My boyfriend and I are different religions (Im Roman Catholic and he considers himself Jehovah's Witness even though hes not baptized) and everything was going fine until he mentioned something his mother said. He said that his mother told him to consider getting a new girlfriend from their congregation/church. This didnt hurt me as much as it bothered me. He told me hes okay with our religious differences, but im not sure I am after what his mom told him. Should I just let it go? Am I just making a big deal about it? Advice is greatly appreciated :)
2006-08-06 08:19:29 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Family & Relationships ➔ Other - Family & Relationships
I am an ex-JW. JWs are not allowed to date or marry unbelievers. If your boyfriend is not baptized, then the only punishment he is likely to receive is a lecture by an elder, less invitations to dinner from other JWs and less 'responsibilities' at the Kingdom Hall. If he ever gets baptized and marries you or even continues dating you, then he will be excommunicated (disfellowshipped) and shunned by family and other JWs. Ask him directly about this. Ask him if he expects you to become a JW in the future. JWs do not marry non-JWs if they want to stay a JW.
When you go to the links below, be aware that when they refer to God, they are referring to their interpretation of god, Jehovah, only. Not god as defined by any other christian religion. Which means, anyone who is a christian but not a JW, is an unbeliever.
2006-08-07 02:54:28 · answer #1 · answered by kikisdragon 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You really need to talk with your boyfriend. If it was just an innocent comment, then I would let it go; however if he mentioned this as a "hint" then you may already be looking at trouble in the relationship later. Some people follow their religious preferences to the "t" and then there are those that take their religion more as a guideline for living life. The two of you really need to discuss how your religion affects you and, depending on how serious the two of you are, what preferences each of you are going to have in regards to raising your children religiously. Good luck!
2006-08-06 08:42:22 · answer #2 · answered by cgspitfire 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I suggest you go together as a couple to a number of other christian churches and see if there is one church that you find that answers all the important religious questions that you both have. Do you have important religious questions that the Roman Catholic church can not answer logically? Do all their beliefs make logical sense to you? Does your boyfriend have important religious questions that the Jehovah's Witness church can not answer logically? Do all their beliefs make logical sense to him?
I can say that my church answers all important religious questions logically to me. I would not be a member of a church whose beliefs did not provide logical answers to all the important questions of life. Maybe together the two of you can find one church that suits you both better than the ones you are currently members of. I think you should be able to find that one true church if you look carefully enough. Pray about it and look to God for His direction. He will not let you down. Hint: the one true church will follow the teachings of the Bible. Start with looking for a church that keeps all 10 of the Ten Commandments of Exodus 20. There actually are very few of those. I can only think of one. I can tell you that neither the Roman Catholic Church or the Jehovah's Witness church follows all ten. Check it out. Happy hunting. This process should help your relationship with your boy friend if both of you approach this exercise sincerely and honestly.
2006-08-06 09:00:57 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
The biggest question involved in most mixed marriages is, "How will you raise the children?" The Catholic church frowns on mixed marriages and this is the principle reason for it.
http://www.truecatholic.org/marriagemixed.htm
If the two of you are comfortable with the conflicts between your beliefs, I think you should enjoy the relationship as it is. However, if you are considering raising a family together in the future, it really is something that needs to be discussed.
There are some folks on this message board discussing the various issues, perhaps you will find it helpful?
http://www.beliefnet.com/boards/discussion_list.asp?boardID=476
Good Luck!
2006-08-06 08:33:13 · answer #4 · answered by Kya Rose 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Some people are very active in their religion, and want their sons and daughters to marry someone in the same religion so that their kids are brought up in the same religion. I don't think it's a huge deal going with any kind of Christian if you're a Christian, but there are religions that say if you are not expressly their religion you will go to Hell. It obviously bothers the mother more than her son. If you want to stay with him you're going to have to accept that that's how she feels, and that he IS a different religion. If it matters to you it matters - if it doesn't, it doesn't.
2006-08-06 08:27:39 · answer #5 · answered by They call me ... Trixie. 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Jehovah's Witnesses do not date casually, but with an eventual view to marriage. 'Uneven yokings' are frowned upon by Jehovah's Witnesses.
(2 Corinthians 6:14) Do not become unevenly yoked with unbelievers
Learn more:
http://watchtower.org
http://www.watchtower.org/library/g/2004/5/8a/article_01.htm
2006-08-06 12:49:05 · answer #6 · answered by achtung_heiss 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
If you really want to be with him, don't let what his mom said get to it. She will have control if you break it off with him just because of her. If you and him stay together and get married, you won't ever have to buy her gifts for anything. It's against her religion, remember?
2006-08-06 08:40:47 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Just let it go. If you decide to get married then you will have to get a serious decision going but until then do not sweat it.Have fun and enjoy each other.
2006-08-06 08:31:23 · answer #8 · answered by usserydog 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋