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Opinion

 

Ethics and Religion Talk: Is it a Contradiction to be both Pro-Life and Pro-Gun?

Submitted 01-11-2021 under OPINION

Father Michael Nasser, who writes from an Eastern Christian perspective and is Pastor of St. Nicholas Orthodox Christian Church, responds: “If the ‘pro-gun’ sign was placed to show support for policies which encourage the baseless...

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Ethics and Religion Talk: How Do You Prevent Clergy Burnout?

Submitted 01-04-2021 under OPINION

Linda Knieriemen, Senior Pastor at First Presbyterian Church in Holland, responds: “I’ve experienced what I’d call clergy fatigue but not complete burnout. Yes, exhaustion, depression, depletion of spiritual reserves is common...

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Ethics and Religion Talk: Why Do So Many People Seem Unhappy?

Submitted 12-28-2020 under OPINION

Rev. Ray Lanning, a retired minister of the Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America, responds: “Presbyterianism teaches that everyone who sins against God’s law ‘is bound over to the wrath of God, and curse of the law, and so...

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Ethics and Religion Talk: Why Do So Many People Need to Believe in Hell?

Submitted 12-21-2020 under OPINION

The Reverend Colleen Squires, minister at All Souls Community Church of West Michigan, a Unitarian Universalist Congregation, responds: “Unitarian Universalists, as a general rule do not need to confirm the existence of heaven or hell....

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Ethics and Religion Talk - Misperceptions

Submitted 12-14-2020 under OPINION

Fred Stella, the Pracharak (Outreach Minister) for the West Michigan Hindu Temple, responds: “Indeed, there are. Quite a few. I’ll share the ones I see as most common.  “Hinduism is often simplistically dismissed as being...

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Ethics and Religion Talk - Defund Police

Submitted 12-07-2020 under OPINION

The Rev. Steven Manskar, pastor of Trinity United Methodist Church in Grand Rapids, responds: “To protect all persons from encroachment upon their personal and property rights, governments have established mechanisms of law enforcement and...

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Ethics and Religion Talk - Father's Responsibility

Submitted 11-30-2020 under OPINION

Janet asks, “I see many faith-based groups focus on restricting abortions and addressing the women in the cases of unwanted pregnancies. But I see none of these groups addressing the problem of men not taking responsibility -- and not...

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Ethics and Religion Talk - Exposé on Adultery

Submitted 11-23-2020 under OPINION

From Harry, in Sydney, Australia (we have readers around the world!): “A good friend who is also a talented and award winning journalist has, in an article, exposed the extra marital affairs of a politician. This person cheated on his wife (...

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Ethics and Religion Talk - What is the Meaning of My Soul, part 2

Submitted 11-16-2020 under OPINION

Note: This is part two of a two part look at how traditions represented by the Ethics and Religion Talk panel understand at the soul. Read part one. Father Kevin Niehoff, O.P., a Dominican priest who serves as Adjutant Judicial Vicar, Diocese of...

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Ethics and Religion Talk - What is the Meaning of My Soul, part 1

Submitted 11-09-2020 under OPINION

Note: This is part one of a two part look at how traditions represented by the Ethics and Religion Talk panel understand at the soul. Dr Sahibzada, the Director of Islamic Center and Imam of the Mosque of Grand Rapids, responds: “Soul stands...

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