Should A Marriage Partner Convert to the Other Partner's Faith/Religion?

A rather interesting article regarding faith and marriage. Should one mate convert to their other mate's faith/religion just because they're married?

http://msn.match.com/msn/article.aspx?articleid=3224&TrackingID=516311&BannerID=544657&menuid=8&GT1=6898

I find it...intriguing.

so if a protestant and a catholic should marry which one should convert and why is that.........and which faith has a "right" to deceide over another

Each should respect the other's religious preference if love is truly involved...
Besides, if your spiritual center lies on a certain view, then HOW shallow would your faith be if you were to sell it out because of the wishes of another....? Believe your beliefs is what I say.

what a BS idea is that, faith shouldn't matter in a decent relationship the first girl to ask me to convert to "something" would be in trouble!

well put

Besides, Faith and organised religion are two different things sometimes..

Yes, a good point, why should one person convert to the others faith? Somebody is going to miss out, and it ends up ultimately that one person has had to change religion while the other hasn't. How do they choose who has to change?

Hmmm. But really I guess it depends on how serious a person is about there faith. The most Orthodox and fanatical believers probably wouldn't change, but then they probably wouldn't be considering marrying a person from another faith. Some people aren't that serious about religion, so probably wouldn't mind. But eh, as long as both couples care about one another, and everybody is happy, well that's the most important thing, religions shouldn't stand in the way. As they say love transcends such things...

If they love each other. Love is all the matters..

(but eg one person believes and the other doesn't..and the non-believer starts to believe thanks to that other person.. 😕 )

that's tough question...in my opinion, it shouldn't matter, but unfortunately it does for many people...Can create a great deal of problems especially when the couple starts having children...

In my family growing up, my father Was Roman Catholic, my mother was Pentecost....She won, and my dad tried, but there was a lot of resentment....Caused many of their marriage problems...

I feel that when looking for a mate, one should also look for someone who is open minded about such things.

I don't think it should be forced, but it would be easier in the long run, both on the parents and the children.

Originally posted by debbiejo
that's tough question...in my opinion, it shouldn't matter

I feel that when looking for a mate, one should also look for someone who is open minded about such things.

Wise words indeed....

Both should drop their religions if they wanna be together and religion is stopping them (although it shouldn't).

OR! Alternatively just do what you want.

-AC

No. Don' t try to convert your spouse to your beliefs. Conversion only works long term when the change is truly desired by the converting spouse and the decision to convert was made without pressure.

Depends on if they are serious about their religion or were just sorta born into it but never really devout. I mean say they want to get married in a Catholic church and one of them is a Protestant.. if the Protestant isn't really serious about their denomination they could just make things easier by converting so they can get married in the church they want to. But it should be volunteered by the one who is to convert, not proposed by the one who wants their partner to change denominations. Cause that's just inconsiderate.

If you marry someone and they're gay, should you convert too?

Originally posted by Storm
No. Don' t try to convert your spouse to your beliefs. Conversion only works long term when the change is truly desired by the converting spouse and the decision to convert was made without pressure.

Agreed

Also I think when looking for a mate you should take into consideration what his/her beliefs are before getting involved.

Originally posted by Afro Cheese
Depends on if they are serious about their religion or were just sorta born into it but never really devout. I mean say they want to get married in a Catholic church and one of them is a Protestant.. if the Protestant isn't really serious about their denomination they could just make things easier by converting so they can get married in the church they want to. But it should be volunteered by the one who is to convert, not proposed by the one who wants their partner to change denominations. Cause that's just inconsiderate.

Funny thing is that even if 1 or both people were not strong in their belief, after kids come...It could change...Seen it happen lots of times....You really need to talk about it before you get so involved.

Asking one to change ones belief just isn't right....

Here's a question....If both had the same belief and one changed to something else should it he/she be forced to stay in their old belief system?....Curious..

No I don't think they should if they don't want to....except if except if the convertion would be to agnosticism......they should be forced to...indeed

When I became a Buddhist, my wife became a Buddhist also, but I did not make her do that, she did it on her own. I told her she could make the decision for herself and if she didn't become a Buddhist, I would support her choice.

It makes it easier for both of us to be Buddhist.

Originally posted by Shakyamunison
When I became a Buddhist, my wife became a Buddhist also, but I did not make her do that, she did it on her own. I told her she could make the decision for herself and if she didn't become a Buddhist, I would support her choice.

It makes it easier for both of us to be Buddhist.

When did you beco<e a Buddhits? ...Did you ever read Siddhartha by Herman Hesse......it's such a great book...kind of aboot Buddhism....then again only half-way.....