religion
Ethics and Religion Talk: What is Your Daily Practice of Thanksgiving?
by (Rabbi David J.B...)
Submitted 11-20-2023 under OPINION
Rev. Salvatore Sapienza, the Senior Pastor at Douglas Congregational United Church of Christ in Saugatuck/Douglas, responds: "I truly believe that practicing an “attitude of gratitude” is one of the keys to the spiritual life. The...
Ethics and Religion Talk: Does Waiting for a Messiah Mean Abdicating Personal Responsibility?
by (Rabbi David J.B...)
Submitted 11-13-2023 under OPINION
Question: One of my issues with religion is that it seems all the faiths are waiting for someone. Christians and Muslims are waiting for Jesus, Buddhists are waiting for Maitreya and Jews are waiting for anybody but Jesus. To me, this allows us to...
Ethics and Religion Talk: Have You Seen an Increase in the Quality of Interfaith Engagement?
by (Rabbi David J.B...)
Submitted 11-06-2023 under OPINION
Linda Knieriemen, a retired pastor of the Presbyterian Church (USA), responds: "A question that comes to mind is "what does progress look like in interfaith engagement?” If it means greater global peace, no. I do believe we have more...
Ethics and Religion Talk: Are Ghosts Real?
by (Rabbi David J.B...)
Submitted 10-30-2023 under OPINION
Rev. Ray Lanning, a retired minister of the Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America, responds: "Presbyterianism teaches that “God is a Spirit, in and of Himself infinite in being, glory, blessedness, and perfection” (Larger...
Ethics and Religion Talk: How to Change a Lightbulb
by (Rabbi David J.B...)
Submitted 10-23-2023 under OPINION
Rev. Ray Lanning, a retired minister of the Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America, responds: "As one who was ordained to the gospel ministry in 1977, I can attest that people can change under the power of God’s Word and Holy...
Ethics and Religion Talk: Can Race be an Ethical Criteria for Advancement?
by (Rabbi David J.B...)
Submitted 10-16-2023 under OPINION
The Reverend Colleen Squires, minister at All Souls Community Church of West Michigan, a Unitarian Universalist Congregation, responds: "Affirmative Action was originally put into place because of racism and bias found in the admission...
Ethics and Religion Talk: How Can I Earn "Brownie Points" With God?
by (Rabbi David J.B...)
Submitted 10-11-2023 under OPINION
Fred Stella, the Pracharak (Outreach Minister) for the West Michigan Hindu Temple, responds: "The Hindu Dharma does not envision a deity who keeps a scorecard, dishing out demerits and good conduct medals. Yes, we are encouraged to perform...
Ethics and Religion Talk: What is the Holy Spirit?
by (Rabbi David J.B...)
Submitted 10-02-2023 under OPINION
Rev. Ray Lanning, a retired minister of the Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America, responds: "Christians believe that the one true God exists eternally in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. As the third person of the Godhead,...
Ethics and Religion Talk: Who Owns My Medical Data?
by (Rabbi David J.B...)
Submitted 09-25-2023 under OPINION
Is it ethical for medical systems to take ownership of data, genetic information, and tissue coming from medical tests related to patient treatment? The Reverend Colleen Squires, minister at All Souls Community Church of West Michigan, a...
Ethics and Religion Talk: Is Time-Tracking Software Ethical?
by (Rabbi David J.B...)
Submitted 09-18-2023 under OPINION
Is it ethical for an employer to install time-tracker software on an employee’s home computer (which they also use for work) and use the information to ensure that workers aren't slacking off during work time while working from home? Fred...