Ethics and Religion Talk
Ethics and Religion Talk: What if the Worship Leader Dresses Gay?, part 2
by (Rabbi David J.B...)
Submitted 11-04-2019 under OPINION
Jose writes, “I’m a passionate student of the word. I’ve recently encountered a young man in church who leads worship. His attire and mannerism disconcert me. Those who do not know this young man personally will label him as gay....
Ethics and Religion Talk: What if the Worship Leader Dresses Gay?, part 1
by (Rabbi David J.B...)
Submitted 10-29-2019 under OPINION
Jose writes, “I’m a passionate student of the word. I’ve recently encountered a young man in church who leads worship. His attire and mannerism disconcert me. Those who do not know this young man personally will label him as gay....
Ethics and Religion Talk: Help! I Didn't Know About the Potluck!
by (Rabbi David J.B...)
Submitted 10-21-2019 under OPINION
We welcome a new Ethics and Religion Talk panelist this week. Chris Curia is a writer and youth director at Fairway Christian Reformed Church. He has authored articles for several online publications, including Sojourners, Relevant, and the Network...
Ethics and Religion Talk: How to Handle Difficult Political Conversations
by (Rabbi David J.B...)
Submitted 10-16-2019 under OPINION
The Reverend Colleen Squires, minister at All Souls Community Church of West Michigan, a Unitarian Universalist Congregation, responds: Personally I think the best way to go about these conversations is to start by articulating your faith...
Ethics and Religion Talk: Money and Politics
by (Rabbi David J.B...)
Submitted 10-02-2019 under OPINION
Fred Stella, the Pracharak (Outreach Minister) for the West Michigan Hindu Temple, responds: “What has been come to be known as the caste system in Hinduism has influenced much of the rest of the world to take a dim view of the religion. One...
Ethics and Religion Talk: Leaving a Group or Working for Change?
by (Rabbi David J.B...)
Submitted 09-25-2019 under OPINION
Laura W. asks: “Where do you draw the line between helping to improve or change a group you are a part of, and leaving the group? For me personally, I would leave an extreme group but wonder about less extreme groups where people hold harmful...
Ethics and Religion Talk - Elder Sex Before Marriage
by (Rabbi David J.B...)
Submitted 09-16-2019 under OPINION
Dr Sahibzada, the Director of Islamic Center and Imam of the Mosque of Grand Rapids, responds: “Having sex before getting married is not matter of being in late fifties or divorcee. It depends upon their faith category, cultural discipline and...
Ethics and Religion Talk: What is the Secret of Happiness
by (Rabbi David J.B...)
Submitted 09-09-2019 under OPINION
The Rev. Sandra Nikkel, head pastor of Conklin Reformed Church, responds: "Everyone is in search of happiness and many people are looking for it in success, money, power, addiction, sex or indulgence. But none of these can truly satisfy us in...
Ethics and Religion Talk: Should We be Abolitionists Today?
by (Rabbi David J.B...)
Submitted 09-03-2019 under OPINION
[Note: Abolitionists are people who try to dismantle the institutions, such as the criminal justice system, that benefit from modern day slavery.] The Reverend Colleen Squires, minister at All Souls Community Church of West Michigan, a...
Ethics and Religion talk - Welcoming LGBTQ II
by (Rabbi David J.B...)
Submitted 08-26-2019 under OPINION
Along the same line, Carol H. asks: I was a member of the UMC. In the “rulebook” it states both that all people are of sacred worth and the practice of homosexuality is not compatible with scripture. Is that saying a person can be gay as...