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Opinion

 

In "Disney's Descendants: The Musical," youth choose their own path

Submitted 03-04-2024 under OPINION

In fifteenth century France, a seventeen-year-old girl was sent by the king to a battle—the outcome of which was very much in doubt. She arrived wearing armor and raising her banner high. The king's faith was justified. Rallied by the...

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Ethics and Religion Talk: What Do People Misbelieve about your Religion?

Submitted 03-01-2024 under OPINION

The Reverend Colleen Squires, minister at All Souls Community Church of West Michigan, a Unitarian Universalist Congregation, responds: The 3 misbeliefs about Unitarian Universalism are – 1. We can believe whatever we want. There is some...

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Ethics and Religion Talk: Do You Visit Other Houses of Worship?

Submitted 02-20-2024 under OPINION

Linda Knieriemen is a minister in the Presbyterian Church (USA).  Absolutely. There are no restrictions to attending a worship service of another faith. If invited to participate in the leadership of that worship I would do so in humility and...

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Ethics and Religion Talk: Do Non-Catholics Have Sacraments?

Submitted 02-12-2024 under OPINION

Linda Knieriemen, a retired pastor of the Presbyterian Church (USA), responds: Presbyterians name baptism and the Lord’s Supper (Eucharist, or Holy Communion) as sacraments because we see evidence in scripture that Jesus established and...

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Ethics and Religion Talk: How Do You Feel About Those Who Leave Your Religious Community?

Submitted 02-05-2024 under OPINION

I have heard from several sources that the penalty for leaving Islam is death. I have a hard time believing that, as one might assume that at least some Muslims here in Grand Rapid have left the fold. And I have never heard of anyone being killed...

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Ethics and Religion Talk: Do You Need a Degree to Be Clergy?

Submitted 01-23-2024 under OPINION

Father Kevin Niehoff, O.P., is a Dominican priest and serves as Judicial Vicar, Diocese of Grand Rapids. In the Roman Catholic Church, there are seminaries. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has published a document called Program of...

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Clyde's dramatizes the hopes and struggles of post-prison life

Submitted 01-21-2024 under OPINION

You made a mistake. And it's a big mistake – the kind they could throw you in prison for. So that's what they do. You grind your sentence out, keeping your head down, dreaming of freedom. Then, finally, you get that freedom. But here...

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Ethics and Religion Talk: How have your religious beliefs changed over time?

Submitted 01-16-2024 under OPINION

Linda Knieriemen is a minister in the Presbyterian Church (USA).  As the years have passed I have become less rigid in my beliefs, I now accept more mystery, and am more of a ready to say, “I don’t know” when it comes to...

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Ethics and Religion Talk: What Should Religious Practice Look Like at Home?

Submitted 01-08-2024 under OPINION

Father Kevin Niehoff, O.P., a Dominican priest who serves as Judicial Vicar, Diocese of Grand Rapids, responds: The question presumes the practice of faith in the family. The Catholic Church teaches that parents are the first to teach their children...

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Ethics and Religion Talk: Foster Parents and Religious Beliefs

Submitted 01-02-2024 under OPINION

Should potential foster parents be turned away because of their religious beliefs? For example, if they believe that a LGBTQ+ orientation violates their religious beliefs, should they be disqualified from fostering a child? Or should a Jewish couple...

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