Racism
Ethics and Religion Talk: Can Race be an Ethical Criteria for Advancement?
by (Rabbi David J.B...)
Submitted 10-16-2023 under OPINION
The Reverend Colleen Squires, minister at All Souls Community Church of West Michigan, a Unitarian Universalist Congregation, responds: "Affirmative Action was originally put into place because of racism and bias found in the admission...
Ethics and Religion Talk: Should the Audubon Society Change its Name?
by (Rabbi David J.B...)
Submitted 05-22-2023 under OPINION
“Audubon” is a household name associated with protecting birds. The moniker is synonymous with the avian conservation movement, and yet some local chapters had urged for a name change, saying the association with Audubon...
Ethics and Religion Talk: Should racist comments by teenagers affect their adult lives?
by (Rabbi David J.B...)
Submitted 02-07-2022 under OPINION
Imam Kip Curnutt, Director of Religious Education and Associate Imam of Masjid At-Tawheed in Grand Rapids, responds: “I think this issue boils down to how we deal with moral responsibility and forgiveness. In Islam, as soon as someone reaches...
Ethics and Religion Talk: Is Religion a Force Against Racism?
by (Rabbi David J.B...)
Submitted 08-16-2021 under OPINION
This week, we address a second way to read a question submitted by Victoria and addressed last week, regarding religion and racism. Despite religion’s flaws which contributed to racism, as last week’s responses addressed, religion has...
Ethics and Religion Talk: Has Religion Supported Racism?
by (Rabbi David J.B...)
Submitted 08-09-2021 under OPINION
Victoria posed a most interesting question due to its ambiguity: “How do you think organized religion has advanced racism in today's society?” It was not clear to me whether she was asking how religion has been a...
Ethics and Religion Talk: How do you Respond to Racism?
by (Rabbi David J.B...)
Submitted 10-26-2020 under OPINION
The Rev. Sandra Nikkel, head pastor of Conklin Reformed Church, responds: “I am a Hispanic American who pastors a 100% white congregation and I have never experienced racism in my congregation. The love, respect, and care that I...
Human trafficking in Grand Rapids continues amid pandemic
by (Brett)
Submitted 07-10-2020 under LOCAL LIFE
As Grand Rapidians and Americans continue openly confronting the issues of COVID-19 and systemic racism, the issue of human trafficking lingers on behind the scenes. It’s an issue not disconnected from the pandemic’s impacts or centuries...
Struggling with Racism on the Fourth of July
by (Kaufman Interfa...)
Submitted 07-10-2020 under NONPROFITS
Written by Doug Kindschi, Director, Kaufman Interfaith Institute I am writing this week’s column on the Fourth of July, not in a big crowd watching fireworks, but quietly reflecting on our country, its history – both the good and the bad...
Faith communities call for racial justice: A Jewish reflection
by (Kaufman Interfa...)
Submitted 06-19-2020 under NONPROFITS
Note from Douglas Kindschi, Director Faith communities from Minneapolis to Washington to the Vatican have joined the chorus responding to the protests with calls for racial justice. Evangelical responses in Minneapolis included helping in...Amid racism and protests, can we find hope?
by (Kaufman Interfa...)
Submitted 06-12-2020 under NONPROFITS
Racial justice is certainly the critical issue we face today. The pandemic of racial injustice has even pushed aside the coronavirus pandemic. The murder of George Floyd and the worldwide response has brought this issue again to our...