Articles written by Mary W. Matthews - Page 2

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About me - Mary W. Matthews

I've been a writer and editor for my entire professional life. As an editor, I have won awards for excellence from several national educational nonprofits.

I've also been deeply interested in the philosophy of religion all my life: IS there a God? What has

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Relationships & Family > Gay & Lesbian Issues Should bisexuals be considered homosexuals?: 4 of 25
By definition, homosexuals are people who are sexually attracted to people of their own gender — men lust after men, women lust after women. Bisexuals, in contrast, are people who are attracted to BOTH genders. The very definitions of the words supply the answer to this "debate" question. But wait, you say — some... More..
Religion & Spirituality > Speculations & Criticisms Questions Christians do not dare to ask: 1 of 6
There are many questions that Christians dare not ask, or that they never think of asking. Here are a few, in no particular order: — If God is love (1 John 4:8), why does God tolerate the existence of Hell? Could YOU stand the idea of someone you loved being tortured horribly for all eternity? Don't you think God just ... More..
Society & Lifestyle > Social Values & Norms Are overweight people gluttons?: 6 of 31
Before we go throwing around charged words like "gluttons," let's check the dictionary. A glutton is "a person who greedily eats too much" OR "a person with a great capacity for something," as for example a "a glutton for work." A boxer who keeps getting up no matter how often he's knocked down is a glutton for punishment. A... More..
Religion & Spirituality > Speculations & Criticisms Do sacred texts have to be written?: 4 of 17
Sacred texts have to be written for a very simple reason: If it's not written, it's not a text. "Holy Writ" is short for "It's holy and it's written down." The word "scripture" MEANS "written"! Any dictionary will tell you that a text is "the actual structure of words in a piece of writing; the actual or original words used ... More..
Parenting & Pregnancy > Teens (Other) Should schools give teens birth control?: 4 of 15
Let me begin by saying that I am absolutely in favor of sex education in schools. The Bush League's insistence on "ignorance-only" education has been conclusively proven to be worse than useless. I received most of my sex education in the classroom, more years ago than the Bush League cares to admit, and learning the facts a... More..
Religion & Spirituality > Bible Study Bible study: Old Testament overview: 2 of 7
The Hebrew Scriptures are (wrongly) called the "Old" Testament by Christians. The word "testament" is a synonym for "covenant," or binding legal agreement. The first covenant between God and humanity, as recorded in the HS, is "I [God] will never again seek to destroy all flesh" (Gen. 9:15) — and this covenant has neve... More..
Pets & Animals > Cats (Other) How to choose the right name for a cat: 15 of 48
Ah, a new cat in the house - bliss! But what should you name your new owner? "The naming of cats is a difficult matter," wrote T.S. Eliot in the poem that inspired the musical "Cats." The best cat names are unique and reflect something about the cat's personality. Above all, a good cat name is one that YOU like. You're going... More..
Politics, News & Issues > Presidential Elections 2008 Sarah Palin: McCain's surprising dark horse choice for Vice President: 6 of 19
When 72-year-old John McCain drops dead of a heart attack the same way his father and grandfather did (at ages 70 and 61, respectively), Sarah Palin will make ALMOST as good a president as George W. Bush! After all, * Sarah Palin has ALMOST ONE-FOURTH as much executive experience as George W. Bush had as governor of a geogra... More..
Home & Garden > Home Interior Choosing a paint color for your bathroom: 3 of 9
The bathroom is usually the smallest room in your house, but it's the room that sees the most action. Even if you live alone and work outside the home, you'll visit your bathroom at least three times a day. Why not make it a place to nourish your spirit while it's taking care of your body's needs? The bathroom is likely to s... More..
Religion & Spirituality > Astrology & Prophecy Basic astrology 101: 2 of 6
Thousands of years ago, people believed that planets and stars were actually gods and goddesses. For example, the Romans worshiped the second planet from the Sun as the goddess Venus, while the ancient Hebrews called it Khazaz-El (Satan). The Romans identified the fourth planet from the Sun with the war-god Mars, while the a... More..