Ethics and Religion Talk
Ethics and Religion Talk: What Do Clergy Do on Retreats?
by (Rabbi David J.B...)
Submitted 09-12-2022 under OPINION
Father Kevin Niehoff, O.P., a Dominican priest who serves as Judicial Vicar, Diocese of Grand Rapids, responds: “Before the outbreak of COVID-19, my Dominican Province hosted a retreat for those of us who wished to attend. So, yes, I have...
Ethics and Religion Talk: Does My Car Insurance Cover STDs?
by (Rabbi David J.B...)
Submitted 09-06-2022 under OPINION
Question: If the driver's behavior causes bodily harm to a passenger should the insurance company be on the hook for the damages? She is suing his auto insurance company because she got a sexually transmitted disease while in his car. The auto...
Ethics and Religion Talk: Should Theology be Fear-based?
by (Rabbi David J.B...)
Submitted 08-29-2022 under OPINION
It is often agreed by both therapists and clergy that a large number of people grow up in homes and congregations where fear is the dominant factor in theology. This has emotionally and spiritually damaged many. I’m curious if the members of...
Ethics and Religion Talk: Should Cemeteries Honor the Saltier Qualities of the Deceased?
by (Rabbi David J.B...)
Submitted 08-23-2022 under OPINION
The Ethics and Religion Talk column is looking for your questions! Want to challenge or question our panel of clergy, representing 10 different denominations and traditions? Have you struggled with an ethical dilemma at work, in your family, or in...
Ethics and Religion Talk: Sex, Violence, and Hollywood, part 2
by (Rabbi David J.B...)
Submitted 08-15-2022 under OPINION
Over the years, Hollywood has gotten more and more explicit in displaying nudity, sexual situations and violence. I am curious about how the clergy members on this panel choose which content they will view, especially on the various streaming...
Ethics and Religion Talk: Orthodoxy - Do you have an obligation to straighten someone's beliefs?
by (Rabbi David J.B...)
Submitted 08-08-2022 under OPINION
If a member of your flock approaches you with an honest admission that he or she no longer believes in a core doctrine of your religion (afterlife, the idea of God, salvation, etc.), would you consider it your duty to bring this person back into the...
Ethics and Religion Talk: Sex, Violence, and Hollywood, part 1
by (Rabbi David J.B...)
Submitted 08-01-2022 under OPINION
Over the years, Hollywood has gotten more and more explicit in displaying nudity, sexual situations and violence. I am curious about how the clergy members on this panel choose which content they will view, especially on the various streaming...
Ethics and Religion Talk: Do Archeological or Historical/Linguistic Discoveries Affect Your Faith?
by (Rabbi David J.B...)
Submitted 07-25-2022 under OPINION
It is hard for me to think that anyone “of a certain age” alive today can hold to the same religious beliefs that they did decades ago, given the vast amount of new archeological, historical, and linguistic evidence that has surfaced in...
Ethics and Religion Talk: Is Worship Dress Up or Dress Down?
by (Rabbi David J.B...)
Submitted 07-18-2022 under OPINION
The question: Standards of dress have become more casual and this trend accelerated during the word-from-home environment of the pandemic. I've seen t-shirts with questionable messages in the workplace, sleeveless tees with biker vests at...
Ethics and Religion Talk: Infant Circumcision: Pro or Con?
by (Rabbi David J.B...)
Submitted 07-11-2022 under OPINION
The question: Although medical groups tend to be positive or neutral regarding circumcision, there are an increasing number of organizations and voices devoted to anti-circumcision legislation. Does your tradition have a position on a circumcision...