Articles written by Tom Parsons - Page 2

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About me - Tom Parsons

I am a retired pastor and Christian school teacher now devoting my time to the ministry of writing. I have enjoyed some success in writing over the years. I have had more than forty articles published in a denominational publication. And recently I published

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Politics, News & Issues > Government & Policies Should smoking be allowed in public places?: 38 of 363
It is true that laws in the United States are sometimes obtrusive and arbitrary and every law that is passed does chip away at our freedoms. However, I must agree that the laws that ban smoking in public places are necessary and beneficial.Of course, it is easy for a non-smoker such as myself to say that. Such laws certainly ... More..
Creative Writing > Essays Essays: Why we write: 20 of 182
Why does anyone write? Most writers have no assurance anyone really is interested in what they write, so why bother? After all, there are only a very few people who can actually make a comfortable living out of writing. There are even fewer who can become rich, famous and successful by putting words on paper. Most people, bot... More..
Politics, News & Issues > Constitutional & Contract Law Should religious organizations be prevented from participating in politics?: 3 of 26
There is nothing in the United States Constitution that forbids religious organizations from participating in the political process. Nothing.The Constitution simply forbids the establishment of a state church and it forbids a religious test from being required for any candidate to a political office. It does not forbid partic... More..
Religion & Spirituality > Christian Beliefs & Culture Priests should be permitted to marry: 12 of 90
Not being a Roman Catholic I may not be qualified to speak to this issue. But having spent 25 years as a pastor, doing many of the same tasks a priest does, I know that it would be a good thing if priests were allowed to marry.One of the churches I pastored was across the street from a Roman Catholic church. The priest and I ... More..
Politics, News & Issues > Hunger, Disease & Poverty Assessing the future of Make Poverty History: 3 of 21
Making poverty an historical anomaly is a noble pursuit. What an ideal dream world it would be if everyone could have financial stability and security. Of course, this dream can never come true.To understand poverty it is necessary to examine both the definition of poverty and the reasons poverty exists. Both of these factors... More..
Relationships & Family > Marriage & Divorce (Other) Was the California Supreme Court right in legalizing gay marriage?: 4 of 27
The highest court in the state of California has decreed that so-called marriages between persons of the same gender are legal and that the participants in such relationships have all the rights and benefits of traditional marriage partners. I believe the court was wrong, dead wrong, in making this decision.Marriage by defini... More..
Politics, News & Issues > US Military (Other) Should soldiers be allowed to opt out of wars they disagree with?: 12 of 73
When a man or woman signs up for military service, he or she agrees to serve the United States with honor and discipline, and to carry out legally given orders to the best of his or her ability. Personal opinion is not part of the picture.Certainly military personnel have the right to have their own opinions, and are free to ... More..
Relationships & Family > Tips for Marital Happiness Should couples live together before getting married?: 21 of 124
Living together prior to marriage certainly is a popular method of sorting through potential marriage partners these days, but I believe it is not an effective or safe method of finding a marriage partner.Sex outside of marriage is always a risky business. It certainly can lead to sexually transmitted diseases and unwanted pr... More..
Education > Colleges & Universities (Other) Is a college degree necessary for success?: 10 of 52
People are different. People have different needs, different desires, different goals, and people succeed in different ways. There is no one-size-fits-all method of preparing people for the life each one will lead.A college education is a valuable asset to many people, but certainly not to all. There are fields in which advan... More..
Politics, News & Issues > Climate Change Is Al Gore right to call global warming the most serious problem facing America today?: 3 of 15
Global warming, if indeed it is an actual phenomenon, is not the most serious problem facing America today, not by a long shot.What to do in Iraq is far more pressing than global warming. The wellbeing of an entire nation is on the line there with an urgent and immediate need. It is a life and death situation faced every day ... More..