Should you teach your children to marry people of similar religious beliefs?

Question

Shoudl you do it for religious reasons and to preserve your race....Or is that being prejudice?

I myself do not teach this to my children but was looking for some insight on what other wisdom or knowledge people might possess.

Answer 1

You should teach your children to be good, loving, and productive members of society, but matters of the heart, and matters of faith should be left up to the individual.
Where would the line be drawn if you chose to interfere with their beliefs as apposed to your own? Wouldn't it be best to teach them to think for them selves, which would give you comfort in knowing that whatever the circumstance he/she would always be choosing what is right for them and not what is right for you?

Answer 2

If it is for religious reasons, and the child chooses to continue to be a part of that religion in adulthood, I don't see any problem with that. Ultimately, it is the child's choice. Otherwise, telling someone to marry within the same religion really makes no sense. I've known many people (including my parents and my husband and I) who are married, but have different religious beliefs. Even if it is to preserve the race, that won't work as there are all kinds of people in each religious group (example, white and black people in Christianity). I will tell you that being married to someone from a different religion can cause some arguments, especially if they have children and/or still go to church.

Answer 3

Faith is a very important foundation for a relationship. There are relationships that are considered successful in which faith is not shared between them, but I think on average, you will find the happiest couples have the core philosophies in common, and that includes religion. But the real determining factor should be how important is religion to them to begin with? If it is really important, then their relationship should be with someone that will be able to appreciate that.

As to race, last I checked, race has virtually nothing to do with faith, so I'm not really sure where that comes in. Trying to preserve race or faith by how you marry etc, seems desperate however, and so probably shouldn't be the motivating factor.

Answer 4

I think it is probably easier for people with similar beliefs to make it only because that is an important aspect of who we are. I also believe that if 2 people are commited to their relationship they can work through most of their differences.It depends on the people and if they are willing to compromise.It also becomes more of an issue when they have children because they may have issues as to how to raise the children and which belief system they will teach them. These are things that should be discussed before marriage.

Answer 5

Boycott preachers THINK for yourselves.
there was a bumper sticker very much like that created in Anchorage alaska, a certain baptist minister rejected the interracial marriage as being not ordained of God.
for many hundred years in american history as well it has been taught that Blacks were related to Cain and descendants of the curse of darkened skin which God marked him for killing Abel.
This is one Theology explanation.
People that saw cain were not kill him because of the mark. and because the mark was related to Cains worship of Satan and NOT the God of Adam and Eve, the children of God were told not to mix in interracial marriage or fornication.
However, as I believed this to be from God, and infalible proof of abstaining from such marriages, I quickly realized the scriptures do preach against being "unequally yoked" and being interracially married through Religious beliefs. It was just asking for mortal tribulation unnessecarily. There is also some LDS scripture which says if a man of the white race marry "DOWN" to one of a black race, he marries down into the Level of the lower status of the race.
Ok with that said, I then found out that Moses married an Ethiopian woman. Was she black? was Moses white. and it is written can a leopard change it spots? etc.

marrying people of the same race and religious beliefs is Optimum preference, but God joins people together and blesses such unions that produce fruit of righteousness. Personally i believe that men can be resurrected into a different color of skin, if the judgments and punishment and rewards warrant it. Nothing in mortality is Eternally based forever.
Frankly I believe that some people may be in a different religion and have better faith and obedience than others. While at the same time some White Racists are so evil that they deserve to be resurrected in a skin color that denotes Slavery and slaves of slaves. While many blacks have been so persecuted and become more faithful than moses that they deserve the right to be exalted above many whites. This is supposing that white and black skin color do show genealogy and the judgment of God is a trure statement.
When marrying a different religion there will always be arguments unless one submits to the others religious beliefs totally. in so doing they sorta Forsake their own beliefs. This is not bad in itself, because most religious dogmas are based on traditions made up by men and inccorrect interpretations of hte bible.
God bless whatever you decide. and hopefully we can all come to HIM in fullness of Faith

Answer 6

Good question!

I do, I teach my son to marry a Muslim woman, because religion is a very important part of our lives. By the way, in Islam a man is allowed to marry a woman of other religious choices and is ordered to allow her to practise her beliefs in peace, while on the other hand a woman cannot marry anyone other than Muslim. Simple logic - we are to follow the faith of our fathers and thus preserve it and pass it on.

Personally, I cannot see myself married to anyone but a Muslim, simply because God is 24 hours a day in my mind and I would have nothing to talk about with my husband, nothing spiritual in common to share.

OK, I think I just gave the most dry response ever LOL, but I hope you get the WHY behind my answer.

Well, these are my beliefs, but it's really up to my children after all - I know I'd accept their choices no matter what and sleep in peace knowing that at least I tried.

Answer 7

Religious beliefs can be very important to a marriage. When both people share the same beliefs it reduces stress on the marriage.
I would say you should teach that similar religious beliefs are important in a marriage, although not paramount.

Answer 8

I will not marry two people who are not Baptized and practicing Christians. While I know it can work with people of different faiths, I have seen too many times where it has been a total disaster - and the difference in faiths was the root problem.

Answer 9

Race has nothing to do with religion-------so teaching them this does not preserve race, only religious beliefs.

I taught my children to accept all people, no matter what race or religion they are. I guess I did a good job-------I have bi-racial grandchildren.

They accept all people.

Answer 10

I will teach them to love all people, regardless of their heritage, religion or color. That is how I was raised. Teaching your children prejudice or hatred will only hurt you all in the long run.