Ethics and Religion Talk

Ethics and Religion Talk: Is drug abuse a moral problem?

by (Rabbi David J.B...)

Submitted 02-12-2019 under OPINION

The Rev. Sandra Nikkel, head pastor of Conklin Reformed Church, responds: “Drug abuse is definitely connected to a moral problem. It is a selfish way to find relief from: anxiety, depression, loneliness, insecurity, pain, etc—without...

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Ethics and Religion Talk: What Should Your Death Look Like?

by (Rabbi David J.B...)

Submitted 01-28-2019 under OPINION

The Reverend Colleen Squires, minister at All Souls Community Church of West Michigan, a Unitarian Universalist Congregation, responds: “In Unitarian Universalism a person can have a great deal of influence over how their death can occur...

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Ethics and Religion Talk: How do you know that the immortal soul exists?

by (Rabbi David J.B...)

Submitted 01-22-2019 under OPINION

The Rev. Sandra Nikkel, head pastor of Conklin Reformed Church, responds: “There are many things in life that can not be heard or seen: Love, hate, greed, sadness, joy, worry, etc, etc. God created us with an invisible soul which is where all...

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Ethics and Religion Talk: DNA Privacy and Misuse of Information

by (Rabbi David J.B...)

Submitted 01-14-2019 under OPINION

A recent NPR story raises questions of DNA privacy. “The police currently [are] using [searches of public DNA databases] to find ... [murderers] and bad people. But are we OK with using this technique to identify people in a political...

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Ethics and Religion Talk: What if Good is Not Good Enough?

by (Rabbi David J.B...)

Submitted 01-07-2019 under OPINION

Dr. Sahibzada, the Director of Islamic Center and Imam of the Mosque of Grand Rapids, responds: “True faith must be firm and intact of the person. The result of unshakable faith is that a believer will finally end up in the heaven. If life is...

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Ethics and Religion Talk: May a Consenting Married Couple Engage in "Swinging?"

by (Rabbi David J.B...)

Submitted 12-31-2018 under OPINION

Ethics and Religion Talk answered a question about four years ago about swingers. This is a follow-up question: “I am a Christian who is getting re-married this week. My human nature wants so badly to find that swinging is ‘OK’...

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Ethics and Religion Talk: Should Self-Driving Cars be Programmed to Make Moral Decisions?

by (Rabbi David J.B...)

Submitted 12-27-2018 under OPINION

Based on an NPR report, Should Self-Driving Cars Have Ethics?, we ask the panel: Should self-driving cars be programmed with a moral decision-making capability? For example, to avoid a head on collision should the car swerve into the crosswalk...

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Ethics and Religion Talk: Does clergy child abuse cover-up affect clergy moral authority? Part 2

by (Rabbi David J.B...)

Submitted 12-17-2018 under OPINION

Continued from last week: In recent months we have seen reports from Philadelphia of wide spread clergy sexual abuse of children followed by wide spread cover-up also committed by clergy. As a member of the clergy what do you think of your...

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Ethics and Religion Talk: Does the clergy child abuse cover-up affect clergy moral authority?

by (Rabbi David J.B...)

Submitted 12-10-2018 under OPINION

James writes, “In recent months we have seen reports from Philadelphia of widespread clergy sexual abuse of children followed by widespread cover-up also committed by clergy. As a member of the clergy what do you think of your profession...

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Ethics and Religion Talk - Forgiving oneself

by (Rabbi David J.B...)

Submitted 12-03-2018 under OPINION

The Rev. Sandra Nikkel, head pastor of Conklin Reformed Church, responds: It takes courage to admit to wrongdoing but it takes more courage to forgive oneself. We need the courage to accept God's forgiveness and believe that he will not hold...

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