Interfaith marriages-do they work?

RAS

And I would find it almost impossible to marry someone who adhered steadfastly to any faith or insisted on raising children in their own faith.

sterl1ng

Spendless wrote: »

I met a woman who was Hindu and her husband Catholic. They seemed happy together, though I didn't know her well.

Same here, I know of british Indian born Hindu lady who few years ago married her Irish catholic husband. He was a secret to her family for years until she finally told them as they were trying to arrange marry her but she put foot own. Her parents were devastated but came round. The couple now have to children who have both been christened to follow their dads religion

lostinrates

Torry_Quine wrote: »

I certainly don't want to be seen as questioning the strength of anyone's marriage, none of us can ever know what really happens.

I'm just trying in my ham-fisted way to explain the Christian position as I understand it. My soul-mate could only ever have been a Christian.

There can be no one 'Christian' position as the denominations differ on various aspects of marriage. There is very rarely one position on anything in any religion!

My mother is not allowed to take communion in her church because of her divorce, for example. Where as divorce is allowed on others. She was allowed to marry other denominations of Christian, there was an expectation her children would be Christians into the Catholic Church.


When we had a very brief flirtation with pleasing our families in a religious ceremony it was hard to find a catholic priest who would be involved but not a rabbi, and the rabbi found a catholic priest.

balletshoes

Torry_Quine wrote: »

Honest question, how can you marry someone knowing that from your perspective you won't spend eternity with them?

as I don't believe in eternity, that was never a consideration for me (or my OH) when we got married.

Tiglath

Agnostic/bored-by-religion married to a Pagan for 12 years - it works fine for us, although I sometimes get irritated that he spends so much time online refereeing arguments and hissy fits. On the other hand he goes to lots of moots and conferences (Pagan and interfaith) as a speaker so I get plenty of 'me time' alone.

Torry_Quine

peachyprice wrote: »

But you are extremist in your belief, not many people are. That doesn't make their beliefs any lesser that yours though.

I'm not extremist though, as in someone who goes to extreme measures.

lostinrates wrote: »

There can be no one 'Christian' position as the denominations differ on various aspects of marriage. There is very rarely one position on anything in any religion!

My mother is not allowed to take communion in her church because of her divorce, for example. Where as divorce is allowed on others. She was allowed to marry other denominations of Christian, there was an expectation her children would be Christians into the Catholic Church.


When we had a very brief flirtation with pleasing our families in a religious ceremony it was hard to find a catholic priest who would be involved but not a rabbi, and the rabbi found a catholic priest.

Yes churches disagree on some things and personally I disagree with divorcees not being allowed communion. However the bible is very clear here. 2 Corinthians 6:14 tells us not to marry non-Christians and to be honest I didn't realise that many didn't follow this.

CH27

Torry_Quine wrote: »

Personally I could never have married someone of a different faith and could only think that if you did then compromises regarding your faith would be necessary. How can anyone marry someone who disagrees about something that is fundamental to your way of life which makes me wonder if those that do are possibly nominal.

Sorry if that sounds harsh but certainly Christians are specifically advised at the very least not to marry a non Christian.

The Bible tells Christians to be in the world & convert non believers.
How can people be converted if Christians are so insular?

I know several couples were a Christian has married a non believer & bought them to faith.

lostinrates

Torry_Quine wrote: »

I'm not extremist though, as in someone who goes to extreme measures.




Yes churches disagree on some things and personally I disagree with divorcees not being allowed communion. However the bible is very clear here. 2 Corinthians 6:14 tells us not to marry non-Christians and to be honest I didn't realise that many didn't follow this.

Many 'Christians' are Christians in name only, and go along with a spouse in name only. They are agnostic, or like the music, or just accept it as part of routine. Is that more acceptable than being an overt non Christian?

Torry_Quine

CH27 wrote: »

The Bible tells Christians to be in the world & convert non believers.
How can people be converted if Christians are so insular?

I know several couples were a Christian has married a non believer & bought them to faith.

That is good but it can and often does work the other way.

Yes spreading the news about Jesus is important but that can be in many different ways such as friendship.

Angelicdevil

Torry_Quine wrote: »

I'm Christian not Jewish so that doesn't apply.

Oh I see! You only pick the parts of the bible that suit you! Ignore Leviticus et al because it doesn't fit your version of "nice new" Christianity.

Anyway, that's my two penneth and I'll say no more as I know our views on religion are poles apart.

I wish you could see how a loving marriage between two people of different faiths works and how it enriches both people without compromising their inner faith.