling religious services.
Concerns about centralized leadership and structured organization emerged during this period. In the United Kingdom, Coit’s efforts to influence the Anglican Church and his emphasis on ethical ritual led to criticism from some observers, who argued that leadership within certain societies was not fully democratic. In the United States, after its initial period of expansion, the movement’s focus shifted more toward internal community activities. Some sociologists later described this as a move toward a more sect-like structure.
By the mid-20th century, changes in the British branch led to a departure from earlier institutional forms. Leaders such as Harold Blackham worked to remove elements associated with church structures. In 1967, the Ethical Union was renamed the British Humanist Association, marking a transition toward a broader humanist identity. In the United States, the American Ethical Union retained its congregational model while also participating in international efforts, including becoming a founding member of the International Humanist and Ethical Union in 1952.
Today, Ethical Culture in the United States continues as a smaller organized movement with fewer than 10,000 members. It maintains an emphasis on human worth and the concept of the “Ethical Manifold,” Adler’s idea of a universe composed of interconnected moral agents.
Key Sources:
Ericson, E. L. (1988). The humanist way: An Introduction to Ethical Humanist Religion. American Ethical Union.
Friess, H. L. (1981). Felix Adler and ethical culture: Memories and Studies.
Radest, H. B. (1969). Toward common ground: The Story of the Ethical Societies in the United States. Frederick Ungar.
Stedman, C. (2014, October 1). The original ‘atheist church’: Why don’t more atheists know about Ethical Culture? Religion News Service.