Ethics and Religion Talk
Ethics and Religion Talk: Should I be proselyzed at a funeral?
by (Rabbi David J.B...)
Submitted 04-15-2024 under OPINION
I have attended many funerals in my time. One thing that I'm frustrated about is the fact that so often, the officiant takes the opportunity to convince the friends and family of the deceased who might not be members of the same religion of the...
Ethics and Religion Talk: Help! My spouse has dementia and I'm lonely!, part 2
by (Rabbi David J.B...)
Submitted 04-08-2024 under OPINION
My wife has been diagnosed with some type of non-Alzheimer's dementia. She has been getting gradually worse over the last ten years. This has affected her physically, intellectually and emotionally and has affected me also in the same...
Ethics and Religion Talk: Help! My spouse has dementia and I'm lonely!, part 1
by (Rabbi David J.B...)
Submitted 04-01-2024 under OPINION
My wife has been diagnosed with some type of non-Alzheimer's dementia. She has been getting gradually worse over the last ten years. This has affected her physically, intellectually and emotionally and has affected me also in the same...
Ethics and Religion Talk: Does Your Congregation Require a Financial Commitment for membership?
by (Rabbi David J.B...)
Submitted 03-17-2024 under OPINION
Father Kevin Niehoff, O.P., a Dominican priest who serves as Judicial Vicar, Diocese of Grand Rapids, responds: To be a Roman Catholic requires only baptism. Once baptized, there are no financial requirements to be members. The Church teaches a...
Ethics and Religion Talk: When Your Religion Impinges on My Religion
by (Rabbi David J.B...)
Submitted 03-11-2024 under OPINION
Would you encourage members of your community to do business, or attempt to do business, with businesses who fundamentally disagree with some aspect of their lives? For example, to book a wedding at a venue which does not believe in the validity of...
Ethics and Religion Talk: What Frustrates You About Your Religion?
by (Rabbi David J.B...)
Submitted 03-05-2024 under OPINION
Linda Knieriemen, a retired pastor of the Presbyterian Church (USA), responds: Christianity is not a monolith! In terms of how faith is lived, there is as much variation within the body of those who identify as Christian as there is between world...
Ethics and Religion Talk: What Do People Misbelieve about your Religion?
by (Rabbi David J.B...)
Submitted 03-01-2024 under OPINION
The Reverend Colleen Squires, minister at All Souls Community Church of West Michigan, a Unitarian Universalist Congregation, responds: The 3 misbeliefs about Unitarian Universalism are – 1. We can believe whatever we want. There is some...
Ethics and Religion Talk: Do You Visit Other Houses of Worship?
by (Rabbi David J.B...)
Submitted 02-20-2024 under OPINION
Linda Knieriemen is a minister in the Presbyterian Church (USA). Absolutely. There are no restrictions to attending a worship service of another faith. If invited to participate in the leadership of that worship I would do so in humility and...
Ethics and Religion Talk: Do Non-Catholics Have Sacraments?
by (Rabbi David J.B...)
Submitted 02-12-2024 under OPINION
Linda Knieriemen, a retired pastor of the Presbyterian Church (USA), responds: Presbyterians name baptism and the Lord’s Supper (Eucharist, or Holy Communion) as sacraments because we see evidence in scripture that Jesus established and...
Ethics and Religion Talk: How Do You Feel About Those Who Leave Your Religious Community?
by (Rabbi David J.B...)
Submitted 02-05-2024 under OPINION
I have heard from several sources that the penalty for leaving Islam is death. I have a hard time believing that, as one might assume that at least some Muslims here in Grand Rapid have left the fold. And I have never heard of anyone being killed...