ethics
Ethics and Religion Talk: Sex, Violence, and Hollywood, part 1
by (Rabbi David J.B...)
Submitted 08-01-2022 under OPINION
Over the years, Hollywood has gotten more and more explicit in displaying nudity, sexual situations and violence. I am curious about how the clergy members on this panel choose which content they will view, especially on the various streaming...
Ethics and Religion Talk: Do Archeological or Historical/Linguistic Discoveries Affect Your Faith?
by (Rabbi David J.B...)
Submitted 07-25-2022 under OPINION
It is hard for me to think that anyone “of a certain age” alive today can hold to the same religious beliefs that they did decades ago, given the vast amount of new archeological, historical, and linguistic evidence that has surfaced in...
Ethics and Religion Talk: Is Worship Dress Up or Dress Down?
by (Rabbi David J.B...)
Submitted 07-18-2022 under OPINION
The question: Standards of dress have become more casual and this trend accelerated during the word-from-home environment of the pandemic. I've seen t-shirts with questionable messages in the workplace, sleeveless tees with biker vests at...
Ethics and Religion Talk: Infant Circumcision: Pro or Con?
by (Rabbi David J.B...)
Submitted 07-11-2022 under OPINION
The question: Although medical groups tend to be positive or neutral regarding circumcision, there are an increasing number of organizations and voices devoted to anti-circumcision legislation. Does your tradition have a position on a circumcision...
Ethics and Religion Talk: May 'Cremains' be Scattered Widely?
by (Rabbi David J.B...)
Submitted 07-05-2022 under OPINION
Rev. Ray Lanning, a retired minister of the Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America, responds: “This panelist has a bias for burial of the dead, because that practice is at least as old as Abraham, ‘the father of all them that...
Ethics and Religion Talk: Is Twitter Responsible for Speech On Its Platform?
by (Rabbi David J.B...)
Submitted 06-27-2022 under OPINION
Imam Kip Curnutt, Director of Religious Education and Associate Imam of Masjid At-Tawheed in Grand Rapids, responds: “Free speech is an interesting concept to tackle from a religious perspective. It is historically a rather recent phenomenon...
Ethics and Religion Talk: How Do I Know What My Religion Should Be?
by (Rabbi David J.B...)
Submitted 06-20-2022 under OPINION
Fred Stella, the Pracharak (Outreach Minister) for the West Michigan Hindu Temple, responds: “Speaking as someone who was raised in one tradition but adopted another later in life, I would encourage anyone on a spiritual search to use an...
Ethics and Religion Talk: Gas for a Steal or Stealing Gas?
by (Rabbi David J.B...)
Submitted 06-13-2022 under OPINION
Read the original story. Rev. Ray Lanning, a retired minister of the Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America, responds: “The American marketplace operates under the principle of Caveat emptor, ‘Let the buyer beware.’ We all...
Ethics and Religion Talk: Is Your Messiah the Same as My Messiah?
by (Rabbi David J.B...)
Submitted 06-06-2022 under OPINION
Father Kevin Niehoff, O.P., a Dominican priest who serves as Judicial Vicar, Diocese of Grand Rapids, responds: “The word ‘Messiah’ literally means ‘anointed.’ According to Oxford Languages online, ‘Messiah...
Ethics and Religion Talk: What If There Were No Second Amendment
by (Rabbi David J.B...)
Submitted 05-31-2022 under OPINION
[Note: This panelists submitted their responses over a month before the tragic murder of 19 fourth graders and two teachers. The murderer legally bought two AR15-style rifles for his 18th birthday. Perhaps legal gun ownership should begin at age 21...