Mary Kassian

Mary Kassian
Mary Kassian and her husband, Brent, who make their home in Canada, are celebrating their 25th year of marriage and have three young adult sons and one daughter-in-law. Mary is a distinguished professor of Women’s Studies at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky, and is the author of several books including The Feminist Mistake and In My Father’s House. She was a speaker at the True Woman ’08 Conference.
 

Blog Posts by this author:

7 comments

Girls Gone Wise Conclusion: Happily Ever After

Posted on 20-Aug-10 09:23 by Mary Kassian

In this final episode of the Girls Gone Wise book blog, you'll hear about a Wild Thing who discovered the alternate ending . . . the happily-ever-after one that we all dream about. You'll find out how you, too, can choose that ending for your story.

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5 comments

Girls Gone Wise 20: You’re invited to a Party!

Posted on 12-Aug-10 07:51 by Mary Kassian
Topics: Womanhood

You're invited to a party! In fact, you're invited to two. The catch is, you can't go to both. You''ll have to make up your mind which one to attend . . .

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LifeWay Women LIVE Webcast for Leaders

Posted on 06-Aug-10 12:55 by Mary Kassian
Topics: Womanhood

Next Tuesday, I will be joining host Chris Adams LIVE on the LifeWay Women’s Video Livestream Webcast to discuss the ministry challenges and opportunities of living in a world gone wild. Join us as we discuss how you can seize the moment to help women discover the meaning of womanhood, and live according to God’s beautiful design.

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Girls Gone Wise 19: Caught in a Revolving Door

Posted on 05-Aug-10 08:54 by Mary Kassian

Are you having trouble making relationships work?

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23 comments

Girls Gone Wise 18: The Company You Keep

Posted on 29-Jul-10 09:01 by Mary Kassian

The Bible says that bad company ruins good morals. Do you and your friends influence each other negatively or positively?

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Girls Gone Wise 17: Sweet Talkin’ Woman

Posted on 27-Jul-10 08:19 by Mary Kassian
Topics: Relationships with Others

She was a sweet-talkin' woman. She knew how to turn on the charm, butter him up, and get him to do her bidding . . .

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Girls Gone Wise 16: Cross Your Heart

Posted on 08-Jul-10 12:20 by Mary Kassian

Does it surprise you to know that a woman who willingly forfeits gratification can be infinitely happier than the one who insists on her right to indulge?

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16 comments

Girls Gone Wise 15: You Deserve a Break Today

Posted on 06-Jul-10 13:45 by Mary Kassian

Does it surprise you to know that a woman who willingly forfeits gratification can be infinitely happier than the one who insists on her right to indulge?

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Girls Gone Wise 14: Shop till you Drop

Posted on 06-Jul-10 13:34 by Mary Kassian

"Wild Things" are intent on filling their homes and closets with designer-label fashion and all sorts of beautiful things—but if you’re smart, you’ll set your heart on getting so much more!

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14 comments

Girls Gone Wise 13: Clingy Girlfriend Syndrome

Posted on 29-Jun-10 13:40 by Mary Kassian
Topics: Marriage, Relationships with Others, Singleness

Some women are so needy for attention and affirmation that they cling to men like plastic wrap to a piece of raw meat. But women who try to quench their neediness through relationships with men are usually left feeling parched and dry.

read more >

133 comments

Shedding some Light on Twilight

Posted on 29-Jun-10 12:45 by Mary Kassian
Topics: Sexuality, With Your Kids

If Bella were my daughter, I’d warn her loudly and clearly about falling for a counterfeit version of true romance. In the real world, the Bellas who fall for the Edwards usually don’t live happily ever after. In the real world, twilight turns to night.

 

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Girls Gone Wise 12: Spotting a Fake

Posted on 28-Jun-10 15:07 by Mary Kassian
Topics: Relationship with God

Most of us wouldn’t dare deal in counterfeit cash. But yet we tolerate counterfeit spirituality.

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27 comments

Girls Gone Wise 11: If You Play with Fire

Posted on 23-Jun-10 09:20 by Mary Kassian
Topics: Marriage, Sexuality

"If you play with fire, you're going to get burned" is how the old saying goes. But so many women throw caution to the wind and ignore boundaries, thinking it would never happen to them.

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8 comments

Girls Gone Wise 10: How Far is Too Far?

Posted on 22-Jun-10 08:22 by Mary Kassian
Topics: Marriage, Sexuality

“How far is too far?” How much can I mess around with my boyfriend before I cross the line? That’s the question that Christian girls usually ask. But I don’t think a young woman can figure out where to draw the line until she figures out why God created sex and what it’s all about.

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Girls Gone Wise 9: Who Wears the Pants?

Posted on 17-Jun-10 12:15 by Mary Kassian
Topics: Womanhood

Anything guys can do, girls can do better. Right? Well maybe-maybe not. But according to the Bible, roles aren’t based on who’s more capable or competent, or whose turn it is, or who wants to have a go at it.

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Girls Gone Wise 8: Flirt to Convert

Posted on 14-Jun-10 16:26 by Mary Kassian
Topics: Sexuality

Find out when you should use body language to turn on the charm.

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Girls Gone Wise 7: The Naked Truth About Clothing

Posted on 10-Jun-10 09:04 by Mary Kassian
Topics: Sexuality

How hot is too hot? How much skin is too much skin?

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Girls Gone Wise 6: On the Prowl

Posted on 08-Jun-10 09:18 by Mary Kassian

The Girl-Gone-Wild is adept at the hunt. She sets up traps, and then lies in wait--focused and highly alert for prey. She’s fixated on getting what she wants. But her nets ensnare far more than her intended target.

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29 comments

Say "I Do" to the Name Change

Posted on 02-Jun-10 09:16 by Mary Kassian
Topics: Womanhood, Marriage

Why should you say “I do” to changing your name when you get married?

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7 comments

Girls Gone Wise 5: Tied to the Kitchen Sink?

Posted on 01-Jun-10 15:55 by Mary Kassian
Topics: Womanhood

Does God doom women to a barefoot, tied-to-the-kitchen-sink existence?

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Girls Gone Wise 4: That Girl’s Got Attitude!

Posted on 01-Jun-10 09:52 by Mary Kassian
Topics: Womanhood

Pop culture upholds a saucy, sassy, my-way-or-the-highway, karate-chopping, male-kicking attitude as the ideal for women.

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Girls Gone Wise 3: Are you a Wily Coyote?

Posted on 24-May-10 15:19 by Mary Kassian
Topics: Womanhood, Singleness

The image of Wile E. Coyote obsessively scheming to catch the Roadrunner fits the description of the Wild Thing to a T.

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9 comments

Girls Gone Wise 2: Deadened by the Drip Drip Drip

Posted on 24-May-10 14:32 by Mary Kassian

Popular mass media perpetually drips messages about gender, sex, and relationships into our minds. The trouble is, it often promotes false or counterfeit images of what womanhood is all about. 

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16 comments

Girls Gone Wise 1: Have you been swept off your feet?

Posted on 19-May-10 21:15 by Mary Kassian
Topics: Womanhood

Did you know that you can tell the difference between a Girl-Gone-Wild and a Girl-Gone-Wise by looking at her feet?

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40 comments

The Not-So-Golden Anniversary of the Pill

Posted on 18-May-10 13:20 by Mary Kassian
Topics: Womanhood, With Your Kids

The pill was not a benign medical advance. It was introduced to advance a particular worldview and philosophy. And women, en masse, have swallowed it.

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Girls Gone Wise Intro: A Tale of a Girl Gone Wild

Posted on 17-May-10 16:20 by Mary Kassian
Topics: Womanhood

The Girl-Gone-Wild could be the girl next door, your best friend, or the lady sitting next to you at church . . . she may even be you!

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13 comments

Immodest women to blame for earthquake?

Posted on 27-Apr-10 11:22 by Mary Kassian
Topics: Sexuality

An Islamic cleric recently blamed earthquakes on immodest female clothing. Outraged by this statement, Jennifer McCreight, a 22-year-old student at Purdue University in Indiana, invited women to . . .

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16 comments

Marriage tips from a real pro

Posted on 26-Apr-10 16:56 by Mary Kassian
Topics: Marriage

My family just had the enormous joy of celebrating my parent’s 60th wedding anniversary. Seizing the occasion, I asked my mom to come up with a few tidbits of marriage/relationship advice to share with you on the blog.

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48 comments

Wear the Pants MAN-ifesto

Posted on 08-Apr-10 09:54 by Mary Kassian
Topics: Womanhood

Men are not women. They are not genderless. They are not androgynous. They have an innate, God-given bent to initiate and be heroes. They want to untie the world from the tracks of complacency. They want to get their hands dirty. They want to answer the call of manhood. They want to be MEN . . . and what’s more, they want women to be women.

read more >

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Girls Gone Wise Video Book Blog

Posted on 06-Apr-10 18:19 by Mary Kassian
Topics: Womanhood

Hey Girls! I'm inviting you to study the "Girls Gone Wise" book online with me on the Girls Gone Wise Video Book Blog . . .

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36 comments

Super Bowl—Super Question

Posted on 08-Feb-10 14:24 by Mary Kassian
Topics: Womanhood

Besides the expected beer commercials (getting the girl), and annoying chicken commercials (getting the food), and voice-over babies trading stocks (getting the money), there were a few commercials during this year's Super Bowl that illustrated men were getting frustrated.

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26 comments

Getting Rid of the Garbage

Posted on 04-Feb-10 16:35 by Mary Kassian
Topics: Relationship with God

Taking out the trash has never been so complicated ever since the suburban municipality I live in instituted a new garbage collection system last year. I am so grateful that the Lord has such an uncomplicated, effective system for us to get rid of the garbage in our lives!

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10 comments

Mr. Right When You Need Him

Posted on 04-Feb-10 16:06 by Mary Kassian
Topics: Singleness

"Mr. Right When You Need Him" promises to be a woman's consistent supporter in an inconsistent world, her number-one protector, and her first and foremost fan. And that is the desire of a woman's heart, isn't it? 

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22 comments

Betty Boop Man-Training Kit

Posted on 04-Feb-10 15:42 by Mary Kassian
Topics: Womanhood

There's nothing unusual about the idea that scantily clad Betty would use her seductive charm and kisses to "train" a man. The classic Betty Boop, and women throughout history, have used that tact. But the other message on the box was startling. 

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7 comments

Different By Design

Posted on 30-Dec-09 17:54 by Mary Kassian
Topics: Womanhood

Our Creator delights in making things according to His unique design. That's why snowflakes are different. That's why male and female are different. That's why each individual is different.

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13 comments

Curse of the Good Girl

Posted on 30-Dec-09 17:44 by Mary Kassian
Topics: Womanhood

Being good is bad. Being bad is good. That's the message communicated in Rachel Simmons' book The Curse of the Good Girl: Raising Authentic Girls with Courage and Confidence.

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3 comments

Paper Stars

Posted on 21-Dec-09 15:25 by Mary Kassian
Topics: Homefront

Have you ever noticed that it’s the simplest, most unassuming things that often have the most worth and value?  It’s the things that seem on the surface, so very ordinary, that are often the most profound.

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17 comments

Pray with your eyes open

Posted on 21-Sep-09 11:38 by Mary Kassian
Topics: With Your Kids, Relationship with God

I want to share one of the prayers that I prayed from time to time when I sensed that something was amiss in my child’s life.

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19 comments

Managing Multi-Media

Posted on 21-Sep-09 11:32 by Mary Kassian
Topics: Sexuality, With Your Kids

Managing the influence of multi-media in your child’s life is one of the biggest parenting challenges of our day. Here are just a few suggestions . . .

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17 comments

Marriage Sustains Love

Posted on 18-Aug-09 10:51 by Mary Kassian
Topics: Marriage

If marriage is patterned after Christ’s covenant relationship to the church, and its most ultimate purpose is to put THAT relationship on display, then staying married is not primarily about staying in love. It is about keeping covenant. The aim is markedly different.

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27 comments

Learn to put up with a few things!

Posted on 10-Aug-09 15:11 by Mary Kassian
Topics: Marriage

The Bible calls it forbearance. And it's an ingredient that's sadly lacking in a lot of marriages.

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9 comments

Family Traditions

Posted on 20-Jul-09 09:48 by Mary Kassian

One of the most precious things you can do for your family is to establish family traditions–routines that become familiar, repeated, and cherished, and that identify you as a family unit.

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29 comments

My best cleaning tip

Posted on 20-Jul-09 08:48 by Mary Kassian

I estimate that this has cut my cleaning time in half!

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11 comments

More than a Ball of Yarn

Posted on 06-Jul-09 14:37 by Mary Kassian
Topics: Womanhood, Homefront

What I saw stopped me dead in my tracks. The aisle had been transformed. From top to bottom, beginning to end, it was stocked full of colorful balls of yarn. I stood there gawking in amazement.

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28 comments

Studying Housework

Posted on 06-Jul-09 14:18 by Mary Kassian
Topics: Womanhood, Homefront

Oakley concluded that women needed to be educated about how bitter and demeaning housework and caring for children really was, and to be convinced to reject this traditional woman’s role . . .

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3 comments

Neighborliness Report Card

Posted on 03-Jun-09 15:58 by Mary Kassian
Topics: Impacting your world, Relationships with Others

How do you score on the neighborliness report card? 

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11 comments

Test Strip for the Heart

Posted on 03-Jun-09 15:53 by Mary Kassian
Topics: Relationship with God, Relationships with Others

According to the disciple John, the true indicator of the extent of our love for God is the extent of our love for those around us ... especially the individuals who really irk us.

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11 comments

Taking a Biggish Step Toward Humility

Posted on 02-Jun-09 15:19 by Mary Kassian
Topics: Womanhood, Relationship with God

Is your heart filled with pride or with humility? Take a look at this list, and examine your heart to take a "biggish" step toward humility today.

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7 comments

King of the Castle

Posted on 02-Jun-09 09:54 by Mary Kassian
Topics: Relationships with Others

“King of the Castle” is a silly, childish game, but unfortunately, it’s a game that’s played in the lives of most adults–albeit on a much more sophisticated level. 

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13 comments

Is Meek for the Weak?

Posted on 12-May-09 12:19 by Mary Kassian
Topics: Womanhood

In modern English, "meekness" carries the stigma of cowardly acquiescence. But the meekness of the Bible—the meekness manifested by God and given to the saints—is a strong, active, volitional, courageous attitude.

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35 comments

On Doormats, Brain Trashing, and Blow-Up Dolls

Posted on 12-May-09 12:06 by Mary Kassian
Topics: Marriage

It’s a common perception that women who believe in submission are either doormats or stupid. But I’ve believed in submission for a very long time, and I am neither.

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8 comments

Exposed

Posted on 12-May-09 10:57 by Mary Kassian
Topics: Sexuality

If your finery were taken away, and the hidden, inner parts of your heart exposed, would you look more or less beautiful? How much beauty is in your heart?

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6 comments

Soft Spot

Posted on 21-Apr-09 19:23 by Mary Kassian
Topics: Womanhood, Relationships with Others

The “softness” of woman thus also became our “soft spot”—the point at which sin affects and impacts us the most.

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11 comments

Sexting

Posted on 08-Apr-09 18:03 by Mary Kassian
Topics: Sexuality

Until we present our young women with a new and beautiful vision of womanhood–a biblical vision . . . a high and noble vision that speaks to their true identity and purpose–they will continue to pursue the modern sexualized ideal, and slither further down the slippery slope.

read more >

7 comments

Steel Magnolia

Posted on 08-Apr-09 17:33 by Mary Kassian
Topics: Womanhood, Marriage

There’s one Southern phrase that I’m quite drawn to: “Steel Magnolia.” I love the phrase, because to me it speaks to the essence of womanhood. The image melds beauty with perseverance, softness with backbone, delicacy with durability, sweetness with stamina.

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6 comments

I am Woman

Posted on 03-Apr-09 15:03 by Mary Kassian
Topics: Womanhood

We tried. We really did. We embraced education, careers, prominence. We despised all relationships and responsibilities that would hold us back. We moved marriage, mothering, and homemaking from the top of our lists to the bottom–or crossed them off altogether. After all, we were so much more enlightened than our fore sisters were. The world had revolved around men, but it was our turn now.

read more >

6 comments

Plastic Womanhood

Posted on 31-Mar-09 10:43 by Mary Kassian
Topics: Womanhood

With her beauty, clothes, cars, houses, careers, and independence, Ms. Roberts is the epitome of fulfilled womanhood.

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17 comments

Praying Scripture

Posted on 24-Mar-09 10:30 by Mary Kassian
Topics: Relationship with God

Do you ever get “stuck in a rut” in your prayer life? Praying Scripture will help!

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15 comments

An Attitude of Gratitude: Prayers of Thanksgiving

Posted on 16-Mar-09 11:43 by Mary Kassian
Topics: Relationship with God

Last summer, my son, Matt, who had just moved back home after being away for eight months, came into the kitchen, gave me a huge hug, and exclaimed, “Mom, thank you SO much for folding my laundry!” My first thought was to check his forehead to see if he was running a temperature . . .

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9 comments

The "WOW" Factor

Posted on 06-Mar-09 16:50 by Mary Kassian
Topics: Relationship with God

Last season, TV viewers cast nearly 500 million votes in support of their favorite contestants on American Idol. It’s natural to express praise for that which we enjoy . . .

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9 comments

Prayer CPR--Check your Prayer Pulse (Part 2)

Posted on 03-Mar-09 13:13 by Mary Kassian
Topics: Relationship with God

Here are three simple steps to help strengthen your prayer heartbeat!

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Prayer CPR--Check your Prayer Pulse (Part 1)

Posted on 03-Mar-09 13:07 by Mary Kassian
Topics: Relationship with God

A few years ago, in front of a packed coliseum of hockey fans, a young hockey player skated off the ice, collapsed beside the player’s bench, and went into violent convulsions . . .

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17 comments

Conquering the Fear Factor

Posted on 25-Feb-09 15:17 by Mary Kassian
Topics: Relationship with God

We think that we’ll get more out of life and relationships if we demand our rights and maintain control. But the Bible teaches that we get a lot more blessing when we trust God and do things his way. 

read more >

10 comments

My Right to Fight and Never Surrender

Posted on 18-Feb-09 10:23 by Mary Kassian
Topics: Relationship with God

Ironically, the woman who digs in her heels often surrenders more than the one who bows her knee . . .

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21 comments

Love is a Choice

Posted on 11-Feb-09 12:33 by Mary Kassian
Topics: Relationships with Others

This past summer, at my son’s wedding, I found myself reminding him of the words my mother spoke to me at my wedding, and many times since:  “Always remember that love is a choice.” 

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20 comments

Yes--That's the Book for Me!

Posted on 26-Jan-09 14:05 by Mary Kassian
Topics: Relationship with God

Stanton felt so strongly that the original text of the Bible was bad for women that she put together a “revising committee” to . . . make recommendations to women about which parts of the Bible they ought to condemn and ignore.

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11 comments

The Need for a Creed: Reflections on Creeds, Confessions, and Manifestos

Posted on 07-Jan-09 17:43 by Mary Kassian
Topics: Relationship with God

Everyone has a creed. Even those who say they don’t believe in creeds have a creed. What exactly is a creed?

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