Girls, myself, and religion apparently can't mix

Originally Posted by Guardian

Is this why she dumped me? Because IF there is a heaven, she absolutely has to see me there for her to have a happy life on mortal Earth? Sounds more self-convoluted to me than really having anything to do with actually believing in God.

I know I keep interrupting with my lame questions, but I'm really in the dark about the specifics of religious relationships.

Haha, don't worry about it . I personally don't know how to answer because a lot of Christians go about different ways of doing things lol.

How ya doing, buddy?

Originally Posted by Guardian

Heh, it not like I have a fetish for religious girls. :P

I'm thoroughly attracted to women who have self-respect and morals. Evidentally, it seems that only females of faith have these kind of traits? Not that I'm saying an atheist can't be a kind and loving person. It just seems to go against this stereotype. :\

It seems to me like you do like what religious girls have, matey. Maybe it's time you reevaluate your beliefs?

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

Originally Posted by RacinReaver

Most Christians I know in real life don't go around preaching to others about how they're so great and I'm so terrible because I don't agree with them. Most tend to go by the guidelines of leading by example and showing how faith in God can help lead to a higher quality life.

Yea, me too. It's called being selective. But then again, I don't live anywhere near a Bible belt, so.

I don't mind "leading by example" and "leading a higher quality of life." So long as everyone is happy and are trying to good for others, the hell do I care what they're motivation is? I imagine we're all trying our best to be good people, no matter the motivation.

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Edit: And what's naive about greykind's comment? If I believed in an afterlife and all of that jazz, I imagine I'd want the person I felt the deepest connection with in this world to be around with me in the next.

Maybe you misunderstood what I meant. The loss of personal control while under the "intoxication of love" is a dangerous thing.

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

Everyone should enter every relationship with a healthy helping of cynicism.

Love is grand though, isn't it? But I still think that you should control yourself when you're in love, and people should really stop the whole 'sacrifice EVERYTHING for love' thing. It's naive, it's wreckless, but unfortuantely, people do it all the time, and screw themselves over in the process.

There's nothing wrong with making COMPROMISES for your partner, though, and that's what people should generally be doing.

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As for the whole religion thing...if you do care enough about someone you may indeed want to try out their religion.
My cousin is a strict Catholic, and her husband was buddhist, but he converted so that he would get the approval of the family.

I personally don't care what religion my girlfriend is, and even if any other girlfriend I had was into Voodoo or something, I'd make sure that she didn't push anything on me, but at the same time, I'd have to respect her views.

My current girlfriend is Christian (Baptist I think) while I'm Catholic, so while we believe in God and all that, there are still a few differences in the way we practice.
But we hardly do, so it's all good XD

I was speaking idiomatically.

I keep seeing that word "compromise" popping up. How does one compromise on beliefs? I don't really think you can. I think the word we're looking for is "acceptance"? It'd be nice if my ex could accept that I might not go to church on Sunday, or that I'm probably going to Hell because I don't believe in God. (heh) :\

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Originally Posted by Guardian

Is this why she dumped me? Because IF there is a heaven, she absolutely has to see me there for her to have a happy life on mortal Earth? Sounds more self-convoluted to me than really having anything to do with actually believing in God.

Well, if you felt deep down in your heart that your partner was going to be spending eternity burning in hell because of their beliefs, I imagine it would be hard not to either want to convert them or to break the relationship off due to that giant negative cloud hanging over the relationship for you.

FELIPE NO

I would hesitate to characterize this as wanting to save the other from hell, although this does apply to a select few of the pious!

There's a scriptural passage often quoted to justify what Guardian experienced. Lynch me if you must, but I find that it does make a fair bit of sense! I quote the passage from Paul's first letter to the Corinthians, chapter 6.

14Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?
15What harmony is there between Christ and Belial[b]? What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever?
16What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: "I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people."
17"Therefore come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you."

Now, in defense of Paul, nowhere does he say "Thou shalt not marry a non-Christian", and there is some debate whether the passage refers to marriage or other unequal partnerships or undertaking!

However, it is far easier to break from such a pairing, especially if said girl has other prospects. Why? As Reaver pointed out, there will be some problems with children down the line. And even though Guardian might turn out to be the liberal type, the differing religious beliefs will surely create marital conflict down the line.

Love conquers all and all that, but in all practicality, if you aren't going to budge from your position, then it is possible that said female feels you don't 'love her enough'.

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?

After reading this thread, I've realized that I'm a staunch atheist. I don't agree with the idea God, and I certainly don't agree with a lot of decisions made in the name of whatever deity people pray to.

Buh. I'm also done with women for the time being, as well. :\ I really don't have anymore questions or input.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

This is a depressing thread. Reminds me of high school when I fell in love with Chantel a deeply Christian believer. I wasn't an atheist back then and I was quite ignorant about religion in truth. Although I didn't belong to a church I was open to the idea of God and religion. I was baptised Angelican for what it was worth. We started hanging out together and I started going to church and youth group with her. Although I have never felt so uncomfortable and out of place as when I would join the rest and start singing and praising.

Eventually I got up the nerve and wanted to get serious with her but she crushed my world to pieces when she said she couldn't date me for theological reasons. That experience left me angry at the divisivness of religion. That we don't regard each other as being other humans but that we are Muslims and Jews and Christians.

Guardian, you mentioned you would be willing to attend a church for your girlfriend. I learned my lesson and take my advice, don't pretend you're something you aren't. I will always be as it says in Psalms, the fool hath said in his heart there is no God. You appear to be on the same ship.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

While in the end is people's decision with religion and dating, if they choose to so call honour their religion's idea that no man is truly equal because they chose a different faith and that dating them is a no no, is their loss.

While its almost noble or romantic to see someone willing to change a faith or religion to be with someone, I don't think its justified. If the person can't truly accept what makes you who you are, then they don't really deserve you.

But in the end is all personal choices, and with each choice comes a consequence or price.

Frankly I'm just so sick of certain people in religions. How can organizations that claim to bring peace and morals among men could cause so much problems for its followers and non followers? Why can't people have faith in THEMSELVES along with their religion? Following every rule in the book is suffocating and makes a mockery of the free will we are given, be it from a high power or just plain science. As cheesy as it sounds, people should follow their heart to do what is right and learn to accept others. Not drive them away cause religion said so.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

Aren't they exercising their free will by following those rules instead of disobeying them?

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

Question is though did these people gained knowledge of what else goes on in the world outside of their religion? Cause if they are aware of the world and chose to obey the rules,then it is free will and their choice. But if they just operate on the idea that the book told me to do this, so I do, I can't see that as free will at all, because they are unaware of other options outside and probably are unaware of what choice and options means. How can you have free will if you don't even know what it is? Blindly following someone's rules and orders without a second thought isn't excercising free will.

But it may just be my thoughts and ramblings. I just simply wish for people to try to be open minded. Just cause they don't follow your religion doesn't make them evil. Things aren't black and white, no matter how some religions paints it to be. Not trying to bash anyone who is religious here, but just about every religious person I've met all wanna conform me, and I don't think I have met much balanced religious, understanding and open minded people.

Hell my mom believes if I comform to Christianity I would become a "nicer" person. (Meaning meek and mild, cute and gentle, Melanie Hamilton character. Hell no, I much rather be Scarlett in terms of her passion and go getter.) It gets me that so many people believe that religion will fix people, when it probably will end up doing the opposite. If they can't accept me for who I am, then its their problem. I was in religious schools for a long while and was pretty ignorant and narrow minded untill I went to the more hardcore ones where they ban Harry Potter books. The horrible side of religion reared its head and I sworn to never join any religious groups and just have faith in others I care for, the world and myself.

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Well, they know what the rules say, and they know what temptation is. So if they choose to follow the rules, then umm, they're choosing something. I don't see why following a set of rules uses any less free will than doing whatever. If anything, I figure it takes a stronger sense of will in order to follow a certain set of rules strictly than just doing whatever feels right at the moment since you have to exert your will over your impulses.

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

Well I just hope before they make any decisions, they should see both sides of the issue or situation, and not just what their religion said. Be aware, then decide. That's all I'm asking.

FELIPE NO