Interfaith marriage...can it work?

Question

PLEASE READ EVERYTHING BEFORE YOU RESPOND! I am Christian, raised in a Christian home. I have met and fallen in love with a wonderful man, however he is Muslim. He is my world and I am his. I can't imagine us not being together. We have discussed our differences of faith, we respect each others faith. We agreed that when we marry we will not pressure each other to change. We will study God's Word and the Quran together. We want to be together. We believe that we are equally yoked, as God commands in the Bible. When we pray, we pray to the same God. We will be there for each other and are open to talking about our difference. He lives in Cairo and has a successful life there. I am American and I have already been divorced and have two children. We have agreed to have no more children. He will raise mine like they are his. He wishes for us to move to Cairo to be together. We will attend Christian church as a family. I feel great about this. But I would like to hear your opinions. Thanks!

Answer 1

Gosh, I admire you both, for both accepting each other. If only we could all have an interfaith relationships like that. You both respect each others faith and neither of you are pushing each othr. So good to hear that you both are studying your Bibles and Quran together. I am just in disbelief...I really admire you both.

I hope you guys last forever!!!! xxxx

Answer 2

I think it's really great that you both respect each other's religion and have agreed not to try to change each other. I wish more people can think like you two think. Good for you. :)

The only issue I see is the cultural issue. Has he ever lived in the States? I'm Arab, I'm Muslim and I think it's great what you two are trying to do, but from one woman to another, Im telling you, it'll be much, much better if he lived with you here for awhile before you and your children move to Egypt. You have children, he does not. Having a new dad around will take some adjustment, but having to do that in a foreign country is on a whole other level. He's only one person who will have to make an adjustment in his life if he moves here. Your family is three people strong.

Also, have you spent any time with him at all? That isn't clear in your question. In order to really get to know someone, you have to spend time with them. Don't make any life changes unless you're sure about this man, his character and what type of father he will be to your kids, and not blinded by love. Don't just go by what a person tells you they're about. Watch and listen for yourself. That can only be done by spending a lot of time with them.

And check the laws in Egypt regarding children in the case of a divorce in a family where one person is from a different country. I know that you said that he didn't want to have children. However, people do change their minds about children, and even though you both love each other right now, people do get divorced, so in case you decide to have another child there, check the laws first so that your kid isn't stuck between one parent and another and one culture and another.

Good luck and I hope it works out for all of you. And don't listen to those people telling you that Muslims are horrible people. If you go to Egypt you'll see for yourself that that is not at all the case.

Answer 3

It is absolutely impossible for a Christian and a Muslim to marry I don't care what he and anyone else say. Either the Christian bible is truth or the Muslim Koran is truth. You can't have it both ways.

They DO beleive in a different god and it is not the living God of Abraham.

Do not put your children through this it is totally selfish and wrong of you to do so and he has plans to move you guys to Cairo? Man get out now. Don't you know what happens to American Women who move to a muslim state? They lose their children and they get beaten or left out. You will never see your children again. The muslim law favors the male. Remember your line "he will raise mine like they are his" that means muslim and no if ands or buts about it once in Cairo. The US Embasy will not help you.

Interfaith marriage even if it is not a muslim is not a good thing. If you are a true Christian then you beleive there is only one way to be saved right?

I hope you have not been living with him that wouldn't be very Christian. Think of your childern not yourself. Wait until they are out of the house.

Any other mature people out there that can testify to this? I am very concerned for her children. Please do not continue the relationship.

Answer 4

I think you have throroughly discussed this topic with your man and are handling it very maturely. I think it's wonderful what you're both doing. I'm not sure about moving your kids to Cairo, but that's another topic. I think more people should be so willing to learn of other people's religions and tolerate them so well. I believe that the simple act of believing in something greater than yourself and in something that encourages you to live by a moral code is a good thing, and a good way to raise your children. Teaching them to have faith is a wonderful thing, no matter what you think God is.

Answer 5

First question is how well do you know this guy? Have you spent time with him or just online? I ask because without getting into a long story about my marriage, I will tell you, your asking for a HUGE change in your life as you know it. For you and your children. If you have only been talking to this guy online most of the time, believe me, PLEASE believe me, he will say a lot of things to get you there. PLEASE, listen to me, I'm truly trying to help you from making the mistake that I made. I married a muslim guy from another country. I don't have a problem with him being muslim. That's not the problem. The problem is that he said a lot of things that changed TOTALLY once we were married. For example, "you will NOT leave this house if I'm asleep without asking my permission." Also, "you will NOT speak to any of your friends anymore, your my wife now and I'm the one you should be worried about now." These are just a few........ There are many many more. I'm telling you, love is blind. It's better that you really really think about what your about to do. Once there, you may never be able to leave. I have heard horror stories that are true. I don't know your guy, but I'm only warning you. I feel you need to be warned. I have grown children, so I was lucky. Your children are younger I presume. Please think about what this will do to them. This is food for thought, I hope you take my warning seriously. If you would like to talk, post your email and I would be happy to talk to you. I'm serious about this. I hope you will believe what I say is true.

Answer 6

Can they work? Yes! My mother was Catholic and my father was a Follower of Christ--a Protestant Church. My father grew up celebrating Orange-men's Day, a remembrance of a day when Protestants massacred Catholics. They were the first to marry in the Church as before this, mixed marriages had to be done in the rectory.

Your situation is different, though, in that both of you seem devout. Also, you cannot truly know a person until you are around them for some time. You say that you are in the States and he is in Egypt. It may feel like you know him but you can't possibly unless you are able to be in his presence and be with him on a regular basis. I am reminded of a movie "Not With My Daughter" that starred Sally Fields. She was an American who married an Iranian doctor in the States. He wanted to go back to Iran and began to practice Fundamental Islam. Eventually, he wanted to take their daughter from her mother and bring her up a proper Muslim woman. Not that that would happen in your situation but I think you need to be careful. This relationship can work but it will not be easy.

Answer 7

How do the parents (if they are in the picture) on both sides see this? If your fiance's parents are opposed or vice versa, you both will have to face issues that may wear on your marriage. Also, what others are saying about another county, laws, etc. Being in the US with 2 religions is one thing and can be problematic...being away from your homeland is quite another. Consider all your options. Make sure you know him and his family. How long have you known each other? If not a long time, then step back and give it more time.

Answer 8

Im sorry, but your in for major dramas. And asfar as yo and he being "equally yoked" which bible are you taking that from, certainly not NKJV, KJ, Message. What on earth are you thinking, the Quran is against the word of God and you know it, stop trying to tie Jesus Christ to the Quran, yo should be ashamed of yourself. Youu are not equally yoked and if you went to 100 different churches they would all tell you the same. Move over to Cairo with him and you should have your children taken from you so that they can live with their father. You study the Quran with him, you should ashamed, you are one very confused lady ad I hope and pray that your finally honest enough with your family, friends and fellow christians to tell them what your doing, because you need help. Im in shock that you would even call yourself a Christian......

Answer 9

Muslim don't belive in Jesus Christ as our lord and savior.
The bible said Jesus is the truth the way and the life.
He also said Only by Jesus Christ will we all see our father in heaven.
Sorry, I just don't have the time to find the passages...
but I know this is what Jesus said.

I will never compromise my faith in Jesus Christ for anyone, any man, nor any power period.
I am a christian , I believe Jesus die for our sins in order to save us and give us salvation. This is the fact then why would I not respect that?

Muslims think this is a lie.
This is a slap in the face to us.
How can we be equally yoked? This is not what God wants you to do dear...

Some times there is a price to be paid to have faith in Jesus.
Ask him right now, if he is willing to accept Jesus as his Lord and savior and give up his religion if not then just say good bye.
It is God's will that we are after, not ours.

The kingdom is there you have to see it with your faith, you can touch it, smell it nor feel it, but it's there...
You just got to have faith...
Not saying you gonna go to hell if you married a muslim, but just don't risk your faith.
You eternal soul where it's heading is your whole purpose in life, don't mess with it.
I think this is the hardest decision in life, I would like you to pray over this and you need people to help you, I just don't think you can go thru this alone...

you need people to be with you , to pray with you, and to meet new people.

Man this is just tough.

have faith...

GOd Bless you...
Jack

Answer 10

When we pray, we pray to the same God.....lol WRONG! thats your first mistake.

He is probably telling you anything you want to hear just so he can get whatever it is that he wants.

Wow...he wants you to move to another country and take your children with you?!?!?! If you are serious about doing that, you better make sure you are familiar with the legal system and how well it works if it works at all. You might always be found wroung because you are a woman, who knows? The reason I bring this up is because many times some psycopath will lie to someone who is in some position where they need something like companionship just to get them in a situation where they can rape them or murder them or maybe he wants to sell you and your kids in to some sort of slave trade. Plus Muslims are aloud to lie to infedels in order to get what they want so he would be following his religion in that case. Just be careful and use your head. And you children should come first so please please please protect them. Maybe leave them with grandparents if you go.