Dude26 Posted January 9, 2024 Posted January 9, 2024 What are your thoughts on interfaith marriages and can they be successful? How about interfaith marriages with both husband and wife choosing not to have kids?
Gaeta Posted January 9, 2024 Posted January 9, 2024 Of course they can work as long as both respect each other's faith. I am in an interfaith relationship and it does not create problems in our relationship. We respect each other and give space to each other to practice our faith without judgement. That being said we are in our 50s so we don't give a heck what people may think of our interfaith relationship. The situation is different when it concerns young adults that fear being banished from their family and community. It is not to be taken lightly. Some lives can be ruined if you influence someone into renouncing their family and community to be with you. I don't see what is the problem with choosing to not have children, it's a personal choice. Both my daughters do not want to have children, I accept that. I got to pick what I wanted to do with my life so they get to pick what they do with theirs. 3
Alpacalia Posted January 9, 2024 Posted January 9, 2024 I suspect the embracement of each other and the virtues of the other should and will be what you base your conscious choice on. It may be (in some cases) that it is the religion that divides, but don't underestimate the strain of mundane differences like bathroom routines, parenting styles, or career changes. For some folks, it's just "little things" reversing the roles doesn't remove the source of annoyance. But what is best for one may not satisfy the others. I won’t sugarcoat it, interfaith relationships do come with their own unique challenges. There may be disagreements over religious beliefs and practices, or one partner may feel pressure to convert to the other's religion. There may also be judgment from family members or friends who have strong religious beliefs and don't understand the relationship. These challenges can be overwhelming at times. It can work if you take the time to learn about each other's religions, attending religious services together, and actively listening to each other's perspectives without judgment. Human beings are prone to judgements and it is very natural as well as required when it comes to religion due to its multifaceted complexity. What if your spouse has deeply valuing their religion in their life and is looking for you to fill that meaning? What if they are extremely devout and expect you to actively participate in their religious practices? On the other hand, what if they have a more casual approach to religion and are not looking for a partner who shares their beliefs? What if they frown upon certain aspects of your religion? It can work, with open-mindedness and respect. But people have their own set of personal limitations. That's where you have to really ask yourself, “Am I able to embrace and respect my partner's religion and beliefs, even if I don't share them?” If the answer is yes, then the relationship has a chance. 1
Ami1uwant Posted January 12, 2024 Posted January 12, 2024 On 1/9/2024 at 1:15 PM, Dude26 said: What are your thoughts on interfaith marriages and can they be successful? How about interfaith marriages with both husband and wife choosing not to have kids? How religious/ practicing are they? Are they regular church goers and heavily involved in their lives or is religion an afterthought. if you were going to have kids it might be a much bigger issue than if no kids were going to come. 1
MsJayne Posted January 12, 2024 Posted January 12, 2024 Depends on the beliefs of each faith, and how rigorously each person practices them. Back in the '80's I knew a couple who were, him Muslim, her Jewish, and they were very happy, but neither of them were really practicing, it was more just a label, and the other important factor was that they lived in the West where cultural norms meant they had freedoms not available in other parts of the world. But, that being said, followers of some religions, Hinduism for example, are often expected to marry within their own faith regardless of how advanced the society they live in. Really depends on which religions we're talking about, the individuals and how they apply their beliefs to their life, and which society the couple live in. For instance, it's unlikely that a person raised as Anglican in a liberal background could have a successful relationship with a person of heavily-indoctrinated Amish beliefs. Depends on the individuals, their backgrounds, and their tolerance for difference. 3
smackie9 Posted January 13, 2024 Posted January 13, 2024 It's about acceptance of each others different beliefs. It can work. The not having kids thing has nothing to do with religion...that's a lifestyle choice. Nothing wrong with choosing not to raise kids. People make that choice all the time...and I am one of them.
d0nnivain Posted January 16, 2024 Posted January 16, 2024 It's probably easier without kids because then you don't have the pressures of what faith to teach them. It depends on the level of faith of each person & the amount of family pressure. 1
spiderowl Posted January 16, 2024 Posted January 16, 2024 On 1/9/2024 at 6:15 PM, Dude26 said: What are your thoughts on interfaith marriages and can they be successful? How about interfaith marriages with both husband and wife choosing not to have kids? I think they can be successful if they have the blessing of the parents and immediate family. If not, it is a real challenge for a couple to make a go of it. I don't know what faiths you have in mind, but if one of the parties is a muslim or hindu, or similar faith of Asian origin, sometimes the family culture can be more of a hindrance than the religion. I have known numerous instances where a muslim man has dated someone from outside his faith, but kept it quiet from family. When the relationship gets more serious, he opts out and marries within his culture. On other occasions, he has actually been married and not told his western girlfriend. The hypocrisy is awful. Women of those faiths are rarely allowed to date and in some cases, even in the UK, are not allowed to go out to socialise with people of other cultures in the evening. So, I'd be wary of considering an inter-faith relationship. Both parties need to be modern in outlook and able to resist their families' pressures. If you have not met the parents and they do not know about your relationship, see it as a red flag. An Asian man dating a western woman does not mean he will marry her, no matter how much he says he loves her. Bear that in mind.
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