religion
Ethics and Religion Talk: Religious transformation
by (Rabbi David J.B...)
Submitted 10-23-2017 under OPINION
... that we have betrayed the LORD time and time again, and that I, as a Jew, am a disgusting, filthy pig. It was nothing more than a clumsy attempt to convince me that God would love me if I became a Christian because God no longer likes Jews. The...
Ethics and Religion Talk: Is stealing signs in baseball unethical?
by (Rabbi David J.B...)
Submitted 10-16-2017 under OPINION
"Jason" asks a baseball ethics question: Is it morally wrong for a team to steal the other team's signs? R. Scot Miller, who writes from an Anabaptist and Quaker Christian perspective, responds: “I find it difficult to accept...
Ethics and Religion Talk: Should congregations welcome sexual offenders?
by (Rabbi David J.B...)
Submitted 10-09-2017 under OPINION
Fred Stella, the Pracharak (Outreach Minister) for the West Michigan Hindu Temple, responds: “West Michigan Hindu Temple has not had to deal with this issue up to date so I have to speculate on this one. Before anything we must understand that...
Ethics and Religion Talk: What to do after a miscarriage? (Part 2)
by (Rabbi David J.B...)
Submitted 10-02-2017 under OPINION
Many people don’t realize that approximately 25% of pregnancies end in miscarriage. Most, however, take place in the first trimester. Second trimester miscarriages are much less common. My heart and the hearts of the Ethics and Religion Talk...
Ethics and Religion Talk: What to do after a miscarriage? (Part 1)
by (Rabbi David J.B...)
Submitted 09-25-2017 under OPINION
We are still in mourning and quite sad, yet also continually grateful for our other three children and grateful for the kindness and compassion of our family, friends, and caregivers. My wife and I are now pondering questions of what happens after...
Ethics and Religion Talk: Does religious freedom mean exemption from the law?
by (Rabbi David J.B...)
Submitted 09-18-2017 under OPINION
Wouldn't this allow religions to justify polygamy, race and sex discrimination, drug use, prostitution, or any other law they didn't like, to the detriment of civil society? Fred Stella, the Pracharak (Outreach Minister) for the West...
Ethics and Religion Talk: Senior relationships
by (Rabbi David J.B...)
Submitted 09-11-2017 under OPINION
But, we have a passionate side to our friendship. We don’t want to have sex. We just enjoy hugging and making out a little. Why is wrong if we love each other and have no intention to cross the line? I think it is unreasonable and unhealthy to...
Ethics and Religion Talk: Forbidden Fruit
by (Rabbi David J.B...)
Submitted 08-28-2017 under OPINION
The familiar saying, “You are what you eat” proves to be true even in the Garden of Eden. Adam & Eve chose to ignore God’s warning to not eat from the fruit of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil and the entire human...
Ethics and Religion Talk: Should religious institutions be 'Safe Refuge?'
by (Rabbi David J.B...)
Submitted 08-21-2017 under OPINION
Fred Wooden, the senior pastor of Fountain Street Church, responds: “The Torah speaks of cities of refuge, for those who are not safe despite the usual safeguards. They served a needed purpose. Modern houses of worship are not legal...
Ethics and Religion Talk: Is torture in defense of civilians ethical?
by (Rabbi David J.B...)
Submitted 08-14-2017 under OPINION
This column answers questions of Ethics and Religion by submitting them to a multi-faith panel of spiritual leaders in the Grand Rapids area. We’d love to hear about the ordinary ethical questions that come up on the course of your day as well...