For those of you who are Christian...

[imported_Tomato]

Would you date or engage in a serious relationship with a non-Christian? And if things went well, would you marry him/her?

I did a search for the topic and couldn't find anything. This applies to other religions as well... just using an example specific to my situation.

I used to be a nondenominational Christian... after studying other religions and seeing the similarities, I lost interest in specifically practicing Christianity. I have a blind date coming up with this guy (right hand side, black suit). A mutual friend set us up. The thing is... he seems very devout (church every Sunday, mother teaches Sunday school to little kids) and I'm somewhat spiritual, but not really religious. Does anyone have any personal experiences, with themselves or with parents/relatives?

EDIT: If you could, please list your religion along with your answer. i.e. Christian, would date/marry.

 

[XZeroII]

sure

 

[amnesiac]

I used to be agnostic, then I met my g/f who is nondenominational Christian. Her plan was to not marry a non-Christian but she'd have made an exception for me. Well, I decided to look into Christianity for my own good, without any pushing or prompting on her part, and I have come to accept it and now proudly call myself a Christian. One of the best things that's ever happened to me.

I went to church for the first time in a long, long time - Rocky Mountain Calvary, and it was actually *fun*. If we had a church like that near my house I'd go every week.

 

[datalink7]

Well, one of my better friends has said "I'd never marry someone who I knew was going to hell."

But he doesn't seem adverse to hanging out/going out with non-religious people.

And my Mom is a Catholic and my Dad is an atheist, and they've been married for 21 years (though things aren't looking good now, but for reasons other than religion).

I can't tell you personally because I am an atheist

 

[StageLeft]

I think if you date a person whom you know you can never marry it will get pretty old pretty fast.

 

[imported_Tomato]

Originally posted by: Skoorb
I think if you date a person whom you know you can never marry it will get pretty old pretty fast.

Eh... I know some "Christians" who date and sleep with non-Christians, yet swear they'll "only marry a good Christian woman." Ugh.

 

[djheater]

Originally posted by: Dezign
Would you date or engage in a serious relationship with a non-Christian? And if things went well, would you marry him/her?

I did a search for the topic and couldn't find anything. This applies to other religions as well... just using an example specific to my situation.

I used to be a nondenominational Christian... after studying other religions and seeing the similarities, I lost interest in specifically practicing Christianity. I have a blind date coming up with this guy (right hand side, black suit). A mutual friend set us up. The thing is... he seems very devout (church every Sunday, mother teaches Sunday school to little kids) and I'm somewhat spiritual, but not really religious. Does anyone have any personal experiences, with themselves or with parents/relatives?

EDIT: If you could, please list your religion along with your answer. i.e. Christian, would date/marry.

In many Christian denominations it is considered pious to proselethyze(sp?). If he is religious I would guess you get to the third or possibly fourth date (MAX) before he starts trying to convert you.

 

[Queasy]

My wife is the religious one in our marriage (Christian - Church of Christ). She goes to church every Sunday and I find it hard to go most of the time.

But, prior to her, I did date non-Christians and would not have had a problem marrying someone outside of my religion.

 

[kranky]

I wouldn't marry a non-Christian (I'm a nondenominational Christian). That's why I wouldn't date one either - because if it developed into something serious, it would be doomed from the start. It seems unfair to the other person.

 

[Spyro]

Originally posted by: Dezign

Originally posted by: Skoorb
I think if you date a person whom you know you can never marry it will get pretty old pretty fast.

Eh... I know some "Christians" who date and sleep with non-Christians, yet swear they'll "only marry a good Christian woman." Ugh.

I take that to mean that they aren't really practising christians.

 

[Spyro]

Originally posted by: kranky
I wouldn't marry a non-Christian (I'm a nondenominational Christian). That's why I wouldn't date one either - because if it developed into something serious, it would be doomed from the start. It seems unfair to the other person.

Well said.

 

[Beau]

So you chrisitians that would not date non-christians believe that your decision to do so is one that christ himself would have made? Hmm... never thought of Christ as a close-minded hypocrat.

 

[Isla]

It is not a good idea.

Even among Christians, there is a lot of 'bad blood'. My in laws look down on my family because I went to a Catholic church growing up, and so they think I come from a family of devil worshipping heathens. They are rude and disparaging and say it is all in the name of God and righteousness. And I just look at them and think, "Um, hello? Do you even know Jesus???"


I think that if you established a friendship with someone of a different religion and that friendship grew over time into love, then perhaps it could work out. God certainly does work in mysterious ways. However, dating someone implies a romantic activity... looking for love as it were... and if I were you, I would stick to dating people who have similar views to your own.

 

[Analog]

what do you consider the same religion? Some may not consider Jehovah's Witnesses or Mormons as Christians. But I do understand your question.

 

[fonzinator]

As a Bible-believing Christian, here's my view:
1 Corinthians 6:14-16
Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? 15 What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? 16 What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: "I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people."

 

[datalink7]

Originally posted by: Isla
It is not a good idea.

Even among Christians, there is a lot of 'bad blood'. My in laws look down on my family because I went to a Catholic church growing up, and so they think I come from a family of devil worshipping heathens. They are rude and disparaging and say it is all in the name of God and righteousness. And I just look at them and think, "Um, hello? Do you even know Jesus???"


I think that if you established a friendship with someone of a different religion and that friendship grew over time into love, then perhaps it could work out. God certainly does work in mysterious ways. However, dating someone implies a romantic activity... looking for love as it were... and if I were you, I would stick to dating people who have similar views to your own.

Untrue. Like I stated above, my mom is a Catholic and my dad is a Atheist. Married 21 years. My mom goes to church every sunday, and observes the religious holidays.

It can be easily worked out if you love the other person

 

[Isla]

Originally posted by: datalink7

Originally posted by: Isla
It is not a good idea.

Even among Christians, there is a lot of 'bad blood'. My in laws look down on my family because I went to a Catholic church growing up, and so they think I come from a family of devil worshipping heathens. They are rude and disparaging and say it is all in the name of God and righteousness. And I just look at them and think, "Um, hello? Do you even know Jesus???"


I think that if you established a friendship with someone of a different religion and that friendship grew over time into love, then perhaps it could work out. God certainly does work in mysterious ways. However, dating someone implies a romantic activity... looking for love as it were... and if I were you, I would stick to dating people who have similar views to your own.

Untrue. Like I stated above, my mom is a Catholic and my dad is a Atheist. Married 21 years. My mom goes to church every sunday, and observes the religious holidays.

It can be easily worked out if you love the other person

Untrue for you!

I was never an atheist, I was always a Christian. But my inlaws didn't feel I was the right kind of Christian, which means that I don't believe exactly as they do.

It all depends on how extreme the people involved are... and apparently, your mom is non-judgemental towards your father, which is how a Christian should be.

 

[datalink7]

Originally posted by: Isla

Originally posted by: datalink7

Originally posted by: Isla
It is not a good idea.

Even among Christians, there is a lot of 'bad blood'. My in laws look down on my family because I went to a Catholic church growing up, and so they think I come from a family of devil worshipping heathens. They are rude and disparaging and say it is all in the name of God and righteousness. And I just look at them and think, "Um, hello? Do you even know Jesus???"


I think that if you established a friendship with someone of a different religion and that friendship grew over time into love, then perhaps it could work out. God certainly does work in mysterious ways. However, dating someone implies a romantic activity... looking for love as it were... and if I were you, I would stick to dating people who have similar views to your own.

Untrue. Like I stated above, my mom is a Catholic and my dad is a Atheist. Married 21 years. My mom goes to church every sunday, and observes the religious holidays.

It can be easily worked out if you love the other person

Untrue for you!

I was never an atheist, I was always a Christian. But my inlaws didn't feel I was the right kind of Christian, which means that I don't believe exactly as they do.

It all depends on how extreme the people involved are... and apparently, your mom is non-judgemental towards your father, which is how a Christian should be.

And aside, my dad started going to church recently with my mom, after avidly saying he would never go for 20 years of being married

 

[Stark]

Originally posted by: Beau
So you chrisitians that would not date non-christians believe that your decision to do so is one that christ himself would have made? Hmm... never thought of Christ as a close-minded hypocrat.

Well, Paul met Jesus in person and was inspired to write: "Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?" (2 Corinthinans 6:14)

Considering he used to persecute the early Christian church and after converting felt that a Christian should not be joined to an unbeliever, he was either the biggest "close-minded hypocrat" in history, or he was a really smart guy. I vote for smart.

Paul says that if people are married and one becomes a Christian, they should stay married. They just shouldn't start out a relationship if they don't share one of the most fundamental parts of spiritual life: faith.

Dezign, I was an RS minor at a public college and looking at different religions did not kill my desire to explore Christianity. In fact, it sealed in my mind why the Christian church is the one I want to committ myself to. I went from being a "backslider" in college to a fairly active member of my church. Having my wife attend with me and support things like volunteering and teaching is essential. I couldn't think of anything worse in a marriage than not sharing a faith in Christ.

I highly recommend that you look into it further. Not only will if benefit your soul, but you probably won't end up with guys like GI Psycho. I wish I knew a good church on the westside...

 

[datalink7]

but you probably won't end up with guys like GI Psycho

lol... who's GI Psycho?

 

[Nitemare]

My wife is a non-practicing Catholic. I am a non-practicing baptist who has an extreme disdain for all organized religions...


perfect match

 

[Geekbabe]

I'm not religous and wouldn't even consider anything serious with somebody who was.

 

[slycat]

christian, would date and marry

 

[ryzmah]

Christian who married another Christian, and no I would neither date nor marry someone who didn't share my faith. I just don't see how I could have had an intimate relationship with someone who rejects the most important part of my life, and I was never a big fan of casual dating.

 

[AreaCode707]

Christian, and no on both counts. As some people have said, it's not really fair to date someone if you know it's not going anywhere. And it wouldn't go anywhere, not because of bigotry, as some people seem to think, but because my core definition of marriage would differ from a non-Christian's definition. For me, marriage vitally involves God, worship, and spiritual unity. A non-Christian and I would be incompatible in what we wanted from a relationship, and that would cause dissatisfaction for both of us. Better to be "equally yoked" with somebody who shares your beliefs in what a relationship should be.