religion
Ethics and Religion Talk: Are Monkey-Human Hybrid Embryos Kosher?
by (Rabbi David J.B...)
Submitted 11-17-2021 under OPINION
Colleen writes: “For the first time, U.S. and Chinese scientists have created embryos that are part human, part monkey, in an effort to find new ways to produce organs for transplants. As a faith leader what are the ethical concerns based on...
Ethics and Religion Talk: Does Tolerance Demand Moral Relativism?
by (Rabbi David J.B...)
Submitted 11-08-2021 under OPINION
Fred Stella, the Pracharak (Outreach Minister) for the West Michigan Hindu Temple, responds: “I believe the questioner is referring to what we call ‘moral relativity.’ If that is the case, I see both a positive and negative side to...
Ethics and Religion Talk: Who Needs Doctors When You have God?, part 2
by (Rabbi David J.B...)
Submitted 11-01-2021 under OPINION
John wrote: “I read something you talked about use of medicine. To me, God is able to heal without medicines. I live without any medicine and whenever I get sick, I pray to God and He answers my prayers, including a non-curable disease that He...
Ethics and Religion Talk: Who Needs Doctors When You have God?, part 1
by (Rabbi David J.B...)
Submitted 10-25-2021 under OPINION
“I read something you talked about use of medicine. To me, God is able to heal without medicines. I live without any medicine and whenever I get sick, I pray to God and He answers my prayers, including a non-curable disease that He healed me...
Ethics and Religion Talk: Cost of Religion
by (Rabbi David J.B...)
Submitted 10-18-2021 under OPINION
Kathleen asks, “There is clearly a cost of adhering to a religious tradition (in the Jewish tradition, the cost of keeping the dietary laws comes to mind). The question is how much should the economic cost of following one’s religious...
Ethics and Religion Talk: Violence and Religious Proselytization
by (Rabbi David J.B...)
Submitted 10-11-2021 under OPINION
Fred Stella, the Pracharak (Outreach Minister) for the West Michigan Hindu Temple, responds: In 2005 I embarked on a lecture (and listening) tour of 4 states of India that have a significant Christian majority. Many of these expressions of...
Ethics and Religion Talk: Does Money Solve Marital Problems?
by (Rabbi David J.B...)
Submitted 10-04-2021 under OPINION
Linda Knieriemen, Senior Pastor at First Presbyterian Church in Holland, responds: I would never counsel that money and grateful participation giving to charity will resolve issues— marital or otherwise. In fact, access to abundant money is...
Ethics and Religion Talk: Self-Awareness
by (Rabbi David J.B...)
Submitted 09-27-2021 under OPINION
The Rev. Sandra Nikkel, head pastor of Conklin Reformed Church, responds: “This topic is very dear to my heart; but growing in self-awareness is not easy. What is easy is to avoid looking at our blind spots or pretending they’re not...
Ethics and Religion Talk: Why Have I Miscarried?
by (Rabbi David J.B...)
Submitted 09-20-2021 under OPINION
Jeff asks for a reaction to the following story: “A young woman has been living with her boyfriend for at least a year. The relationship is over three years in duration. She conceives. Though they weren't looking to have a child, they knew...
Ethics and Religion Talk: Religion can do Horrible Things
by (Rabbi David J.B...)
Submitted 09-13-2021 under OPINION
The Rev. Steven W. Manskar, a retired United Methodist pastor, responds: “The Methodist Episcopal Church was established in this country in December 1784. Methodist congregations were in all thirteen colonies. The organizing conference stated...