Inter-religious Marraiges?

Question

Inter-religion marraiges have always been something that have caused me to question this. I ask because I am both Chechen and Catholic (I was born is USA), but almost everybody in my ancestor's country was Muslim. The questions are as follows:

What type of wedding ceremony should there be for people of 2 different religions (where different Christian denominations, Christian/Jewish, Christian/Muslim, Muslim/Jewish, etc)? For some faiths, the difference cannot be recconciled, such as Muslims (a majority of Chechen Muslims as hardline Wahabis) who consider Christians polythiests because we worships the Trinity, and Christians because Jews do not accept Jesus at their Savior?

What religion should the children be brought up? In the cases where religious aspects are completely different, this would be a very strain on the child as the beliefs on one parent totally contradict the other?

Should a person convert to their spouse's religion if they do not believe in it?

Answer 1

christians are not supposed to marry non christians. So there is no criteria for cases like that in the bible. Just advising not to do that.

Answer 2

People of different faiths who choose to marry certainly haven't chosen the easiest path. The bottom line is that you have to show total respect for your spouses beliefs, regardless of weather you hold to those beliefs or not. This has got to be a two way street also. Regarding children of interfaith marriages, that child should NEVER hear an unkind word from either parent regarding their spouses religion. That child should be carefully exposed to both belief systems, and when old enough given free reign to choose for himself.
Remember, Jewish, Muslim, and Christian beliefs all have their gensis in one single man, Abraham. We ALL worship the same God. The God of Abraham. We just differ in our ways of doing so. So our respect for our spouses faith should reflect this common Genesis. A child can be taught that people can disagree, and still love and grow together.
In a case where two belief systems pose different demands on individuals, they would just have to agree to disagree, and move on. If she needs to go to sabbath services on Sunday, or Saturday, and he needs to go to mosque on Friday, fine, go. Work out a schedule so everyone knows what everyone else is doing, and then come home afterword, and be a family again. Love is too precious. A family is too sacred to throw away on what amounts to paperwork between faiths.
As for the ceremony. Some have had to look far and wide for two ministers of differing faiths to co-officiate at a wedding ceremony, but it has been done. If it proves to be impossible, then neutral ground might have to be found. Civil or non specific ceremonies can be done, and taylored to the couples needs. The cost might be a bit more, but the outcome potentially could be wonderful if the planning is done right.
As for converting to another faith, to me, the only time a person should convert to another faith is if he personally can adopt that new faith whole heartedly. Faith is too personal to let it be hijacked by an intolerant organization. Even if you did, you wouldn't be that strong in that new faith anyway.
These things are not insurmountable. Anyone who is married will tell you that marriage requires regular cooperation, and regular discussion and regular consensus between two people on many topics. This is just one more aspect of a good marriage that can be fulfilling if worked properly, and not derided by either person.
God Bless.

Answer 3

In line with islamic teaching there is no inter religious marriage.A muslim man should marry with a muslim woman whatever her race or ethnic and her culture.A muslim woman should marry with a muslim man whatever his race or ethnic and his culture.In the process of approaching each other or dating.a muslim man or muslim woman should as his/her fiance or girlfriend/boyfriend to convert her/his religion to Islam without force.if among them are different religion followers.It is a must for a happy,prospero
us and harmonious family. have the same religion..Their marriage will be blessed by Allah the only one God Almighty.A muslim man or muslim woman is not allowed to marry a christian or jew or any other religion follower.The other religion follower is not based on monotheism and they do not accept Muhammad pbuh as the last prophet.We muslim acknowledge Yesus or Uzair(for Jew) as a prophet but he was not the son of God.
So we have no problem with the religion of our children.Our babies are like a white paper.The related parents should fill in the white paper with the right religion and best moral.We have no problem at all with the type of wedding ceremony too..

Answer 4

I am a Buddhist my fiance is an Agnostic/Atheist. We have been able to make it work for many years. I think it is the person not the religion. I am very laid back and so is my fiance. He comes to temple with me when it is an important function like when I took my refuge vows (like a baptism). I also respect his choice not to come.

We are using non-traditional vows but they have a bit of Buddhism in them... my Fiance just didn't want any mention of God.

As far as our children... it is important to me that they choose a religion that means the most to them, even if it is no religion. It will not "stick" or be meaningful if i force them into it. Think of how many adults don't go to church because their parents forced them when they were little. I will expose my children to many kinds of religions. Take them to different churches etc...

However these are things that should be worked out between a dating couple before they choose to marry... if you can't find middle ground then perhaps its not a good idea to marry in the first place.

Answer 5

1- find an inter-faith minister. talk about which religious traditions you want and how the ceromy can run smoothly.
its give and take, both must be willing to compromise so the wedding doesn't take hours.
or you could have two people from both religions taking turns preforming the wedding. they can both give their blessing at the end

2- its up to the parents.
I'd advise raising them as both and letting them choose when they get older (teen age years) which they feel better with.

my one friend was raised muslim and catholic- she is now an athiest

another person I know choose their mother's over their father's faith but respects both religions

you just have to tell your child that some people believe different things and no one is wrong- they just have different faiths. it will help them be tolerant
you won't know what will happen until it happens

Answer 6

I don't know...

Though I'm against any other religion, but this inter-marriage thing hardly ever seems to work out for couples.


I've seen it happen, and have witnessed what people go through regarding what religion the children should be or wheather things around should go this way or that.

It's very hard and complicated.



Peace.

Answer 7

there are some peolpe who dont accept any code of living despite fo them bieng religious they may be any one muslims, christians, jews , hindus. sikhs, because all they look up at is world but the ones who consider hereafter as well do not go against thier religions( however in islam men can mary to the women of (ahle khitab)i.e the people who were given books like christian have bible, jews have torah, Psalms to i dont know. though it is not liked very much in islam.)but the women are suppose to mary muslims only.

Answer 8

~ Coxy... it takes Moxey to follow the advise/commands in the Bible...

~ The Lord does not want us to be unequally yoked:

~ ~ 2Cr 6:14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?

If, however you MUST marry the other, do not forsake your Christian religion for their religion... Just pray for your spouse to know the Lord... You will have to be the "light" for him to follow.

Coxy... Talk to your senior pastor at church... there are people in your church who are already experiencing what you are ABOUT to do... getting into an unequally yoked marriage... find out what is going on in their marriages... have they left the church... has the spouse come to know the Lord... is there divorces... abuse because of the situation?... Find out BEFORE you make the final wedding vows to the Lord.
Most Christian churches have a six month discipleship program for helping each of you search and answer questions on your future together... family, religion, budget, income, children, all aspects of marriage... they can bring out points that help you decide that this would or would not be a good marriage...

~ That's my prayer. Best wishes for success in the marriage of you, a Proverbs 31:10-31 Woman of God... God has the PERFECT man for you... have you really prayed about him... has He given you confirmation about him being the proper one?... does he deserve you? what are the possible problems you can think of that may happen IF you were to marry him... loss of your religion and of Jesus Christ... and of your Salvation? Do NOT get married because of Lust of the Flesh, or because of a pregnancy... get spiritual help from the Lord first... your Senior Pastor's wife second... your church marriage counselor (married couple team) third.

You have to know where your priorities are... eternal salvation with your Creator, Jesus Christ... or...?

Answer 9

If people can't come to an agreement on that before they marry, then obviously they are asking for problems if they get married anyway, but how could they get married if they don't agree on a ceremony?
Oh, there are Christians who don't acknowledge a 3-person conglomerate of God.

Answer 10

That's between the couple. They need to decide which church they want to get married in, and how their children will be taught. Don't allow different beliefs to rule your life, as you all are going to the same place.

Answer 11

You should never convert to someones faith if you don't believe in it. It makes it hard to raise children with two vastly different faiths I think. I don't know about the weddings, but I feel its best for you to marry someone who is in your own faith.