Interreligious relationships - Can they work?

Question

I am 16 years old and have been raised a Christian. I'm in love with a Muslim. This question is not for anyone to shoot down. It's a serious question. Can interreligious relationships work?

Answer 1

From what I've seen, inter-religious relaitionships either end up being non-religious or non-relationships.

I'm sorry I couldn't be more positive.

Answer 2

Sometimes.
I won't tell you "It's okay in the Christian belief system!" (cherry picking anyone?) I think that relationships can be okay when dealing with two religions. It adds extra conflict though. Be prepared to deal with that-don't take it lightly like some people on Answers. My best friend is a Christian, and she got into a relationship with an Agnostic. She was sad that she couldn't share things, and feared that he was doomed for hell. She was really upset over it. Eventually they broke it off because of unrelated circumstances, but she realized that interreligious relationships aren't for her. I say: go ahead and see if you can work with one, but not everyone can and there's nothing wrong with that.

Answer 3

Apparently, interreligious relationships have worked when one of the two or both involved in the relationship do not adhere strongly to their religion. However, a true Christian that abides by the Bible’s commandments will obey what is said in 2 Cor. 6:14: “Do not become unevenly yoked with unbelievers. For ...what portion does a faithful person have with an unbeliever? ...” Also, 1 Cor. 6:14 advises that one should be married “only in [the] Lord.” This is a logical advice from the Bible, because if you practice different religions, you will not be able to worship together … and that might mean having to go to your place of worship alone and do most of your religious activities alone as the other person would also have to do these activities alone as well. The situation created here would not be the foundation to a united and lasting relationship. On the other hand, according to Isaiah 48:17-18: “This is what Jehovah has said, your Repurchaser, the Holy One of Israel: “I, Jehovah, am your God, the One teaching you to benefit [yourself], the One causing you to tread in the way in which you should walk. O if only you would actually pay attention to my commandments! Then your peace would become just like a river, and your righteousness like the waves of the sea.” So, it would be a good idea to “pay attention” to God’s commandments.

Answer 4

First off, let me say that yes, in general, a lot of interreligious relationships have worked when two people can fully respect one another. Second, let me say that I am NOT an ignorant American who is prejudiced against true Muslims. I am only against terrorists and the regimes that have horribly twisted Islam beyond what it ever truly was.

I don't know if your boyfriend lives in the Middle East or if he has family there, but just in case, let me ask you this...how can you know the difference, for sure? You have to be careful in this day and time of what you are getting yourself into. A lot of young men are being taught to lure young women such as yourself into these countries where you will have no rights whatsoever. And neither will your parents once you are married there, no matter what the law states here.They claim to be true Islam and are not. They are only what has been brainwashed into their head. Please please before you make any decisions regarding this relationship, check out these three links and make sure your situation does not compare.

http://drphil.com/shows/show/975/
http://drphil.com/shows/show/976/
http://drphil.com/shows/show/983/

Blessed Be to you and good luck in your life. You are young and full of ideals and that is wonderful...just make sure you look both ways before crossing that road.

Again, I AM NOT predjudiced against Muslims in anyway. I do not feel that Islam is represented in it's correct form by many, that's all.

Answer 5

I know of some couples who have succeeded in a mixed marriage and other couples who have divorced over religion (especially if one partner converts to a different religion in the middle). Really, it's up to the two of you. How much does one respect the religious beliefs of the other?

It's easy in the beginning, when it is just the two of you. You go to church, he goes to mosque and everyone is happy. What you really need to do is talk about what you will do with children. Which religion do you teach them? Teaching them both is an enormous amount of work. What commonly happens is one parent caves to the other. This may be very difficult for the who caves. They may feel that the children are being sent on the wrong path.

Also, make sure your views on gender roles match up. Depending on how westernized your boyfriend is, his view on the rights and roles of women may not be the same as yours.

Relationships and potentially marriage is serious. Make sure you two agree on enough stuff in the beginning. Finding out serious disagreements later can be disastrous.

I'm not saying it cannot work, just that there is more risk. You need to take steps to minimize that risk.

Answer 6

I speak from experience when I say, don't even think about marrying a nonchristian. I made the mistake of marrying a nonbeliever and now I'm paying for it.
You mentioned you were raised a Christian. You don't become a Christian by being raised by Christian parents. (God doesn't have any grandchildren.) It seems to me that, if you were a true believer in Jesus Christ, you would not be interested in a relationship with a Muslim. And 16 seems a little young to be in love with anyone!

Answer 7

Hi. It all boils down to how both of you will handle your relationship. For most of the time, both families will try to convince the both of you to find someone who is of the same believes. However, that won't be easy as both of you have to work out the differences in your believes. Confide in your elders may actually help.
God bless.

Answer 8

Your chances of making it work are much greater if you both put your religious beliefs at the bottom of what is really important to your relationship. If you are both basically fundamentalist about your (very different) faiths, I do not forsee a happy ending.

Answer 9

Don't focus on your differences. If you love each other, your differences are part of what you love about each other. You don't have to change and neither does he. But at 16, it's a bit early to be thinking about changing your religion to suit someone else or for you to ask someone to change to suit you.

Answer 10

Yes. sometimes one person will convert to the other religion and that is basically because they are exposedd to the new religion and want to. if both ppl can be understanding of the religious differences then it can def. work. :)

my sis in law converted to muslim because of her bf she said the reason was that she said muslim religion made more sense to her or something like that..so it can go either way.....

Answer 11

My two best friends have been together for three years. One is a Wiccan, the other is Christian. I'd say it can work well enough. :)

Best of luck.