Importance of Same Religion In Dating

[Saturn98]

How important is it to date someone of the same religion? At what point should the topic come up? When she asks me to be the boyfriend?

 

For some religious beliefs play an important role in making major life decisions. For example I am a christian who holds more of an eternal perspective on this life. I believe we all go to heaven when we die. As a result I don't take my earthly body too seriously in terms of trying to live a long life. I am at peace with my own death whenever it happens. Therefore I don't worry about eating healthy foods. If I get cancer and die early then so be it.

 

I would not be compatible with someone who wants to live this life as long as possible such as an atheist or even a christian of a different flavor.

 

Also theology is one of my favorite topics of discussion so I may need a girlfriend who is into that.

[d0nnivain]

The more important religion is to someone, the more important it will be in the relationship.

 

I'm devout. My husband is not. I didn't care one whit what he did or believed when we were dating. When we got married I needed it to be in the Church & that was a deal breaker for me. I also needed to know that if we had kids they would be raised in our faith. DH was OK with that. He goes to services with me on holidays, and for weddings & funerals but that is about it. The first few times I served as a lector at church he came for moral support. We will be traveling over Christmas & he will go to church with me because we don't know it will be safe for me to go alone. He may wait outside or in a nearby café.

 

If faith is important to you, make sure your partner knows that early on. You can't force her to believe what you believe but do express your preferences. Once you know hers you can get a better sense of what you find acceptable.

[Foxhall]

Its not important to me at all what religion my partner is, though I suppose in terms of culture and so on, I would have more in common with other christians,

 

 

I am Catholic and would embrace those beliefs about going to Heaven and so on and I do pray from time to time and am reasonably spiritual

I actually prefer the notion of re-incarnation though and find Buddhism mildly fascinating

 

the Malaysian lady I am seeing presently is quite a devoted catholic actually and perhaps she finds it a little strange that I am somewhat half-hearted about all that

 

Interesting your thoughts there about not embracing healthy eating,

 

I would be the opposite of that- my motto is trying to eat healthier and to do whatever one can to try to live a long life,(perhaps its all luck anyway though)

[smackie9]

Religious belief is important to some yes....but not taking care of yourself due to what you believe is a cop out. You are just lazy and don't care. Just wait til you get sick and feel like crap for years....it's the suffering and financial burden with be the repercussions for not giving a crap about taking care of yourself. If this is the route you wish to take, make sure you have good health insurance and a nice fat life insurance policy so your wife and children don't have to suffer.

[Saturn98]

Religious belief is important to some yes....but not taking care of yourself due to what you believe is a cop out. You are just lazy and don't care. Just wait til you get sick and feel like crap for years....it's the suffering and financial burden with be the repercussions for not giving a crap about taking care of yourself. If this is the route you wish to take, make sure you have good health insurance and a nice fat life insurance policy so your wife and children don't have to suffer.

 

 

The wife and children part can be whited out because that does not apply in my case. I'm not looking to get married or start a family. I prefer to date my girlfriend twice a week for the rest of my life.

 

Your post assumes way too much. You know nothing about my medical history. I had cancer before and went through a long ordeal of suffering through chemotherapy and radiation so I know what suffering is like.

 

There's overweight men who still eat burgers and pizza in spite of having 3 open heart surgeries. Sounds like the suffering did not change their mind one iota.

Edited August 9, 2019 by Saturn98

[alphamale]

if you want to get married and raise kids having the same religion is very important. if you're just dating or co-habituating then not so much.

 

if you are a religious person then you should have a partner who is also religious

[Happy Lemming]

My girlfriend is Jewish and I'm an Atheist, which actually works out great. And yes her religion is important to her. And yes, fairly early on in the relationship she asked about my beliefs.

 

My girlfriend had expressed having difficulty dating non-Jewish men, as they would get into HUGE arguments about who was right or wrong or whatever.

 

Due to the fact I have no belief system, I don't have a dog in the fight, so there is no argument.

 

My girlfriend told me its quite refreshing not having to have these arguments or debates about religion, thus we get along well on that subject.

 

If you feel very strongly about your religious beliefs, then you should attempt to date someone with similar beliefs.

[MetallicHue]

My wife and I have very different religious beliefs yet hadn’t really had any impact on things. I think it’s something you have to feel out with someone and it’s really on a case by case basis. I’m sure for the right person some people will bend more than others on what they’re will to accept.

[smackie9]

OK so you don't need to consider anything if you are lightly dating someone.