Ethics and Religion Talk
Ethics and Religion Talk: How Does Atonement Work?
by (Rabbi David J.B...)
Submitted 06-08-2020 under OPINION
The Reverend Colleen Squires, minister at All Souls Community Church of West Michigan, a Unitarian Universalist Congregation, responds: “We must own our mistakes without excuses. We need to offer an apology to those we have harmed. We...
Ethics and Religion Talk: Can we have both Justice and Peace?
by (Rabbi David J.B...)
Submitted 06-01-2020 under OPINION
My tradition teaches, Tzedek, Tzedek, Tirdof, “Justice, justice, shall you pursue!” Police officers who violate the boundaries of their training when using deadly force and cause injury or death should be prosecuted. Former police...
Ethics and Religion Talk: The Morality of Politics
by (Rabbi David J.B...)
Submitted 05-25-2020 under OPINION
The Reverend Colleen Squires, minister at All Souls Community Church of West Michigan, a Unitarian Universalist Congregation, responds: "Yes, I believe the ideology that expresses the most compassion for others takes the moral high ground...
Ethics and Religion Talk: Celebrating our 400th column!
by (Rabbi David J.B...)
Submitted 05-18-2020 under OPINION
This column is the 400th appearance of Ethics and Religion Talk in the Grand Rapids Press since we began on July 31, 2012, almost eight years ago. My initial vision, when creating the column, was to model a kind of respectful interfaith dialogue, in...
Ethics and Religion Talk: Is God's Role to be Fearsome or Loving?
by (Rabbi David J.B...)
Submitted 05-11-2020 under OPINION
The Rev. Sandra Nikkel, head pastor of Conklin Reformed Church, responds: “Yes, God is a divine power to be feared, a holy Being, and a loving creator. Most people believe all, or some, of these descriptions about God. But people have a harder...
Ethics and Religion Talk: Is Family Important? Why?
by (Rabbi David J.B...)
Submitted 05-04-2020 under OPINION
Fred Stella, the Pracharak (Outreach Minister) for the West Michigan Hindu Temple, responds: “I can’t imagine any of my colleagues arguing with the spiritual, social and evolutionary reasons why family is critical to our existence. I am...
Ethics and Religion Talk: Where does Morality Come From?
by (Rabbi David J.B...)
Submitted 04-27-2020 under OPINION
Chris Curia, the Director of Youth Ministries at Fairway Christian Reformed Church, responds: “The American Psychological Association defines morality as the belief or value system(s) that pertains to right conduct and distinguishes acceptable...
Ethics and Religion Talk: Are Heaven and Hell Based on a Merit System?
by (Rabbi David J.B...)
Submitted 04-20-2020 under OPINION
Dr Sahibzada, the Director of Islamic Center and Imam of the Mosque of Grand Rapids, responds: “Everything is created by the Creator therefore Heaven and Hell exist for those who believe in God and follow His discipline of life. Worldly life...
Ethics and Religion Talk: Is Divorce OK?
by (Rabbi David J.B...)
Submitted 04-13-2020 under OPINION
Rev. Ray Lanning, a retired minister of the Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America, responds: “ ‘OK’ is hardly the right word for divorce. The prophet Malachi lived in a time when many thought that divorce was ‘...
Ethics and Religion Talk: Addressing Fears in the COVID-19, Crisis, part 2
by (Rabbi David J.B...)
Submitted 04-06-2020 under OPINION
Here are four more panelists sharing words of encouragement and hope. Father Kevin Niehoff, O.P., a Dominican priest who serves as Adjutant Judicial Vicar, Diocese of Grand Rapids, responds: “I find a life of social distancing is quite scary...