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Should you date someone that doesn't have the same beliefs as yourself?

I've been dating a wonderful guy for 2 and a half years and he had told me when we started dating he didn't really believe in God but respected my faith. I am now struggling greatly with his position on faith. He has said he would raise our kids Catholic if that's what I wanted and go to church with us sometimes but I'm scared more problems in our relationship and in my life will arise later on as a result of this. I am also struggling greatly with the question of heaven's existence...I had never questioned it before but am now looking for a sign from God that this exists and that my faith is right, but I haven't found one. I'm very concerned about these problems and have been for awhile now.

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foreveryoung10

Asked by foreveryoung10 at 10:53 PM on Jan. 30, 2012 in Religious Debate

6 Level 2
Answers (23)
  • It doesn't seem like your SO is standing in the way of your religion and in fact is supporting you in your beliefs and is willing to allow your children to be raised catholic despite what his belief is. THat's a huge deal many people wouldn't give that. Maybe your sign from God is that you have a man who supports your beliefs :).

    Good men are hard to come by I think so many problems can be solved in talking them through. If you let him go because he isn't catholic will this be something you regret for the rest of your life?
    bubblycute

    Answer by bubblycute at 10:55 PM on Jan. 30, 2012

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  • Religion doesn't matter as much as respect and open and honest communication.
    KristiS11384

    Answer by KristiS11384 at 10:59 PM on Jan. 30, 2012

    Credits: 189932 Level 44 1 star1 star1 star1 star Religious Debate Degree
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  • I really don't think it matters
    mommys2cupcakes

    Answer by mommys2cupcakes at 11:00 PM on Jan. 30, 2012

    Credits: 93209 Level 37 1 star Religious Debate 101
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  • Religion doesn't matter, open and honest communication is the biggest key in any relationship. Also, two people can start their lives together on the exact same page, and still end up with different beliefs down the road. That can still work too, if communication is open. My dh and I were both Catholic when we dated and were first married. I have since left the faith. I still go to Mass with them when I'm not working, and I make sure the kids are signed up for religious ed every year. I promised I would raise the kids in the Catholic faith, and I intend to keep that promise.

    On the other hand, I have friends who have been married for nearly 30 years. He is Atheist and she is Catholic. They have been very honest about their beliefs all along and it has never caused any problems in their marriage. Sure, they've had issues, but religion hasn't been one of them.
    anime_mom619

    Answer by anime_mom619 at 11:05 PM on Jan. 30, 2012

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  • I am a proud christian and raise my daughter in the faith. My SO is not a believer, and we have bee together almost 6 years now. Like yours, my man fully supports my choice to raise our daughter in the faith. He was at her baptism, and will be there when she sings in the choir.
    IMO as long as he respects your beliefs, and supports you sharing those with your children, there shouldnt be any problems. Iin 6 years, and all the fights we have had, we have NEVER once argued about religion or my choice for our DD.
    Mme.Langley

    Answer by Mme.Langley at 11:06 PM on Jan. 30, 2012

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  • Also, I doubt you are questioning your beliefs because of him. More likely you would be questioning regardless of who you were with and what they believed. It happens to everyone. In time, you will figure out if you are on the right path. I don't think it's anything to be worried about.
    anime_mom619

    Answer by anime_mom619 at 11:08 PM on Jan. 30, 2012

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  • My DH is Catholic, I am Pagan... we've been together for 15 years and it's never been an issue. I respect him... he respects me.. that's all that really matters ;o)

    Crafty26

    Answer by Crafty26 at 11:13 PM on Jan. 30, 2012

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  • This is something I think that you have to answer yourself. I always knew that I wanted to marry someone that believed the same because it forms a lot of how I look at everything, not just religion. I wanted us to be on the same page with not just parenting but even just how we live our every day lives. I am not saying that it won't work, there are quite a few pp that prove that it does work. I just knew what I wanted for me personally.
    JamieLK

    Answer by JamieLK at 11:18 PM on Jan. 30, 2012

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  • Thank you so much everyone for all of your wonderful and thoughtful responses. They have really helped so much and continue to help me. It really has helped so much and you have no idea how much I appreciate you taking the time to answer my question.
    foreveryoung10

    Comment by foreveryoung10 (original poster) at 11:22 PM on Jan. 30, 2012

    Credits: 6 Level 2
  • I married a man who was raised atheist, and who had taken up spiritual beliefs in his late teens. He and I got to know each other in a church's youth conferences. So I THOUGHT we would have no difficulties.

    BUT. He lacked the life-style of spiritual practice. With our kids, I felt it was natural to say grace before meals, I wanted them to have a little prayer before bed and to have somewhat routine experience of church services. To him these were "over the top", because he had never experienced them in HIS childhood. He went along with such things, but often showed that these were "mom's deals", or voiced an objection if something was going to take more than a few minutes.
    Let me tell you, the father's attitude has a strong impact on the children. They look up to him, and so by the age of 11 they began to resist mom's "quirks".
    Add to that popular culture.
    Morals, virtues, simple parental guidance gets very difficult.
    waldorfmom

    Answer by waldorfmom at 11:41 PM on Jan. 30, 2012

    Credits: 6931 Level 19 1 star1 star Religious Debate Minor
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