Ethics and Religion Talk
Ethics and Religion Talk: Do Animals Have Souls?
by (Rabbi David J.B...)
Submitted 03-08-2021 under OPINION
Linda Knieriemen, Senior Pastor at First Presbyterian Church in Holland, responds: “Christian scripture doesn’t weight in on this directly but indirectly I can deduce that yes, animals will have some sort of afterlife. In the early...
Ethics and Religion Talk: Is your religion based on Dogma?
by (Rabbi David J.B...)
Submitted 03-01-2021 under OPINION
Connor writes, “A word that often is used to describe religious teachings is ‘dogma.’ It's interesting that I tend to hear this word used in a pejorative sense so much of the time, as when someone is described as...
Ethics and Religion Talk: What is the different between Happiness and Joy?
by (Rabbi David J.B...)
Submitted 02-22-2021 under OPINION
Janet H. asks, “The recent column on happiness/unhappiness prompts a further question: Is it happiness humans need, or is it joy? Happiness is fleeting, episodic, emotional. Joy on the other hand is an internal baseline which can coexist...
Ethics and Religion Talk: What is Wisdom Literature?
by (Rabbi David J.B...)
Submitted 02-16-2021 under OPINION
The Reverend Colleen Squires, minister at All Souls Community Church of West Michigan, a Unitarian Universalist Congregation, responds: “This question is at the very heart of understanding Unitarian Universalism. We are a faith that draws...
Ethics and Religion Talk: What is Our Role in God's Plan?
by (Rabbi David J.B...)
Submitted 02-08-2021 under OPINION
Note from Rabbi Krishef: Have a question that invites responses from our interfaith panel of clergy? Come across an ethical dilemma lately? Ethics and Religion Talk needs your questions! Send them to me at [email protected]. The Rev....
Ethics and Religion Talk: How to Counsel a Person Seeking Death, part 2
by (Rabbi David J.B...)
Submitted 02-01-2021 under OPINION
We began addressing this topic in last week’s column. Here are three additional responses. Linda Knieriemen, Senior Pastor at First Presbyterian Church in Holland, responds: “My counsel varies with the particular circumstance. It’s...
Ethics and Religion Talk: How to Counsel a Person Seeking Death, part 1
by (Rabbi David J.B...)
Submitted 01-25-2021 under OPINION
Father Kevin Niehoff, O.P., a Dominican priest who serves as Judicial Vicar, Diocese of Grand Rapids, responds: “This question is complex. What is not known is if the author is referring to euthanasia or the decision to ‘discontinue...
Ethics and Religion Talk: Church and Politics
by (Rabbi David J.B...)
Submitted 01-18-2021 under OPINION
Note from Rabbi Krishef: The Rev. Steven Manskar, pastor of Trinity United Methodist Church in Grand Rapids, wrote the following essay prior to last November’s election day, reflecting on a Christian’s responsibility to vote. We’re...
Ethics and Religion Talk: Is it a Contradiction to be both Pro-Life and Pro-Gun?
by (Rabbi David J.B...)
Submitted 01-11-2021 under OPINION
Father Michael Nasser, who writes from an Eastern Christian perspective and is Pastor of St. Nicholas Orthodox Christian Church, responds: “If the ‘pro-gun’ sign was placed to show support for policies which encourage the baseless...
Ethics and Religion Talk: How Do You Prevent Clergy Burnout?
by (Rabbi David J.B...)
Submitted 01-04-2021 under OPINION
Linda Knieriemen, Senior Pastor at First Presbyterian Church in Holland, responds: “I’ve experienced what I’d call clergy fatigue but not complete burnout. Yes, exhaustion, depression, depletion of spiritual reserves is common...