If you are serious about your religion (or in my case, love of God), you wont even want to date someone who isn't the same religion. In the end it would never work. 2 Corinthians 6:14 says "Do not be unequally yoked with non-believers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?" Thats why your parents don't want you to date someone who isn't the same religion.

by Anonymous 12 years ago

Millions of couples with different serious religious beliefs live together very happily. You can't tell if someone is a good person that will treat you or your son/daughter well simply by the religion they practice. What's important is a person's values; not what religion inspired those values.

by Anonymous 12 years ago

My brothers and mother are three of the most devout Catholics I know. One brother is happily married, and the other happily engaged, to non-Catholics. My mother grew up Lutheran and converted to my dad's religion when they knew they wanted to get married; if you couldn't date outside your religion, they wouldn't be celebrating their 32nd anniversary this year. There are good people who aren't religious. There are terrible people who are. And finally, it's up to you what you choose to believe and who you choose to date. Your parents can't tell you to date someone of your religion because they can't tell you what your religion is. They can raise you by the teachings they follow, but you don't have to agree with them. That's completely your own decision.

by Anonymous 11 years ago

It's a bit sad that some people actually NW'd this.

by Anonymous 11 years ago

Some people might have NW'd because of the "fallow" misspell. It seems ridiculous but that's how some people are...

by Anonymous 11 years ago

I think it's sad that some people think it's sad that others disagree with them. Things can get complicated when people of two different religions are together. Let's say they get married and have kids. The dad (who's a Christian) wants to take their children with church to him every Sunday morning. The mom (who's an atheist), however, does not. I know two people (with teenaged children) who wound up divorced because of their religious beliefs, and it's been really hard on their kids. To me, preferring to date someone of your religion to make things smoother isn't at all intolerant; it's just thinking about the future and trying to avoid unnecessary arguments.

by Anonymous 11 years ago

I think it's fine not to want to date someone of a different religion, but if your kids don't have a problem neither should you.

by Anonymous 11 years ago

I don't think it's right for parents not to allow their kids to date people of other religions. I was saying that I think it's sad how some people think that parents should be able to control who their kids date because of religion. I understand that some long term complications may occur, but it's not up to the parents to decide merely based on faith and the relationship might not even last long enough to worry about problems involving marriage and having their own children.

by Anonymous 11 years ago

Well...I used to think that (especially since none of the guys I ever had crushes on were even in my religion), but a couple of years back I understood their point of view a little better on the matter. Not saying I disagree with this post though because it's still relatively valid. For my parents though, it has to do with value systems, ethics, beliefs, and understanding them. If a couple has too many discrepancies in those it's really hard for them to be together.

by Anonymous 11 years ago

If they're still in the same realm of religions, it is stupid for the parent to say that. A Catholic dating an Episcopalian or any other Christian is fine, but do you really think a Buddhist and a Catholic would get along that well? I'm not saying that it couldn't happen, but the beliefs are so drastically different, it seems impossible for them to get along.

by Anonymous 11 years ago

I get on with most people with religious beliefs different to mine because as it happens I don't base my opinions on someone's religion.

by Anonymous 11 years ago

I think what I was trying to say came out wrong. I'm saying it would be hard for a relationship to go far with drastically different beliefs, that is if neither is very tolerant. I have friends that aren't my religion, that's not the point. I never said I base my opinions on someone's religion.

by Anonymous 11 years ago

I agree to an extent. I personally don't see how certain religious beliefs can be compatible in a relationship. Also, what if becomes a serious, committed relationship? Most people (not that I entirely agree), expect their children to follow their beliefs. I can see that being a future source of conflict. Of course, it is entirely possible for such a relationship to work, but I still think that couples should discuss how their beliefs could potentially cause issues further down the line.

by Anonymous 11 years ago

It depends on how serious the person is about their religion and about how serious the relationship itself is. I know I could date someone who had a different religion as long as they believed in God or some higher power, I could date an agnostic surely, and I could date an atheist who wasn't intolerant and skeptical of my beliefs. But if I was planning to marry someone and they were not going to allow our possible children to be raised with some kind of religion, I don't think that is a value I could live with. It all depends on the individual though

by Anonymous 11 years ago