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Ethics and Religion Talk: How Do I Know What My Religion Should Be?

Submitted 06-20-2022 under OPINION

Fred Stella, the Pracharak (Outreach Minister) for the West Michigan Hindu Temple, responds: “Speaking as someone who was raised in one tradition but adopted another later in life, I would encourage anyone on a spiritual search to use an...

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Ethics and Religion Talk: Gas for a Steal or Stealing Gas?

Submitted 06-13-2022 under OPINION

Read the original story. Rev. Ray Lanning, a retired minister of the Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America, responds: “The American marketplace operates under the principle of Caveat emptor, ‘Let the buyer beware.’ We all...

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Ethics and Religion Talk: Is Your Messiah the Same as My Messiah?

Submitted 06-06-2022 under OPINION

Father Kevin Niehoff, O.P., a Dominican priest who serves as Judicial Vicar, Diocese of Grand Rapids, responds: “The word ‘Messiah’ literally means ‘anointed.’ According to Oxford Languages online, ‘Messiah...

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Ethics and Religion Talk: What If There Were No Second Amendment

Submitted 05-31-2022 under OPINION

[Note: This panelists submitted their responses over a month before the tragic murder of 19 fourth graders and two teachers. The murderer legally bought two AR15-style rifles for his 18th birthday. Perhaps legal gun ownership should begin at age 21...

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Ethics and Religion Talk: What Makes Music a Universal Language?

Submitted 05-23-2022 under OPINION

Linda Knieriemen, Senior Pastor at First Presbyterian Church in Holland, responds: “The Protestant Reformer Martin Luther wrote ‘Next to the Word of God, music deserves the highest praise. The gift of language combined with the gift of...

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The Return of Absurdism

Submitted 05-20-2022 under OPINION

I’m writing this on the toilet. Maybe you’re reading this somewhere like that, too. Maybe we’re connected somehow by our Catholic-imbued terror of an idle mind.  Absurdism characterizes our time. I don’t just mean 2022,...

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Ethics and Religion Talk: What is Monotheism?

Submitted 05-16-2022 under OPINION

Father Kevin Niehoff, O.P., a Dominican priest who serves as Judicial Vicar, Diocese of Grand Rapids, responds: “Merriam-Webster Online defines monotheism as ‘the doctrine or belief that there is only one God.’ I may get myself in...

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Ethics and Religion Talk: Why Can't I Sell Parts of My Body?

Submitted 05-09-2022 under OPINION

Rev. Ray Lanning, a retired minister of the Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America, responds: “You seem to be unaware that laws to the contrary, there is a ghastly trade of harvesting and selling human body parts that flourishes in the...

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Ethics and Religion Talk: Do I Tell My Friend That Her Husband is on Tinder?

Submitted 05-02-2022 under OPINION

The Rev. Steven W. Manskar, a retired United Methodist pastor, responds: “I think the person to talk to is your friend’s husband. Do not triangulate your friend. Go directly to the person who is causing harm first.” The Rev....

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Ethics and Religion Talk - What If There Were No first Amendment?

Submitted 04-19-2022 under OPINION

The Reverend Colleen Squires, minister at All Souls Community Church of West Michigan, a Unitarian Universalist Congregation, responds: Unitarian Universalists are strong believers in separation of church and state. Therefore, it would be seen...

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