If you met and fell in love with a member of a different religion, would you still marry him/her despite the differences? I'm looking for answers from a variety of religious backgrounds; please state which you are.
2007-07-07 06:00:54 · 23 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
It depends. In essence, a difference in religion would not prohibit me from marrying someone. The problem lies wherein the person's behavior is altered thereby.
I very much believe that religion can have an adverse effect on a person's character. Most monotheists of my country believe that you should declare a love more potent than for your spouse, of this character so described in their holy scriptures written by men. Many believe in an afterlife, and hence, many discard the true value of their life here and now. Many put a relatively heavy psychological reliance into prayer.
This sort of behavior is deterring to me, yes. But of course, that's only a small part of the spectrum. There are many different sorts of religions, that simply inhere philosophies separate from supernatural claims--good ones that are admirable, and logical. Even some that do embrace supernaturalism to some extent, but still do not organize around fundamentalist ideas of a Bronze Age society.
Admittedly, because I'm not a devout to any particular religion that deals with ceremonies like marriage, I'm somewhat irrelevant to that aspect of the question. But as far as loving someone goes--well, it's complicated. It's entirely dependent on what those differences are, and of what magnitude they are.
I, for the record, personally believe I couldn't easily fall in love with someone of such a conflicting religion unless they hid it from me. Otherwise, if I really fell in love with them, with such knowledge known, it obviously didn't seem too offsetting to me. And, if you intend to marry someday, I would think you should be fairly set on marrying the person you fall in love with. Then again, this is from my perspective, and perspectives vary. I just happen to recognize an appreciable significance in people's religious views.
2007-07-07 06:36:42 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Meeting and falling in love with another person from a different religion is hard to do if your active in your faith.
Therefore, this question is irrelevant to those who actively pursue their Lord.
How can you fall in love with someone who doesn't share the same faith as you? When your conversation and life center around living for the one you call Lord. There is to many conflicts that would arise during the beginning of the relationship.
Now the one who is inactive or simply joined a religious group because of convenience or upbringing, they can and do fall in love with others of different faiths. Usually because they meet at functions or events or work, the things that are not faith centered. And since the faith of both is simply a thing they say and never practice, they are both of the same faith which is complacency and thus can easily live together in harmony with only little issues when they come around family.
2007-07-07 13:14:31 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes. If you love someone, they are who you should marry. One would've subconciously taken into the account the other's religious beliefs prior to falling in love with them.
Being an atheist, it is easier for me to say I would marry outside of my beliefs than it would be for a religious person to say the same. A Christian wanting to marry a person from a different religion goes against what their Bible teaches.
To me, the real question is: COULD I fall in love with someone of a different religion? Some religious people's attitudes make me doubt I could ever fall in love with someone who has that approach to life. I'd be more inclinced to fall in love with someone who shared similar beliefs.
Really, it's just another trait that one might have a preference for, but it isn't the defining factor. If you love someone, there isn't anything that should prevent you from marrying them.
2007-07-08 18:15:21 · answer #3 · answered by James 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am a Christian and a pastor. My experience with such marriages is mixed. Where there are no children and the couples respect each other, it seems to work reasonably. As an example, I had a couple in a church where she was Catholic and he was United Methodist. She sang in our choir with him and he enjoyed worship with her.
However when children are involved the hassle over which faith to raise them in often leaves the family inactive and frustrated.
I generally agree with the other Christians who have responded. From my experience with mixed Christian marriages, I would expect that both would become inactive in their faith or would become very frustrated with each other.
My faith in Jesus is such that I would never be able to marry a person who didn't share that faith. If I loved her, I would be very unhappy knowing that she did not share that faith and worrying about her salvation.
Remember that our core beliefs and faith are an integral part of our life. As is demonstrated in divorce love is a feeling which may be passionate at the moment but can be lost in the frustrations of the future.
Pastor John
2007-07-07 13:23:17 · answer #4 · answered by pastorjohn59 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am a Christian. I do not think you should marry anyone with a different religion.
The bible says in 2 Corinthians 6:14 "Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?"
This is my honest opinion. I know it is hard to not marry someone who doesn't have the same beliefs as you, but they could easily bring you down.
2007-07-07 13:07:24 · answer #5 · answered by Kathleen 2 · 2⤊ 1⤋
I am a Buddhist married to a Russian Orthodox. Not a particular drama for either of us since we do not try to convert each other.
We are still trying to work out how far heaven is from Nirvanha but we will meet in one or both.
2007-07-07 13:12:55 · answer #6 · answered by John B 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Hello
My wife and I are Christian believers who believe the word and we hold no denominational title like Baptist Methodist Pentecostals Word of Truth Word of faith however we embrace the vital parts of the message that they all have under the umbrella of a non- denominational view point. My wife and I have a lot to talk about and not a lot to debate about by walking together in our belief.
Amos 3:3 (KJV)
Can two walk together, except they be agreed?
Matthew 12:25 (NIV)
Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them, "Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand.
2007-07-07 13:14:50 · answer #7 · answered by Tommy D 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Bible says to not be yoked with an unbeliever. No I wouldn't. However, the Bible also says that if a husband or wife is a believer and the other not, the believer should be a witness of Christ to their spouse. Hoping and praying that someday the unbelieving spouse, will see the need for salvation.
2007-07-07 13:07:03 · answer #8 · answered by Bruce7 4 · 2⤊ 1⤋
The Bible says that you need to be equally yoked. This refers to two oxen pulling a plow. If they are not equal they will not go in a straight line.
Different religions are ok as long as they are somewhat equal or compatible
2007-07-07 13:11:27 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am a Christian and I don't think I would want to marry someone of another faith. So much of my life revolves around Jesus Christ and sharing God with my family members and friends. It would hurt not be able to do this with my own wife also. It would hurt me to think that my wife did not truly have salvation, and that I would not be able to help her in the areas of faith, nor would she be able to help me.
For someone like me who takes religion serious, marriage to someone of another faith would not be a good idea. For those less religious, maybe it would not matter.
2007-07-07 13:11:29 · answer #10 · answered by ignoramus_the_great 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋