I'm just wondering how much of a role religion (or differences in religion) play in your relationship with your significant other. I have a crush on a guy right now who's a pretty strong Christian, but I'm agnostic. Sometimes I wonder if it's even worth pursuing him, because of our differences in view on religion. I'd be ok as long as he doesn't preach to me all day or try to convert me, but I don't know if he'd accept a non-Christian other.

What about you? How has religion affected your relationships with significant others?

well, my boyfriend is fairly Christian and i'm Jewish, so the differences there are pretty big. so far we just haven't let religion be a big thing between us, i guess we figure that as long as we don't preach to each other we're alright. a lot of times religion just doesn't make its way into our conversations.

he's not actually religious, so it's kind of easier. i don't know about the future though, cuz i'd like my kids to have some sort of a religious background when they go to school. like they learn a little bit of christianity or something.
i'm not catholic or christian (i did go to a catholic private school though, same with my bf), nor is my bf. but yeah. doesn't really affect us. i'm a buddhist but i don't really practice buddhism. my parents do, though, but we're not a very very veryyyyyy religious family.

im sure the guy you like (assuming he likes you) wouldnt mind if you start dating.
but once the relationship gets a little serious, its definitely something he'd consider.
my bro, whos a pretty strong christian dated a person who was somewhat buddhist but not really (her parents were just buddhist..) and then our parents and her parents disapproved bc of religion. it makes it all the more harder.

Lol...wow I'm in the same exact situation.

Lol I'm agnostic too and I'm not sure how I'd feel going out with someone who has a strong religious belief

I do respect people's religion but I'm not sure if I would want to be with someone constantly bombarding me with religious stuff (God this and that, etc.)

I'd probably be tired from arguing at the end of the day

i've gotta say, religion is the last thing i worry about my sos. O_o. i dont think its that bad. unless one is like HARDCORE religious. then that gets a little tough

Yea...I'd probably just be like...sure hun...yea sweetie thats great. Lol....btw IlikeChicken is your avatar from Death Note?

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Well if it gets that serious...you know stuff about marriage, I'd be willing to do anything for my s/o. So if she's Christian I'm totally willing to do anything with her. Anything for the person I love.

I don't care about religion. I'm christian, but I'll give everyone a chance. But my parents on the other hand tells me that I can't date a non-christian

oh geeez...
religious is the number one thing i look for in a guy... xD so differen't from everyone elses's replies lol
i want someone there for me if i'm struggling spiritually. and i would like my boyfriend to help me and pray for me that i'll get through it.
idk.. that's something my boyfriend has to have. or else it wouldn't work out for me.
btw. i'm 100% christian and 100% in love with god. :]

I don't have a s/o , but this is just my opinion on the topic:

If one, or both, partner(s) is/are religious (and by religious I mean s/he has a strong belief in _____), it may not matter that much when you're going out, but once you get married and have kids, it's going to a somewhat serious/conflictual (is that a word? lol) issue. Particularly on how you're going to raise your kids.

if he's a strong christian...it isn't going to work out in the long run unless you convert. i'm a christian and i've seen soo many of these christian-nonchristian relationships. if he really values his relationship with God, he will keep going to church...and eventually...it may start bugging you. your values/priorities in life may be different. i don't meant morales necessarily...but for example, Christians believe that life on earth is temporary so they may work 24/7 for God's sake. a non christian may feel that people must enjoy life...so they'll try to squeeze in some leisure time and won't understand why the Christian is working so hard. This is a very extreme example...but it's these little things that start chewing away at a relationships.

it's so so important to have similar views on life...and if christianity is a big part of his, you better share it to or else it's not likely to work out in the long run

Both my significant other and I aren't religious.
I wouldn't mind dating anyone who is, just a long as they're not super religious and are open minded.

I had a discussion about this with this person.
Well my classmate whos a guy is a real religious Christian...like seriously.
When I disagree with his thoughts about god and how I believe there's something else out there,
he starts talking about the bible and its not like I dislike him, I just get annoyed with the strong beliefs about something that's uncertain.
I have nothing against people who love religion though.

But personally, I'm a non conformist so I would love to have someone whos a non conformist and willing to accept my views.

i find it easier when neither of us are religious. i've only been in on relationship where the guy was super religious. as long as they don't press their beliefs on me and they respect what i believe (as i'm an atheist), i will be thoughtful back and everything will be fine.

two of my really good friends broke up because of their religion. >__<
she's christian and he's a Jehovah's Witness so there was a big difference that caused them to separate. =(

To be honest religion doesn't really get between my s/o
and I because he used to be Buddhist and now he's Agnostic
and I'm Buddhist (more like Agnostic too LOL). Religion wouldn't
affect me unless the person is really hard core and tries to change my ways.
However, the morals are more important to me ;P

no matter how attractive i find this significant other (personality and appearance wise) if he's not the same religion as I am, i wouldn't go for him.

no matter how perfect he is in my eyes and just everything about him suits my ideal guy, if he's not the same religion as I am, i wouldn't go for him.

yes, religion plays an important role in a relationship

well for dating and crushing, i dont find religion that important yet.
i mean when i get married, it might be important but for now... no so much.
it would be nice if the guy had the same religion as me though.
more common ground and then we can go to church together.

It depends on the person. I say that Christianity plays an important role in my life. When it comes to "religion," it is nice to have someone to have something in common with me as well. I don't mind dating a non-Christian but I do prefer to date a Christian guy.

If he's a strong Christian like you're saying, and you're not even gonna give God a chance, then you should give up.
I was born into a pastor's family, I wouldn't call myself a strong Christian, but I do get how important it is for me to find a nice Christian boy, lol. My ex wasn't a Christian, and it didn't matter to me, but it did have it's consequences. I guess it did take a strain on our relationship because I always had to go to church and he had his stuff to do and time was a really important factor that caused us to break up. From a "religious point of view," now that I think about it, I think it would have been really nice if he could have gone to church with me and stuff. So I think it's important to find someone who practices the same faith as you, or at least doesn't mind what you're practicing.

But to be honest, if you're looking for a serious relationship, a strong Christian and an agnostic, it's hard to make it work.

I always turn to Christianity when I feel my life is screwed up. I know that I can use the virtues of christ to be a good man so there shouldn't be a reason why Christianity would get in the way of a relationship.

When I heard Brother Paul Washer explain marriage, it really and truly makes sense to me.

Click Here
^ Towards the last two minutes or so:

"I can't even hardly read a lot of Christian books on marriage. Why? Well, marriage is all about a little bit of Heaven on Earth. No it's not! Even though marriage can be a glorious thing, do you know what marriage is about? Conforming you to the image of Christ. And God does not search around to find you a mate that's compatible. Did you know that? More than likely He's going to search around and find you a mate that's totally incompatible with you. Why? He's going to give you a mate that's strong in all the areas where they must be strong that you not be tempted beyond what you can bear; but He's also going to give you a mate who fails in some of the areas where you most do not want them to fail so you become like Jesus. And what does that mean? So that you learn to love someone unconditionally who doesn't meet all the conditions."

I can honestly say that through all of the dark times, the glue of my parents' marriage is their personal relationship with God. I'm pretty sure that other religions, not just Christianity, have something like 2 Corinthians 6:14 -

2 Corinthians 6:14 "Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?"

A belief system encompasses ALL areas of life: finances, family, friendships, etc. If you and the people you have relationships with (friends and significant others) don't SHARE those beliefs... then you are in for some pretty rough times.

As for me, I'm trusting God to give the person He wants for me in His timing. I know that that man is not just going to be some EC (Easter-Christmas) or Sunday-only Christian. He and I won't be perfect people, but we'll be people who are Christian because we examine ourselves against Scripture.

While I am single right now, I don't count that as 'wasted' time, or just time spent 'waiting' for something better. I view it like this:

The Godly Woman - Becoming Esther

i'm dating someone who is presbytarian nd i'm catholic. he doesn't care about his religion. i think the only time it really matters is if both are really into their religions coz then conflict occurs.

QUOTE (prettyddalgi @ Mar 26 2008, 10:06 PM)

oh geeez...
religious is the number one thing i look for in a guy... xD so differen't from everyone elses's replies lol
i want someone there for me if i'm struggling spiritually. and i would like my boyfriend to help me and pray for me that i'll get through it.
idk.. that's something my boyfriend has to have. or else it wouldn't work out for me.
btw. i'm 100% christian and 100% in love with god. :]

I 100% agree with you.
The number one thing I look for in a guy is his faith in God.
If the guy had everything I was looking for except for his love for God I wouldn't date him unless he would want to convert and be devoted to God.

but I mean its up to you and him to try this out.
Who knows you might convert into a Christian.
My friend dated a Christian boy and said that she would never convert, and now she has a stronger faith in God than her boyfriend does.

^ *gulp* For the girl I love...anything.

Hmm, my boyfriend is Christian, I'm agnostic, and it doesn't get in the way of our relationship (2 1/2yrs). He does take his religion seriously, but he doesn't preach or anything and he's still open-minded about other people's views. Personally, I actually kind of like learning about different religions. I think it all comes down to the individual and how you guys manage the relationship.