religion
Ethics and Religion Talk: How do you Respond to Racism?
by (Rabbi David J.B...)
Submitted 10-26-2020 under OPINION
The Rev. Sandra Nikkel, head pastor of Conklin Reformed Church, responds: “I am a Hispanic American who pastors a 100% white congregation and I have never experienced racism in my congregation. The love, respect, and care that I...
Ethics and Religion Talk: When does Journalism become 'Evil Speech?'
by (Rabbi David J.B...)
Submitted 10-19-2020 under OPINION
In Judaism, lashon hara, gossip (literally, evil speech), is roughly defined as any speech, true or false, which damages somebody’s reputation. In general, such speech is prohibited, unless it serves the larger purpose of protecting or saving...
Ethics and Religion Talk - Dietary Restrictions
by (Rabbi David J.B...)
Submitted 10-12-2020 under OPINION
Linda Knieriemen, Senior Pastor at First Presbyterian Church in Holland, responds: “Wine was a staple beverage in the ancient world. Jesus consumed wine, in fact at the wedding of Cana turned water into wine! If Christians want to live like...
Ethics and Religion Talk: How Old is the World?
by (Rabbi David J.B...)
Submitted 10-05-2020 under OPINION
Father Kevin Niehoff, O.P., a Dominican priest who serves as Adjutant Judicial Vicar, Diocese of Grand Rapids, responds: “There is no reason for religion and science to be in opposition. When I lived in Rome, Italy, I would give tours of Saint...
Ethics and Religion Talk: Converting Hate Against LGBTQ into Love
by (Rabbi David J.B...)
Submitted 09-29-2020 under OPINION
Chris writes: “I speak as a Christian from my own perspective: “I am troubled that in most, even all, Christian denominations there remains a residue of ministers -- men and women who have dedicated themselves to God -- who, in their...
Ethics and Religion Talk: What is the Holy Spirit?
by (Rabbi David J.B...)
Submitted 09-21-2020 under OPINION
The Rev. Steven Manskar, pastor of Trinity United Methodist Church in Grand Rapids, responds: “The Nicene Creed tells us the Holy Spirit is ‘the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and...
Ethics and Religion Talk: Who am I?
by (Rabbi David J.B...)
Submitted 09-14-2020 under OPINION
Father Kevin Niehoff, O.P., a Dominican priest who serves as Adjutant Judicial Vicar, Diocese of Grand Rapids, responds: “Yes! Because these questions are all variations of the same. In the Catholic tradition, ‘humans are creatures...
Ethics and Religion Talk: Spiritual Practices for a Pandemic
by (Rabbi David J.B...)
Submitted 09-08-2020 under OPINION
The Reverend Colleen Squires, minister at All Souls Community Church of West Michigan, a Unitarian Universalist Congregation, responds: “I have two consistent daily practices that help center me. During my morning cup of coffee, I take...
Ethics and Religion Talk: Does Your Tradition Support the Separation Between Church and State? part 2
by (Rabbi David J.B...)
Submitted 08-31-2020 under OPINION
This is the second set of responses to a question we began answering last month. Rev. Ray Lanning, a retired minister of the Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America, responds: “Scottish Presbyterianism has long promoted the ideal of...
Ethics and Religion Talk: Is Proof of God Important?
by (Rabbi David J.B...)
Submitted 08-24-2020 under OPINION
"Why do most religions conclude that there is an a priori need to identify and prove God before considering the strong evidence coming to us through psychical research and consciousness studies that consciousness survives death? We...