Ethics and Religion Talk
Ethics and Religion Talk: What are the Most Important Religious Parables?
by (Rabbi David J.B...)
Submitted 05-31-2021 under OPINION
Linda Knieriemen, Senior Pastor at First Presbyterian Church in Holland, responds: “I come from a Christian perspective, but I’m guessing that most other religions traditions have stories reflecting truths such as: Life comes out of...
Ethics and Religion Talk: What is the "Power of Prayer?", part 2
by (Rabbi David J.B...)
Submitted 05-24-2021 under OPINION
Here is the second set of responses to Mary’s question. The first set was published last week. The Rev. Sandra Nikkel, head pastor of Conklin Reformed Church, responds: “Let me start by saying that although there is power in prayer, when...
Ethics and Religion Talk: What is the "Power of Prayer?", part 1
by (Rabbi David J.B...)
Submitted 05-17-2021 under OPINION
Here is one set of responses to Mary’s question. A second set will be published next week. The Reverend Colleen Squires, minister at All Souls Community Church of West Michigan, a Unitarian Universalist Congregation, responds: “I...
Ethics and Religion Talk: Would God get Mad if I Pass Messages from the "Other Side?"
by (Rabbi David J.B...)
Submitted 05-10-2021 under OPINION
Father Michael Nasser, who writes from an Eastern Christian perspective and is Pastor of St. Nicholas Orthodox Christian Church, responds: “Seeking and sharing messages from ‘beyond this world’ has always been discouraged in the...
Ethics and Religion Talk: Truth vs. truths
by (Rabbi David J.B...)
Submitted 05-03-2021 under OPINION
“There are many people today who would advocate for making room for: my truth, your truth, and everyone else's truth. Many of these people would also advocate for making room for God's truth--as an accessory to adorn our lives. This is...
Ethics and Religion Talk: Does the Bible Forbid Cremation
by (Rabbi David J.B...)
Submitted 04-26-2021 under OPINION
Rev. Ray Lanning, a retired minister of the Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America, responds: “There is no ‘Biblical take’ on cremation, because the known universal practice of the people of God under both Testaments was to...
Ethics and Religion Talk: Should I get the COVID Vaccination?
by (Rabbi David J.B...)
Submitted 04-19-2021 under OPINION
The Reverend Colleen Squires, minister at All Souls Community Church of West Michigan, a Unitarian Universalist Congregation, responds: “Unitarian Universalists are strong believers in science. Any conversation regarding vaccination would...
Ethics and Religion Talk: Why is There Evil?
by (Rabbi David J.B...)
Submitted 04-12-2021 under OPINION
Father Kevin Niehoff, O.P., a Dominican priest who serves as Judicial Vicar, Diocese of Grand Rapids, responds: “Remember the creation story where the serpent tempted Eve and Adam in the Garden of Eden? Evil has been present since shortly...
Ethics and Religion Talk: Help! My Supervisor is Evil!
by (Rabbi David J.B...)
Submitted 04-05-2021 under OPINION
Lisa L. asks, “I have just been fired from my job at a small company. I believe in the mission of the company and most of the employees are good people, but my direct supervisor made my life a living hell and I have a stack of emails and other...
Ethics and Religion Talk: How Do You Identify the Messiah?
by (Rabbi David J.B...)
Submitted 03-29-2021 under OPINION
Joseph P. asks, “For Christians, Jesus is the Messiah promised in the book of Genesis in the Old Testament. I was wondering if any other religions (Judaism, Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, etc.) are anticipating the appearance of a Messiah...