Will you ponder this for a moment?

Question

A man meets a woman and they hit it off well. Their relationship is wonderful and is full of joy, but then the woman asks the man to join her at church. He says, "Sweetheart, I'm an atheist". What now? Is the love shared between the two now negated by that statement and who would be the one to break away first? I think it would be the woman and it would be due to the severity of her beliefs. It wouldn't be the man. What do you think?

toedechameau, I have my saddle ready. Let's ride!!!!

Answer 1

If the believing woman was following the teachings of the Bible, she wouldn't be dating anyone whose religious beliefs were a mystery to her. We are specifically told not to be involved romantically with an unbeliever:

2 Corinthians 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 she didn't bother to find out what his beliefs were from the beginning, she now has a choice to make. Either she obeys God and lets go of her relationship with him, or she disobeys God and continues to see him.

I've seen the tears and pain the latter scenario has cost my own sister, as well as other Christian women who married unbelievers. Their love for their unsaved mate has been strained to the breaking point by his antipathy or antagonism towards Christ and the things of God.

It's not a good place for the Christian woman to be in, and it's not easy on the husband, either, because he doesn't understand her love for God.

Answer 2

Do you know what love is?

It's not love-bombing. Love-bombing is what cults practice. It's sort of a community attempt to getting to the real thing by means of many people chipping in some concern.

Love is what's in you. It's not in a relationship unless it's in you.

Is there something about atheism that makes buildings with crosses on them anathema? Maybe atheists should become more autistic. Superstition says this or that building brings a taint with it. They're just pieces of infrastructure with rooves on them to keep the rain off.

Here is what I read about autism. A picture of two triangles and a square, perhaps with motion lines or as a video, looks, to a "normal" person, like a story of a triangle helping another triangle out of a square. I'd like to know what was going on through the doctor's mind who thought this test up. An autistic child will see it quite literally as two triangles moving away from a square, if that's what the diagram is. I feel angry already at the way unethical professionals dupe society's members into joining support groups where their activities can be monitored and the attitude of some that this is all fun because now they can get out and about a bit more (if joining a group with exclusive membership is getting out more, I think you were doing just fine in the first place) is just passive-aggressive towards the child. What is so wrong with seeing what's there? Do doctors have something against this? Some do. Why moralise over a picture of a triangle? That is not imagination - to tell the child what an imaginative viewpoint on the picture would be. How can you tell somebody what an imaginative viewpoint would be? I'm so angry.

Doctors are the new shamans. They run in families. They are not necessarily any smarter than the average bear. The word is related to "decent." They put a decent front on a watered-down approach to health.

This is a comment on your hypothetical atheist's brutal mistreatment of the potential for language to hold a relationship together. What on earth does atheist mean to the individual? Please explain.

Answer 3

The apostle Paul wrote something similar concerning humans. He said: “Do not become unevenly yoked with unbelievers.” (2 Corinthians 6:14) This should especially be kept in mind when choosing a marriage mate. Marriage is a permanent partnership, for Jesus Christ said: “What God has yoked together let no man put apart.” (Matthew 19:6) Much heartache results when a married couple do not share beliefs, principles, and goals. It is therefore only reasonable to follow the Bible’s admonition to marry “only in the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 7:39) Entering into wedlock with someone who does not share your religious faith would present an even greater problem than yoking a bull with a donkey.

Difference in religious belief is just one factor that could cause a couple to be unevenly yoked. Prospective mates—even of the same faith—would do well to ask, ‘Do we share the same goals? Where will we live? Who will handle the budget? Will both of us work? What about children? Would kindness and consideration govern the relationship?’

To some degree, the manner in which such issues are discussed can indicate whether a yoke will be even or uneven. Of course, no two persons are completely compatible. Overall, however, if a courting couple can face and solve problems together and if they can keep the lines of communication open, it is likely that they will not be unevenly yoked.

Answer 4

It could be the atheist man or the religious woman who breaks it off, or neither. It's a matter of individual attitude and temperament. Not all atheists eschew religious people, and not all religious people fear and despise atheists. Some people believe that it's essential that their partner have the same (or at least similar) beliefs, while others don't. The important thing to remember is that their relationship is not doomed. Couples of differing faiths, ethnicities, and economic backgrounds make relationships work EVERY SINGLE DAY. They do it with mutual respect, love, tolerance, and understanding. Smaller-minded people who conform to the gutless "unequally yoked" doctrine throw up their hands and don't even try.

Answer 5

Well, you can't jump to conclusions here, but you are probably right. If the woman is very religious, she will probably find her boyfriend is doomed to Hell for being a nonbeliever and she would break it off, or try to *save* him. But the man could be just as easily offended by her beliefs, and there could be real trouble in their relationship. Relationships are built on common beliefs and interests and one would think this hypothetical couple would have discussed this a LONG time ago, like on the first few dates. I think you're right though, it would be the woman who would end it. But I bet you she would take a crack at *saving him* first!

Answer 6

Alright, alright, wait a minute, see - so the man & woman get this far in love in the relationship and they didn't know this about each other right off the bat? I find this hard to believe if their religious beliefs obviously rule their life, don't you? By the time it gets to "sweetheart, I'm an atheist" , come on---let me guess, they met on the internet?

Answer 7

I'm a woman and an atheist. I think the man shouldn't really have a problem with the woman if he's an atheist and that the woman may have a bigger problem with the man becuase religious people tend to defend their beliefs more than those without religion.

Answer 8

Why do you assume they would have to break up? I've been with my Christian boyfriend for over 2 years now. He knows perfectly well that I am an atheist, and it never once occurred to him that he needed to dump me because of it. I will add that he knew this from our fourth date. There are many things we don't always agree on, but we love each other just the same.

Answer 9

It would be the woman. because her belief would be stronger than her love for the man. Doesn't make sense does it?
But on the other hand I personally know inter faith couples who are very happy, and have stood the test of time.
It all depends on the individuals themselves.

Answer 10

I think the woman is a fool if she did let a good man go because of religion's sake... but if she's that dumb get the man's number for me.. good men are hard to find.