Secular Approaches to Moral Education: Building Character without Commandments

Steve Grumette argues that effective moral education should be grounded in empathy, critical thinking, and evidence-based understanding of human moral development rather than religious authority, enabling students from diverse backgrounds to reason through ethical challenges together. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://secularhumanism.org/2026/05/secular-approaches-to-moral-education-building-character-without-commandments/ About the Author: Steve Grumette is an Academy Award–winning filmmaker (The Magic Machines, Best Live Action Short) and pioneer of live computer imagery in Hollywood, with credits including WarGames. A UCLA-trained engineer and physicist, he writes on philosophy and criminal justice ethics. He is the founder and artistic director of the Ojai Film Festival and lives in Oak View, California. Subscribe to Free Inquiry: https://secularhumanism.org/subscribe/