Should religion be a determining factor for dating?

Question

as in a muslim dating a christian or a jewish person dating a pagan etc. if so doesnt that fall into racisim?

Answer 1

I think it depends on if it is just a friendly first date or a long-term relationship date. All things can work if a couple tries hard enough. It can depend on how many outside factors you allow to influence the two of you - such as the opinions and feelings of family and friends. A mutual respect can exist while you both keep your religious beliefs.

Answer 2

Race and religion are two separate issues. While at times religion is included in a person's racial make up , i.e., people of Jewish descent. It opposite can rarely be applied although it can produce the same negative feelings due to hate and ignorance. Now on to dating. With all relationships truth and open communication is the key. Being of the same religion is not a good indicator of those very important qualities needed for a good relationship. In fact at times being part of the same religion can limit your understanding of the world around you.
On the other hand if a person is truthful and a good communicator, when the mate is found to have the same qualities the relationship will thrive.
Now as a christian 1 Corinthians 7 DOES NOT require Christians to marry other Christians. In fact, 1 Corinthians 7:12-14 says that the unbeliever is sanctified by the believer and this is how the marriage and the children are saved. This is one of the great things about being a christian. We are allowed to marry who we choose. But more importantly we as individuals should make god choices. The best choice is to choice someone who you can have open lines of communication with.

Answer 3

When you date someone there is always a possibility that your emotions and attraction will lead you into marriage. Marriage should be a cooperative arrangement. If your religious differences would affect the cooperative arrangement with regard to your family, children, and general way of life, then you should definately not date anyone with a different religion.

I've had Christian boys tell me, "Oh well, I'm not a serious (or practicing) Christian." In which case I still won't date them, because I don't date people who don't take their religion seriously.
Of course, my boyfriend is an atheist, but he's really serious about it.

Answer 4

Since dating can lead to marriage, as a Jew, I believe that Jews should make all efforts to marry other Jews. This is not racism. This is survival of the Jewish people and the Jews have the right to survive as a people. Intermarriage is a threat to the Jewish people because usually there are problems passing down the Jewish religion (Judaism) and traditions to the children. Therefore, these children can be lost to our people.

Answer 5

It's borderline racism. If you are unable to date a person of a different religion than your own, then you should definitely make it a determining factor as to whom you will date. However, if it doesn't matter one way or another, then it shouldn't be a determine factor at all. The closer you are to feeling strong convictions about dating someone of a different religion, the more likely, I would say, you are to be classified as a racist.

Answer 6

I'm not sure as a Muslim you should be dating, as a man and a woman can't be alone in Islam just in case you get tempted. But if you want to get married, a Muslim man can marry the people of the book. A Muslim woman can only marry Muslim men. The children needs to be raised as Muslims.

Of course it does not classify as racism. Every race can convert into Islam.

Answer 7

I have had so many fights with exes about religion! It is extremely important. It is even more important to be upfront and honest about what you want out of relationship from the beginning. You should never go into a relationship with the idea of "oh well, maybe it will be different, or maybe I can live with it."
You are who you are and you want what you want and deserve to be with someone who agress with your lifestyle.

Now my exes and myself are Christian. So you are wondering what we fight about? I am non-denominational and my ex is Catholic. We would go round for round about about rites and rituals and rosaries, and baptism, and on and on and on. It was riduclous.

To me the FAITH is more important than the rites ot rituals. I am now engaged to a man whos family is Mormon. I have no interest in raising my children Mormon and he knows that. But he is not really into that faith anyway. I was always upfront about that from the beginning. However, we talk about religion and what we agree on and we have the same basic beliefs and morals.

The best advice I can give you is to find out what is truly important to you and not compromise that. When you do meet someone see if you can agree but if you fight about it be careful. Religion is a very futile subject. The Palestinians and Jews have been fighting for over 3000 years. In the end it is what you believe and what you want your future children to believe that matters most. Find someone who shares your beliefs and values and be honest from the beginning.

Answer 8

No, Ive dated all religions and I have respect for all of them. My mother was Jewish and my father is Lutheran so I was actually baptised twice, Jewish and a Lutheran. Then my mother joined my fathers church when I turned 11 but before then I attended Temple on Saturday and Church on Sunday. My mother let us decide which religion we wanted to follow and I think that is very important and healthy for a child to make that descision but anyways back to the dating, I dont let that affect my descion. I mean as long as we have the same interest tehn it really doesnt matter. I dont see anything wrong with people having different religions as long as they respect their significant others religion as well. Me personnaly, I PREFER a man I can go to church with and discuss the bible with and pray with but if my husband turns out to be a different religion then that will just be something I will have to adjust to, but God comes before any man so if my significant other has a problem with it, Im not converting for him and I dont expect him to convert for me. God is the foundation of all relationships and I believe that He will bless us regardless.

Answer 9

I don't think it should be THE determining factor, as in "I won't date people of religion X or who aren't religion Y"

Certainly there is potential for compatibility by having similar values that dating someone who is the same faith as you, but you might be surprised that someone of another faith might have values just as compatible. Dating someone of another faith might allow you to better understand your own faith by having someone who doesn't believe the same way and wants to know more why you do what you do.

When looking for a partner, why close the door to the person who might be the best match for you in terms of values and interests and compatibility simply because that person does not share your religion?

Answer 10

Yes, religion should be a determining factor for dating. Religion is a person's creed and certain religions dictate--not recommend, but dictate--that a person marry within the faith. Racism, ironically enough, would be discrimination against a person's adherence to said dictations.