religion
Ethics and Religion Talk: Why is God gendered?
by (Rabbi David J.B...)
Submitted 06-04-2018 under OPINION
Father Michael Nasser, who writes from an Eastern Christian perspective and is Pastor of St. Nicholas Orthodox Christian Church, responds: “While many religions assign gender to transcendent divinity, Christianity is unique in that we refer to...
Ethics and Religion Talk: Is it selfish to enjoy our own resources when others are in need?
by (Rabbi David J.B...)
Submitted 05-29-2018 under OPINION
Doug Van Doren, the pastor of Plymouth United Church of Christ, responds: “Care for the marginalized was clearly Jesus’ example and is absolutely central to the Gospel. Thus it must be the orientation of a follower. Here are but a few...
Ethics and Religion Talk: What are your requirements for ordination?
by (Rabbi David J.B...)
Submitted 05-21-2018 under OPINION
Doug Van Doren, the pastor of Plymouth United Church of Christ, responds: “In the United Church of Christ, the minimum educational requirement for ordination are a four year undergraduate degree, followed by a three year Master’s of...
Ethics and Religion Talk: How do we fairly allocate our charitable giving between local needs and others?
by (Rabbi David J.B...)
Submitted 05-14-2018 under OPINION
Rev. Ray Lanning, a retired minister of the Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America, responds: “In my experience Christians do have a blind spot in this area. Many ‘middle class’ Christians don’t seem to realize that...
Ethics and Religion Talk: Guns, violence and pacifism, Part 2
by (Rabbi David J.B...)
Submitted 05-07-2018 under OPINION
Father Kevin Niehoff, O.P., a Dominican priest who serves as Adjutant Judicial Vicar, Diocese of Grand Rapids, responds: “Pacifism ‘is opposition to war or violence by means of settling disputes; specifically, refusal to bear arms on...
Ethics and Religion Talk: Guns, violence and pacifism, Part 1
by (Rabbi David J.B...)
Submitted 04-30-2018 under OPINION
The format for our column this week is a bit different. This week, we invite R. Scot Miller, an ordained minister of outreach and education at Common Spirit Church of the Brethren in Grand Rapids, to share a long-form essay on the topic of guns,...
Ethics and Religion Talk: Holding leaders accountable without judgement
by (Rabbi David J.B...)
Submitted 04-23-2018 under OPINION
I asked the panel to consider Karla’s question against the backdrop of the verse from Christian scriptures, Matthew 7:1, "Judge not that you not be judged.” Rev. Ray Lanning, a retired minister of the Reformed Presbyterian Church of...
Ethics and Religion Talk: Must one confess past violations of sexual boundaries?
by (Rabbi David J.B...)
Submitted 04-16-2018 under OPINION
The Reverend Colleen Squires, minister at All Souls Community Church of West Michigan, a Unitarian Universalist Congregation, responds: “Yes, I believe that clergy have an ethical obligation to acknowledge behaviors that they might have...
Ethics and Religion Talk: Does tolerance lead to complicity?
by (Rabbi David J.B...)
Submitted 04-09-2018 under OPINION
Jacob L.H. asked the Ethics and Religion Talk panel, “Where is the line between tolerance and complicity? I try very hard to be respectful of people’s views that are different than mine, but I feel there is definitely a point where I...
Ethics and Religion Talk: Does tolerance lead to complicity? Part 1
by (Rabbi David J.B...)
Submitted 04-02-2018 under OPINION
Jacob L.H. asked the Ethics and Religion Talk panel, “Where is the line between tolerance and complicity? I try very hard to be respectful of people’s views that are different than mine, but I feel there is definitely a point where I...