A Matter of Faith

brneyedangel: While I have a tremendous amount of respect for people of differing beliefs and religions, when it comes to spending the rest of my life with a person, we must be of the same faith. In my life, faith plays a huge role when it comes to how I make decisions, how I choose to live, and the person I have become and CHOOSE to be. To commit my life to someone who doesn't understand and share that with me just wouldn't work. In the past, I've seen how this differing opinion hasn't worked, and quite honestly, monetary issues and issues of raising children, among many others, are tied tightly to my basic beliefs, morals, and standards, all of which are strongly rooted in my faith. For me, at least, this is the way it must be.

I totally agree. Well said

David916: Yes, religions have been and are the source of many conflicts, but they also form the bases of communities and powers for good.

You don't need religion to do good things. Non- religious people are just as caring and charitable as religious people.

Good advice. But what it comes down to, depends on the couple. For example, if I had a gf whose of a different religion, it would be fine with me if she attends her church, and i attend mine. If she wants me to attend hers, occassionally, it would be selfish to say no. it might even kill the relationship and the friendship, too. But if she was to insist that I switch to her religion, then I'd say adios, Senorita! or try to convert her, if converting has to be done. Or if I wanted  to marry her, and her family's conditions/stipulations included switching to their religion, that would end it for me. "Adios! It's been intersting knowing you." . Do you understand what I'm saying? I don't know if I can explain it, any differently.

I guess it's up to me, since no one else has, to bring up Swedenborg.

While I may not have the wrath of God heaping coals of fire on my head immediately, the wrath of quite a few posters might directed to me. I am not saying anyone is "wrong" so please extend the same courtesy to me.

According to Swedenborg, everyone is allowed into heaven. That includes atheists. People are also allowed to choose hell if they prefer. It's up to the individual. Swedenborg (1688 - 1772) was exceptionally well educated, and a not very large religion was founded upon his beliefs after he "entered the spiritual world." If anyone wants more details, he wrote dozens of books, originally all in Latin, but long available in English. It is slow going if you want to try to read most of the encyclopedia style, many-paged books. "Heaven and Hell" is one of the few easier to read, an fine introduction, or an answer to your questions if you want to know what the hell (heaven?) I'm talking about. It's also a shorter book.

That said, I do have my (I hope) future matches' religious preferences limited to a list of some liberal Christian denominations. I don't consider bickering of what we do and don't believe to be enjoyable recreation. I don't want to give up or take up some practices because of conflicting rules. This attitude applies to many areas, of which religion is only one, for compatible marriage.

Now, remember, I haven't trashed any of your opinions. Yes, I have read and studied my bible. Yes, I have observed the negative aspects of religion (due to flawed humans). I did attempt to quit believing, but there are too many coincidences. So, I have come to my own conclusions, and I am at peace. I sincerely wish all of you are, or will be, at peace also.

JDavid: .

You seem to have failed to include (or consider) the significant number of people who are "neither spiritual nor religious".

Non-religious people form their core values and morals from sources OTHER than religion.

Also, people who worship supernatural beings other than the supernatural biblical "god" of Christianity (real or imaginary) form their core values from a different (and no less valid) source.

Many from competing religions and from non-religion take their values VERY seriously.

Unfortunately, some who worship one of the thousands of available "gods" assume that anyone who does not share their beliefs is WRONG and will suffer in an "afterlife". They often denigrate the values, ethics, and morals of others as being inferior to their own.

Do you honestly not realize how condescending and hypocritical you sound in your posts? Your posts have continually denigrated religious people of all stripes.

Furthermore, by your logic concerning the alleged divisiveness of religions, no one should have any differing beliefs or opinions or preferences or group associations because those cause divisions and all divisions are bad. (So, maybe that could be a bit of an extreme extrapolation, but still...) People take comfort in groups of like-minded members. Yes, religions have been and are the source of many conflicts, but they also form the bases of communities and powers for good.

Personally, I'm very liberal when it comes to religion/spiritual beliefs. As long as my partner isn't putting down what I believe or trying to convert me to believe something else, I'm pretty much okay. However, I do have a preference that my partner hold similar beliefs. It seems that it would make the relationship a lot easier in the long haul.

JDavid: .

Unfortunately, some who worship one of the thousands of available "gods" assume that anyone who does not share their beliefs is WRONG and will suffer in an "afterlife". They often denigrate the values, ethics, and morals of others as being inferior to their own.

LOL - on the nosey: and isn't it funny how atheists never see themselves exactly like this?

I was raised in one of the less fervent and more tolerant Christian denominations, and still tend to hold those general basic beliefs. However, life has exposed me to diverse belief systems, some of which I find very intriging, and I've found that specific religious denomination often has a lot less to do with compatibility than basic values. In fact, it may have nothing to do with it at all unless one person/partner makes it an issue.

Many people who claim to embrace a particular faith are not, in my opinion, the best examples of the traits that faith is meant to embody, and I've found that many basically non-religious people actually have stronger morals and ethics that many who claim to be religious. Values and ethics carry far more weight for me than flavor of dogma.

I value tolerance and diversity, so, while my profile reads: Christian, when I am matched (as seems to occur all too frequently) with someone who clearly is a Bible-thumper I close the match immediately. I have no interest in being matched with anyone whose scope is that narrow, nor do I wish to spend my time being preached to. As a result, I've considered changing my profile to read "Spiritual but not Religious", hoping that this might limit the number of matches for whom religion, or lack of it, is listed as one of the things about which they are most passionate.

Just introduce me to a funny, intelligent, tolerant man with good conversational skils and strong ethical values, and I really won't care much what specific creed he does or does not embrace.

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4408: Spiritual beliefs are core to who you are (unless you don't take them seriously)...I would NEVER date anyone who did not share my religious beliefs. The whole unequally yoked thing the Bible refers to....for me no compromise.

You seem to have failed to include (or consider) the significant number of people who are "neither spiritual nor religious".

Non-religious people form their core values and morals from sources OTHER than religion.

Also, people who worship supernatural beings other than the supernatural biblical "god" of Christianity (real or imaginary) form their core values from a different (and no less valid) source.

Many from competing religions and from non-religion take their values VERY seriously.

Unfortunately, some who worship one of the thousands of available "gods" assume that anyone who does not share their beliefs is WRONG and will suffer in an "afterlife". They often denigrate the values, ethics, and morals of others as being inferior to their own.

It only works when you share similar core values, and similar truths about he universe. I was married for 20 yrs to a woman of a different faith, and when we split it wasn't  because of a blief that Jesus was the son of God or Moses did miraculos things. We both attended significant religious services of the others, and shared family get togethers, with the extneded on both sides. The kids loved it because they got double of everythng. We brought the kids up to see the oneness of it all and not the narrowness of one religion or another, and to respect people no matter what they believed or the color of their skin. All the kids turned out great, they all have a good sense of humor. We taught them how to think for themselves rather than only see the world through the eyes of one religion or another. All the war in the world is due to religion and most all preach hatred of other religions and sanction mass murder. so why would I want to be with somone who was so narrow minded anyway. the Hubble telescope has shown the vastness of the universe and has rendered religions petty.