religion
Ethics and Religion Talk: Is the Death Penalty Ethical?
by (Rabbi David J.B...)
Submitted 04-17-2023 under OPINION
Rev. Salvatore Sapienza, the Senior Pastor at Douglas Congregational United Church of Christ in Saugatuck/Douglas, responds: More than 30 years ago, the World Council of Churches declared their overwhelming opposition to the death penalty. In no...
Ethics and Religion Talk: Do Dress Codes Discriminate Against Women?
by (Rabbi David J.B...)
Submitted 04-10-2023 under OPINION
Males and females are biologically different and our culture is in generally agreement that the male chest is a non-private area but the female chest is a private area. Recently, the Missouri House decided to adopt a stricter dress code for women....
Ethics and Religion Talk: How Do You Help People Who Have a Pattern of Making Poor Decisions?
by (Rabbi David J.B...)
Submitted 04-03-2023 under OPINION
The Reverend Colleen Squires, minister at All Souls Community Church of West Michigan, a Unitarian Universalist Congregation, responds: I am obligated to try to help them. Sometimes that help is guiding them to counseling or support groups....
Ethics and Religion Talk: Where do Sermons Come From?
by (Rabbi David J.B...)
Submitted 03-27-2023 under OPINION
Rev. Salvatore Sapienza, the Senior Pastor at Douglas Congregational United Church of Christ in Saugatuck/Douglas, responds: I do not plan my sermons weeks in advance. Rather, I begin composing them just a few days prior to Sunday. Every Monday...
Ethics and Religion Talk: What is a Legitimate Religious Practice?
by (Rabbi David J.B...)
Submitted 03-21-2023 under OPINION
Does the idea that human beings are created in the image of God gives us the divine ability to create and destroy the world around us? Science gives us this ability, but might it lead to something equivalent to "witchcraft?" Why are we not...
Ethics and Religion Talk: Should Secular Law be Based on Religious Law?
by (Rabbi David J.B...)
Submitted 03-13-2023 under OPINION
Father Kevin Niehoff, O.P., a Dominican priest who serves as Judicial Vicar, Diocese of Grand Rapids, responds: First, we need to understand the purpose of civil and criminal law. According to the open library at the University of Minnesota, “...
Ethics and Religion: Is Less Religion Better?
by (Rabbi David J.B...)
Submitted 03-07-2023 under OPINION
According to the Pew Research Center: Depending on whether religious switching (beginning mostly in the late teen years) continues at recent rates, speeds up, or stops entirely, the projections show Christians of all ages shrinking...
Ethics and Religion Talk: Is Study of Scripture an Obligation in Your Tradition?
by (Rabbi David J.B...)
Submitted 02-27-2023 under OPINION
Fred Stella, the Pracharak (Outreach Minister) for the West Michigan Hindu Temple, responds: While studying the scriptures is highly recommended to devotees, it is not required at all. One can be a devoted Hindu in a variety of ways. Many adherents...
Ethics and Religion Talk: Is it Good to be the Official Religion of a Country?, part 2
by (Rabbi David J.B...)
Submitted 02-20-2023 under OPINION
Some panelists can point to countries where their religion is the “official” one. There, the line between Church and State is a bit more blurred than here in the US. I’m curious if each of you enjoys living in a pluralistic nation...
Ethics and Religion Talk: Is it Good to be the Official Religion of a Country?, part 1
by (Rabbi David J.B...)
Submitted 02-13-2023 under OPINION
Some panelists can point to countries where their religion is the “official” one. There, the line between Church and State is a bit more blurred than here in the US. I’m curious if each of you enjoys living in a pluralistic nation...