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Ethics and Religion Talk: Are Ethicists Ethical?

Submitted 11-21-2022 under OPINION

Ethics and Religion Talk is seeking new members of the panel of clergy. We prefer individuals who serve congregations, but will consider those with administrative or academic positions. Applicants should have strong writing skills and be willing to...

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Ethics and Religion Talk: Responding to Ethical Questions

Submitted 11-14-2022 under OPINION

Ethics and Religion Talk is seeking new members of the panel of clergy. We prefer individuals who serve congregations, but will consider those with administrative or academic positions. Applicants should have strong writing skills and be willing to...

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Come From Away Tells Heartfelt, Life-Affirming Stories In The Wake Of 9/11

Submitted 11-10-2022 under OPINION

It's a sobering thought: that there are people born after September 11th who are now old enough to drink. The tragedy defined a generation, and not only in the United States. On September 12th, 2001, the main headline of France's Le...

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Ethics and Religion Talk: Being a Respectful Visitor

Submitted 11-07-2022 under OPINION

“I have a curiosity about other religions and have thought about visiting various houses of worship. My concern is that while it may be a sign of respect to participate in whatever rituals and prayers are offered, I don’t want to perform...

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Pirates of Penzance Charms, Entertains

Submitted 10-31-2022 under OPINION

Gilbert and Sullivan, those swashbuckling Victorian showmen, had a gift for creating shows so entertaining that you could easily miss how well they were made. Ostensibly serious theater, with its obvious gestures toward importance, often has a...

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Ethics and Religion Talk: The Ethics of Pain Management

Submitted 10-31-2022 under OPINION

Linda Knieriemen, Senior Pastor at First Presbyterian Church in Holland, responds: “There are no restrictions in the use of pain medications in the Presbyterian Church (USA). In fact, I and most of my clergy colleagues will tell you that God...

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Ethics and Religion Talk: Impotent Weddings and Platonic Marriages (Part 2)

Submitted 10-24-2022 under OPINION

This week’s column is a continuation of the examination of two fascinating questions prompted by the following story sent to us, touching on issues of marrying when one partner is impotent, or alternatively, living together without the benefit...

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Ethics and Religion Talk: Impotent Weddings and Platonic Marriages

Submitted 10-17-2022 under OPINION

Ethics and Religion Talk received a question touching on issues of impotence and living together without the benefit of marriage. Here’s the story: “I'm 82 and love my significant other very much. And she loves me. We are both...

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Ethics and Religion Talk: Do Your Clergy Study Philosophy?

Submitted 10-12-2022 under OPINION

Fred Stella, the Pracharak (Outreach Minister) for the West Michigan Hindu Temple, responds: “By all means. I would not have been ordained if I was not well schooled in philosophy. But I want to make one thing clear. Often, when westerners use...

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Ethics and Religion Talk: Is Belief in an Afterlife Waning?

Submitted 10-03-2022 under OPINION

After studying the history of religion in the West I’ve concluded that several hundred years ago people were much more focused on the afterlife. It seems today that there is less concern about that and more emphasis on leading a moral,...

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