How closely do spouses need to agree on theology for a marriage to work (or is it not important at all)?

Answer 1

Not at all, as you ask the question. But if not, they must be totally accepting (i.e. tolerant) of the differences. My wife's Catholic and I'm a devout atheist - we've been together since '79.

Answer 2

According to the Bible, the compatibility in a marriage is commended in two words:

Genesis 2 states that a spouse (wife) be helpmate. They are couples so they may be called pairs, so man and wife should be alike, because they are a pair of friends. If you are intellectual, choose one that loves knowledge; if you must live by your labor (farming), choose one that loves husbandry: for unless her mind stand with your vocation, you shall neither enjoy your wife, nor your calling.

That other word in 2nd Corinthians is yoke, be not unequally yoked. If marriage be a yoke, then they which draw in it must be fit, like two oxen which draw the yoke together, or else all the burden will lay upon one. Therefore they are called yoke fellows as well, to show that they which draw this yoke must be fellows. So he who desire godly children must choose a godly wife.

Answer 3

It really depends on how important it is to the two people that their spouse have the same religion/beliefs/morals/values as them.

Someone could be a Christian and married to a Satanist, but it might not matter to either of them (not very likely, but possible).

But a Baptist might be married to a Methodist and they might fight about religion all the time, even though they are both Christians.

It all depends on the two people in question.

Answer 4

If it is important to them then it is important. Just as any other matter that is important to a person should have their spouses full support. Can you imagine a man dedicated to his profession who's wife adamantly demands that he change jobs because she does not think his current one fits into their lifestyle? She just does not get it and both of them will be miserable.
For myself I married a man whose beliefs were the same as mine because of the Bibles mandate to "marry only in the Lord" -1Corinthians 7:39. I could not imagine loving someone who did not love my God.

Answer 5

I'm a polytheist Pagan (and very superstitious as well), and my wife is atheist. I think the reason it works is we share other things in common, like respect for science and nature and an openness to being wrong. We don't know everything, and we're okay with that. We love to learn and love to debate. If we didn't have those things in common, we'd probably be sunk.

Answer 6

LOL!!
I find it hard to believe that disputes over theology per se are a major source of discord in marriage. Unless the married couple are theologians!

(couldn't resist)

Answer 7

The most important thing is that you profess your LOVE for each other. That is the only thing that really matters.

What you believe has nothing to do with marriage. Obviously, if you click that is all that matters!

Answer 8

The primary source upon which the prohibition for a Jew to marry a non-Jew is based is to be found in the Bible (Deut. 7:3): "You shall not marry them (the gentiles, about which the Bible speaks in the previous verses), you shall not give your daughter to their son and you shall not take his daughter for your son."

The reason for this prohibition is clearly spelled out in the following verse: "Because he will lead your son astray from Me and they will serve strange gods…" ("Strange gods" can also be interpreted to mean those ideals and ‘isms’ that do not conform to the dictates of the Torah, and before which one bows his head and dedicates his heart and soul.)

The Talmud (Yevamot 23a) points out - and Rashi quotes it in his commentary on the aforementioned verse - that from the precise expression of the verse (he -and not she- will lead your son astray) we can derive two things. In the event that your daughter marries "their son," he will eventually lead astray your sons (in other words, your grandchildren, who will still be considered your sons) from the path of the Torah. In the event that your son will marry their daughter, her children are no longer considered your children, but her children. They are not considered Jewish.

It is clear then, that we are not dealing here with racial discrimination which is borne of a personal and subjective attitude that the Jew has vis-à-vis the gentile. What we are talking about here is an objective, Divine command that is accompanied by an explanation. If your son will marry a non-Jewish woman, the children born of this union are no longer considered to be your children. In the event that your daughter marries a non-Jew, inevitably your grandchildren will stray very far from the path of Judaism even though they will still be considered Jewish.

Taking into account the primary responsibility that the Jew has to fulfill the precepts of the Torah, it is evident that it is mandatory that Jews marry within the faith, because if not, it will be impossible to continue fulfilling the obligation that one has to manifest Divinity in this world which is possible only by fulfilling G-d’s will. Intermarriage is a clear contradiction to G-d’s stated will.

In order to better understand this issue, we must clarify another point. Not only is it prohibited for a Jew to marry a non-Jewess, it is impossible for a Jew to marry a non-Jewess. It is possible for them to live together, it is possible for them to cohabitate, it is even possible for them to procreate, but there is no possibility for marriage to take place.

The laws of the Torah are as (or more) objective and inalterable as the laws of nature. The same way that one cannot alter the law of gravity, for example, one cannot alter the laws of the Torah. The Torah student or sage does not look to create laws, but to discover the Divine structure that is inherent in the universe and life.

Answer 9

Once you have children it is crucial to agree about how you will raise them for the Lord. Before you marry make sure that you discuss this with each other and with your priest.

Answer 10

I think it's very important. Ideally the married couple would be of the same religion. At the least one of the two would need to not care if the other raised their children in a specific religion.