Interreligious marriage?

Question

What do you guys think about interreligious marriages? Do u know anyone personalyy who has done it or attended one?

Answer 1

I have done it and so far it's very successful; even though we might encounter difficult times ahead i think it is OK. My God is my wife's God and we agree that he is one and to him we all pray.I'm Muslim and she is christian. "Let there be no compulsion in religion". I respect her view and she respect mine though we might not agree with it at all time.

Answer 2

While a marriage combining two different faiths can be rewarding at first it is tremendously challenging to maintain,there will be many issues and points of conflict along the road of life making it doubly hard then an marriage where both have the same beliefs,most interfaith marriages are not healthy and lead to separation,however it can work provided there is mutual respect,communication and compromise.I do not recommend marriage outside of your own faith due to its poor track record,and the vast array of challenges and hardship it can cause.In an interfaith marriage at times it is like a prison in which you long for your spouse to just feel the same as you spiritually and yet they cannot.Fights and wars about which faith will dominate when raising children is another tough issue.There is always this silent divide this split between that can never be rectified the marriage will and can be very complete in every area but the religion one is sort of like a wound which remains open and cannot heal.I am not saying it can never work,true love,communication and willingness on both ends to give eachother respect can make all the difference,but it is a very difficult road and if given the choice you should stear towards someone of your same faith.

Answer 3

Personally, I dont feel comfortable with Interreligious marrige. My family are strong Catholics, so maybe thats why it doesnt seem like a good idea to me. Although in general, I dont feel comfortable with interreligious marriages- despite if the couples are religious or not. I mean- what if later on both of them find a religion that they like, but its not the same one? I read that interreligious marriages are one of the top reasons for divorce. I wish I had that source, but unfortunately I dont. Well, those are my opinions.

Take Care
God Bless

Answer 4

I'm Wiccan. My husband's father is a Methodist Minister and my husband himself leans toward Buddhism. Can't get much more mixed than that.

As for a wedding, due to a very long story of circumstances, the fact that our families would have been very upset at attending a Wiccan Handfasting, and I didn't want a Christian wedding, we got married by whats called a Marriage Commissoner (actually a JP in the US) here in Canada.

Eventually, we will be having a very small (probably just a few of his family members) Christian ceremony (fairly secularized for my tastes, but Christian enough for his family to accept) and a very small Wiccan ceremony (probably just us and the Priest or Priestess).

Answer 5

My very Catholic friend married a Jewish man some 35+ years ago. Its worked beautifully! They raised 3 lovely daughters as Catholic (some Jewish movements only recognize children as Jewish if the mother is Jewish). I know for a fact that the wife and 3 daughters (all in their 30's) are much, much closer to the dad's Jewish side of the family. My friend helps to celebrate all of the Jewish feasts and her Jewish husband dresses up like Santa Claus every year to give out gifts to the children of employees in his work place. They are an adorable couple. Just now their weekend home is closest to a Congregational church -- so they both worship there -- and he, the Jew, sometimes gives the sermon!!!!! They're my heroes.....

Answer 6

Have been to one. They ended up doing two different ceremonies - one for each faith. The challenge comes when you are both serious about your faith and they have mutually exclusive principles - i.e. Jesus is the exclusive savior of the world - Jesus is only a prophet and not the savior at all. Then what do you do? What do you teach the kids? Etc. It can create some siginficant stressors.

Answer 7

I don't think I could go through with it. I am not a religious person. I believe in God, but I am not a Christian or Muslim, or Jew. I would really REALLY have to love this person if I was willing to marry someone with strong religious ties that are steeped in tradition.

Answer 8

religion is a waste of time, but other than that, i have heard of marriages like that and if the people are open and understanding of one another than they should be fine. beside they are getting married so obviously they have gotten past all that. if you were asking about going to a wedding like that, go. if they are your friends and you care about them, if you don't even really know the people and it makes uncomfortable then don't. my wife is catholic and as you know I'm atheist, we get along great.

Answer 9

If both partners can respect each others' beliefs - even if they don't share them - then the relationship can work.

If it's an ongoing "conversion-fest", or the partners are belittling each other's beliefs, then no, it won't work.

Answer 10

Not sure it is a good idea. Religions can guide a lot in how a person lives their life and I would think that would cause conflict eventually in how you raise your children, what you two do with your lives, your goals, etc.