ethics
Ethics and Religion Talk: Non-Biblical sources of wisdom
by (Rabbi David J.B...)
Submitted 10-29-2018 under OPINION
The Reverend Colleen Squires, minister at All Souls Community Church of West Michigan, a Unitarian Universalist Congregation, responds: “This may surprise many but most Unitarian Universalists do not rely on scripture to make our...
Ethics and Religion Talk: Alternative Truth?
by (Rabbi David J.B...)
Submitted 10-22-2018 under OPINION
The Rev. Rachel J. Bahr, pastor of Plymouth UCC, responds: I don't believe that the goal among Progressive Christians is that there are multiple truths or alternative facts. Rather, when a person says that they are going to speak their truth, it...
Ethics and Religion Talk: Responding to reader feedback
by (Rabbi David J.B...)
Submitted 10-15-2018 under OPINION
A woman contacted me through the Grand Rapids Press regarding the lack of racial diversity on the panel; specifically, she wanted to know why there was no African-American panelist. First, I explained that it is my goal for the panel to match the...
Ethics and Religion Talk: On which holiday brings the most joy, and which brings the least
by (Rabbi David J.B...)
Submitted 10-08-2018 under OPINION
The Reverend Colleen Squires, minister at All Souls Community Church of West Michigan, a Unitarian Universalist Congregation, responds: “Once a year we celebrate Homecoming Sunday. It is normally held the first Sunday after Labor Day....
Ethics and Religion Talk: Examining the ethics of eating lab-grown flesh
by (Rabbi David J.B...)
Submitted 10-01-2018 under OPINION
Several companies are deep into development of lab-grown meat. It is made by taking a sample of the animal’s muscle tissue and growing layers of muscle and fat in a lab environment. It is meat - but no animals are harmed in its production....
Ethics and Religion Talk: How does your tradition react to suicide?
by (Rabbi David J.B...)
Submitted 09-24-2018 under OPINION
Dr Sahibzada, the Director of Islamic Center and Imam of the Mosque of Grand Rapids, responds: A person’s life consists of two aspects in Islam: Faith and actions. The person is a believer and suicidal action is not a rejection of faith but...
Ethics and Religion Talk: What to do with frozen embryos after divorce?
by (Rabbi David J.B...)
Submitted 09-17-2018 under OPINION
A new Arizona law would give frozen embryos to either spouse who wants to use them, even after a divorce. Is it ethical to force someone to become a parent against his or her will? On the other hand, is it ethical to force the destruction...
Ethics and Religion Talk: Genetic editing
by (Rabbi David J.B...)
Submitted 09-10-2018 under OPINION
Father Kevin Niehoff, O.P., a Dominican priest who serves as Adjutant Judicial Vicar, Diocese of Grand Rapids, responds: The Baltimore Catechism taught us to respond to the question, ‘why did God make us?’ with the response, “to...
Ethics and Religion Talk: What to do about those who don't give enough?
by (Rabbi David J.B...)
Submitted 09-04-2018 under OPINION
Ethan P. writes, “While all religious institutions are spiritual and charitable in nature, in order to survive and serve their mission they do need to balance their income and expenses. Which generally means that members must help support the...
Ethics and Religion Talk: Is the serpent in the Garden of Eden real?
by (Rabbi David J.B...)
Submitted 08-27-2018 under OPINION
Sometimes the Ethics and Religion Talk panel gets questions from people whose objective is to point out the fallacy of treating the Bible as sacred literature or the ridiculousness of religion in general. Elisa’s question appears to be in that...