27 replies to this topic

[Bling]

The question I'd like to ask is 'Can Atheists and religious followers have a happy relationship together?' Do their virtually opposite views cause too much of a gap between them for they to ever have a deep and meaningful relationship? When I say 'relationship', I'm talking about love and marriage not just friendship. If you fell in love with someone of another faith/no faith - would you convert in order to maintain your relationship?

Please read this article for more ideas, but this discussion is not just about christians:

http://opinionatedat...te-a-christian/

[Rlyeh]

The only way I see it is if they are liberal in their beliefs.

[Likely Guy]

Many people 'of faith' finding themselves in a long term relationship, involving one faith and another, one will usually convert to the other.

Between atheists and theists? I think, not so much and the relationship is usually shorter term.

However, when it does work, neither parties are so black and white. They're usually agnostics hidden behind their own religious/cultural differences. They just eventually meet in the middle.

[Really Swell]

I guess it really all depends on how passionate they are as far as their beliefs are concerned (and when I say "they" I mean the religious person, because I doubt the atheist is going to make a big deal out of something that his partner believes in that he takes as seriously as a fairy tale, where the religious person might believe some crazy notion about their partner going to hell for eternity for not believing in their personal belief).

[catch-me-if-you-can]

I am an outgoing atheist and my girlfriend is one of those catholics. We butt heads constantly about this type of crap. So, I stay out of her church business and she stays out of my way. It seems to work just fine.

[SpiritWriter]

I broke up with a Muslim who wanted to marry me because he was adamant about me converting, and I couldn't do it. He was the best guy I ever had.... We saw eye to eye on many spiritual matters, but I would not accept being a Muslim, knowing he would want me to cover my head and wouldn't allow me to take (our) my children to a Christian church or teach them my concepts about Jesus. Because God means soooo much to me, I think it would be hard not to share that with my partner. I love to be able to talk about these type of things with people and I would hope that my partner would be one of my bests friends. If we didn't have that spiritual side in common, I think it would be so hard to relate. I have made my mind up not to be with a partner that I cannot be myself around. If I had to stiffle my relationship with God in order to get along, it wouldn't be worth it for me....

[Sir Wearer of Hats]

I'll need an Atheist girlfriend - any volunteers? It's FOR SCIENCE after all

[veledran]

My fiance and I are doing fine. She is an Atheist, I am Pagan. I don't really talk about my beliefs, she doesn't come down on me about things. We do talk about various science topics a good bit, which is always fun to talk about.

[WoIverine]

Rlyeh, on 08 October 2012 - 05:30 AM, said:

The only way I see it is if they are liberal in their beliefs.

Yeah...pretty much.

[WoIverine]

Wearer of Hats, on 08 October 2012 - 06:08 AM, said:

I'll need an Atheist girlfriend - any volunteers? It's FOR SCIENCE after all

lol, something tells me that this does not bode well for said atheist girls.

[DieChecker]

I think as long as both sides simply explain their beliefs and then allow the other side the same opportunity, and accept the Free Will of whatever they both decide... then things can be fine. Christians are expected to be like Christ... Jesus... and Jesus did not foce convert anyone, he simply talked to everyone and performed miricles to prove his divine nature. That Christians have to try to convert people is bunk, and is spread by Bad Christians who thiink they are doing good, but actually they are causing people great hurt with their actions.

I respect the Jehova's Witness in that way, if you tell them to go away, they go away. They might come back, but simply tell them to go again and they do. Same with most Mormons. It is the Prespiterian Bible Thumping Brimstone Breathers that are really bad in this respect. The point should be Choice. Everyone should have the Choice, but it is OK if you simply want to talk to someone and explain your belief.

Likewise, I've met some militant Atheists who have campaigned huge circus side shows to try to get Christmas symbolism taken out of peoples yards and to get the word God taken off memorials on government land... They are idiots, also causing much more harm then good.

Edited by DieChecker, 08 October 2012 - 06:26 AM.

[Seeker79]

My wife is catholic. I'm .... Well whatever i am.... My oldest has started religous education. I was a little irked at first... I will not let my son be indoctrinated, but so far all they do is sing songs about being kind to one another and other universally spiritual things. I know the day is comeing when he tells the priest after he dies he wants to come back as an eagle and his dad wants to be an oak tree..... But we will cross that bridge when we get there.

It will get interesting when he is older and we discuss scholarly inturpretations of the bible, and actual history.

Edited by Seeker79, 08 October 2012 - 06:43 AM.

[and then]

I think it only becomes an issue when the storm is here.  And every life has storms.  I think it would be rare for it to last without one or the other changing their beliefs.

[Ninhursag]

I am a catholic and my partner is buddhist .. We have been together for almost 7 years ..

So yeah, I don't think that this is a problem .. Quite the opposite .. I love seeing them perform their little rituals and it's always nice to see them celebrate their festivals .. I like taking part in them ..

If the two people are tollerant of each other's religious systems and beliefs, I think it could be quite productive ..

[notoverrated]

i dont see why not.