do inter-religion relationships work?

[marquee]

do relationships between people of different religions work? (or relationships between a religious and no religious person) or does one person eventually have to change?

just wondering... i'm curious to see what other people think about this.

edit: assuming both arent fanatical.. like they go to church every sunday, but they arent actively trying to convert every friend they have. and would it work better between, say, an agnostic and a christian, then say, a buddhist and a christian?

 

[isasir]

Oh god I hope so.

 

[Kenazo]

not really. depends on the religion, I would think. If it is an exclusive religion, like Christianity, or islam, I would think not, since you'd be pretty upset knowing your SO would go to hell.

 

[EvilYoda]

They certainly could...although I for one know that I'll never be with a women who's very outwardly religious. In terms of "dating", I'm sure it can work, but if the couple starts thinking long-term, that's where problems occur.

 

[StageLeft]

Depends on the religions and the relative interest of each individual. A muslim with a catholic will not work if both are devout in it. It could work, I suppose, but is unlikely. However a jew and a methodist might, especially if the jew doesn't really give a crap about their religion.

 

[Jzero]

It depends on which religions and just how religious the involved parties are.

 

[The Stigenator]

yes.. so far its worked for us.

inter (religion, culture, and ethinicity(if you want you can call that racial))

 

[rsd]

Interesting question..

Because I'm in this exact situation. My family is Catholic with Middle Eastern origins, and my gf is muslim. We get along amazingly well and we're best friends, but it takes a lot of talking and frankness to deal with the religion stuff. Neither of us are super religious, so I feel it doesn't effect our daily lives much.

However the difficult part is that our parents do not know about this situation

So if we get to the point that we decide to marry/tell them, we are expecting it to be difficult.

But imho communication is key and we try to talk about the future and what we'd do with kids etc etc. There is no easy answer or solution, but if you are serious about it honesty and frankness are the only ways it can last.

C'est la vie

 

[rsd]

Interesting question..

Because I'm in this exact situation. My family is Catholic with Middle Eastern origins, and my gf is muslim. We get along amazingly well and we're best friends, but it takes a lot of talking and frankness to deal with the religion stuff. Neither of us are super religious, so I feel it doesn't effect our daily lives much.

However the difficult part is that our parents do not know about this situation

So if we get to the point that we decide to marry/tell them, we are expecting it to be difficult.

But imho communication is key and we try to talk about the future and what we'd do with kids etc etc. There is no easy answer or solution, but if you are serious about it honesty and frankness are the only ways it can last.

C'est la vie

 

[Kenazo]

Originally posted by: Skoorb
Depends on the religions and the relative interest of each individual. A muslim with a catholic will not work if both are devout in it. It could work, I suppose, but is unlikely. However a jew and a methodist might, especially if the jew doesn't really give a crap about their religion.

are methodists not very evangelical? otherwise, I think the methodist would keep trying to convert the Jew. Assuming of course they care about either their religion or their spouse.

 

[MercenaryForHire]

Hmm. No one believes that the religious party will be the one "converted"?

- M4H

 

[Kenazo]

Originally posted by: MercenaryForHire
Hmm. No one believes that the religious party will be the one "converted"?

- M4H

I just mean that the irrlegious party would have less interest in proselytizing.

 

[MercenaryForHire]

Originally posted by: Kenazo

Originally posted by: MercenaryForHire
Hmm. No one believes that the religious party will be the one "converted"?

- M4H

I just mean that the irrlegious party would have less interest in proselytizing.

All I know is that I'm engaged to a girl who was raised Catholic ... and she isn't anymore.

- M4H

 

[Kenazo]

cathlic school girl... for you.

 

[Asharus]

It's definitely an issue w/ my Jew girlfriend. My family is quite religous (Christian). There's no way they're going to approve of her. Although I've been w/ her for 8 years now...

The last time she was over my house was when we weren't together yet.... and when they're away.

 

[MercenaryForHire]

Originally posted by: Kenazo
cathlic school girl... for you.

:evil:

- M4H

 

[rsd]

I also find this topic interesting particularly in the context of growing up in the U.S.A., because our country is fairly unique in extensiveness of the blending of religions, races, etc. Often the kids have parents and families that are very traditional, but grow up to be "American". The kids are growing up in a completely different world and environment than their parents did and it is difficult for the kids to always do things "traditionally". I just find it interesting and wonder what it will be like in another generation or two in the US.

 

[Lonyo]

I'm a definite atheist, and my GF is a Catholic (so is her whole family - Church every Sunday and all that kind of thing).
I often have to watch my tounge, because I can be offensive towards religious people (specifically Christians, I went to a Church of England primary school and we had to pray each day and have church services, made me hate Christianity), but we get on alright, only been a couple of months though, but we were friends before that.

 

[dullard]

Yes they work quite well. I'm an athiest and my wife is a Catholic. We get along perfectly. In 9 years we've never had a problem with religion.

Why? I want to live in a comfortable, safe environment. Anarchy is not a thing I'd like to experience. Thus I know that a series of guidelines needs to be followed. Also, others who are around me also need to obey the guidelines. What are these guidelines? Things like: no murder, no robbery, treat others kindly, etc. If everyone did these, I'd be happier (and so would society). I want to maximize my own as well as society's happiness. I do not need a supreme being or a religion to tell me this.

If you boil just about any religion down to its bare essentials, (ie if you ignore the far less important things like "dress up for church on Sunday"), then the result is a set of morals. These morals are nearly identical for all religions. Not surprizingly, these morals are basically the same as my guidelines. Thus I am obeying just about all the major issues in just about all religions. My wife is smart enough to notice.

 

[clamum]

Yeah I think so. Like others have said, it depends on how important each person regards their religion. My girlfriend is Catholic along with her family (they go to church every Sunday, grace before dinner), although my girlfriend doesn't go to church really and isn't that religious. I'm agnostic. So I guess we're kind of similar in that respect anyways

 

[MercenaryForHire]

Originally posted by: dullard
Yes they work quite well. I'm an athiest and my wife is a Catholic. We get along perfectly. In 9 years we've never had a problem with religion.

Why? I want to live in a comfortable, safe environment. Anarchy is not a thing I'd like to experience. Thus I know that a series of guidelines needs to be followed. Also, others who are around me also need to obey the guidelines. What are these guidelines? Things like: no murder, no robbery, treat others kindly, etc. If everyone did these, I'd be happier (and so would society). I want to maximize my own as well as society's happiness. I do not need a supreme being or a religion to tell me this.

If you boil just about any religion down to its bare essentials, (ie if you ignore the far less important things like "dress up for church on Sunday"), then the result is a set of morals. These morals are nearly identical for all religions. Not surprizingly, these morals are basically the same as my guidelines. Thus I am obeying just about all the major issues in just about all religions. My wife is smart enough to notice.

But ... but ... you're still going to the imaginary BBQ pit!

- M4H

 

[dullard]

Originally posted by: MercenaryForHire
But ... but ... you're still going to the imaginary BBQ pit!

Oh I forgot that part. Luckilly my wife doesn't think a merciful God would allow anyone to rot it the BBQ pit forever (just a few million years). So she isn't perfectly Catholic. But no one perfectly fits their church either.

She also feels that with all my good deeds I would have no trouble getting into her heaven (I'm probably the most moral person she knows even though I have no morals, I have guidelines).

 

[WinkOsmosis]

No. That's foolish. Just like a vegetarian and George Foreman wouldn't work out. If you really believe in your mumbo jumbo, why would you want someone who believes that your mumbo jumbo is wrong andher mumbo jumbo is right? One of you has to go to hell.

 

[JEDI]

Originally posted by: marquee
do relationships between people of different religions work? (or relationships between a religious and no religious person) or does one person eventually have to change?

just wondering... i'm curious to see what other people think about this.

edit: assuming both arent fanatical.. like they go to church every sunday, but they arent actively trying to convert every friend they have. and would it work better between, say, an agnostic and a christian, then say, a buddhist and a christian?

athiests != christian

 

[Bassyhead]

Originally posted by: Jzero
It depends on which religions and just how religious the involved parties are.

agreed