would you be able to date an atheist?

Question

i am a very tolerant person, i have friends of every religion, my cousin is even atheist...my friend is going out with this guy right [i know all of my friends have issues, God save us all!], things are geting extremely serious, talks of marriage! since talks of marriage came up, the topic of children came up and she said well we're going to raise them Catholic and he said no that they should choose since he's athesit! now that is a shocker because whenever she went to church he also went with her! so since his parents are baptists, she thought that he was trying to see both side to see if he should convert or not. now she's asking me for advice! i dont know what to tell her, she said that if she had known from the beginning he was an athesit she wouldnt have never gone out with him. honestly i will never go out with an atheist, people from other religions yes, depending of the religion of course, but with an athesit never.1-what should i tell her? 2-would u ever go out with an atheist

for the people who ACTUALLY read the question and answered properly thank you. tho those whom i offended well what do you want me to say sorry? I'm not sorry I actually believe that. so humm yea...think what you want of me or my question, that's YOUR opinion.

Answer 1

no i would not but i'm married but if i weren't i wouldn't date an athiest i don't think he should raise his children not believing maybe your friend should consider what kind of life her and their children would live before marrying him maybe he will change maybe he won't but this is something she should think seriously about before saying i do in front of God and witnesses i hope she makes the right decision for herself

Answer 2

There's nothing you can tell her. If they have children, they each have the right to raise the child as they each believe. The idea isn't the one should be trying to convert the other just because they suddenly realize that they could potentially mate; they have to find a compromise, or they shouldn't have kids. You can list any number of complications and consequences, but that simple choice is what everything will boil down to in the end.

As for your second question, no, I wouldn't ever go out with an Atheist. I wouldn't go out with anybody; I'm married. :P

If I wasn't, yes, I'd go out with an Atheist in a heartbeat. But my wife and I are both Atheists, though neither of us was one when we started dating (I was agnostic, and she was a universalist). I've gone out with Christians (of various shades), Atheists, and a pagan. Compatability never has anything to do with faith unless you want it to get in the way.

Answer 3

Unless he comes around,(only God can do that-Don't push him) she would be better off to heed the words of the Bible to not become unequally yoked together with someone that does not believe.

He might be the greatest guy on two feet, but there are reasons...

She should MAKE the time to look into the fundamental differences between Christians and non-Christians. The underlaying philosophies and motivations are worlds away different.

I speak from experience, and have seen many others that have had misery because they thought they could change the other person.

Answer 4

If you are religious, you will have difficulties dealing with an atheist. Not that they can't be resolved...

But since atheism is patently offensive to anyone with a belief system, that atheist will not be able to truly express himself without pissing off his partner.

The noteworthy thing is, it doesn't work that way for the atheist. If anything, an atheist might chuckle if you express your religious beliefs. But we don't find religion offensive. Intolerance is not built into the atheist.

It is part and parcel of nearly every religion on earth, however.

Answer 5

If they can't come to an agreement that they can both live with over this, they shouldn't be together, things'll only get worse. Personally, I think the boyfriend has the better idea here. Expose the children to as many different beliefs as possible, including Catholic, but let them decide when they are old enough.

Yes, I've been dating an Atheist for over a year now. He's lovely. :)

Answer 6

for some people, the structure of organized religion, or a set of dogma, can truly be a divisive issue that would ruin any long-term relationship.

for others who put people ahead of labels, it can be an interesting difference, but not a barrier.

from what you describe, she is of the first group and he of the second. She needs to decide what is more important - the man or the trimmings.

Answer 7

This situation is one of the reasons why the prejudice against atheists in the U.S. needs to change. If we weren't looked down upon so vehemently by many Christians, this man would have been more comfortable telling your friend about his beliefs.

Because of the prejudices, he didn't. And now she has an awkward situation, and one where there probably isn't any good solution.

Answer 8

Since she has already stated if she had known he was an Atheist she wouldn't have gone out with him, she anwered her own question.

It's obvious that she loves her religion more than this man she was thinking of marrying.

I'd go out with one if I didn't already have someone in my life. Heck the guy in my life is Catholic. Go figure.

Answer 9

Only an atheist yes.
I find it more comfortable to date people that don't have mental disorders like schizoid delusional mental disorders.
There is always the risk that with time, this disorder evolves in a full blown mental disease.
Believing that invisible things are watching you, listening to you, influencing your life etc... are symptoms of these disorders... The good news is that today, a psychiatrist can often treat them.

Answer 10

What's wrong with allowing a child to choose? Does your religion need to be forced upon the children?

Answer 11

Yes I would and have dated atheists just as I have dated people from various religious beliefs. People are people and those who are willing to work at relationships can find common ground. I'm married to an Anglican myself and I'm agnostic.