You meet someone....you find out that they are?

livelife

We are all judgmental, and that becomes a problem. Like any other difference in a couple, religious difference could be just another one. It all depends on how much importance you want to give it.
As for me, it doesn't matter if my other half is a believer or not. As long as we both respect each other's beliefs and do not impose ours on the other, it's all good.
If the company of the person makes you happy, and you are both attracted to each other physically, emotionally, & spiritually, that is reason enough to stay.
Walking away is very easy, it's staying and showing patience that tests our commitment.

Firefightin' Momma

I think if you both repsected each others beliefs and opinions on the matter and didn't try to change each others mind, it would be ok.

I guess that would just be one topic you couldn't bring up - but not communicating about something important like religion, could be straining and upset the harmony.

Aimes

It would be a definite deal breaker for me. No doubt about it.

IndyGirl

In the beginning, your hormones would convince you that you'd be able to make it work -- that you'd be able to work around it or in spite of it or whatever -- but when the rubber finally met the road; TROUBLE.

Save yourself the heartache. You can find someone else, Sweetie!!

No More

Speaking for myself, yes, it would be a deal breaker for me. I am not the world's biggest bible-thumper and God knows that I fall well short of my own expectations, but I need the person that I share my life with, raise children with, to have the same core values that I do. I receive such a strong sense of security from my faith and I need a partner that feels that too as we navigate our way through the ups and downs of marriage and life.

No pressure on you to believe anything but what fees right for you, but for me, someone being an Atheist is enough of a reason to break things off no matter how attracted I might be to them in other ways.

NanaNina

It really depends on what you are willing to compromise. Some people are adamant about their beliefs but at the same time try and persuade you into believing theirs, which is the problem. I suggest you express to Your significant other that she/he needs to respect your decision and to please avoid a conversation that has to do with religion. Now, if you find that you are not able to work things out and that your partner is constantly making you not live in a "harmonious" relationship. Then, I'd say move on.

Good Luck!

Rebecca W

I can't see a strong christian believer and an atheist having a lot in common, the many issues that would have to be addressed could easily break the relationship apart. Although varied religious beliefs don't have to keep a relationship from working, it would take a great deal of work to make the necessary compromises.

As a non-christian I have run into these situations in the past. What I found is that many times, even the other person would say it was no big deal, they would undermine my beliefs and try to make me change them.

People with "strong " religous beliefs often walk away from others who dont share the same beliefs. Let em go.
Its madness to view life and people as either belonging to your own "set" of beliefs or not, and if they dont, well then they aren't good enough? This is what wars are fought over, and continue to be to this day.
Im an aetheist and have encountered it many times. Keep on living your life and have friendship to give to all, regardless of their so called personal god. I couldnt be bothered to read the bible, lots more current and meaningful literature out there which will enhance your spirituality , improve your life and make you a nicer person.

M&M

thats like oil and water they just don't mix!! The Bible does say a Christian should marry a Christian that way they have someone who will build them up on Christian principals and they are worshipping the same God.

mortimernova

i'm agnostic, my wife is catholic, my best friends are christian, agnostic, atheist, etc. and we all seem to get along just fine. if religion is enough to break up a friendship, than the friendship obviously isn't worth it.

I think it would cause problems. If both feel so strongly about it, it's not going to work out.... It's like two opposite sides of a war, the Christian is going to think the Atheist is misled, wanting to convert them, needing to save them, mad/hurt that they deny God, etc... If they had kids, the Christian wouldn't want the Atheist telling the kids there is no God.

Anjela

Yes, I think two people can live in harmony despite different religious views, but neither one has to be too extreme. Too extreme and it won't work, and it will become a source of stress for the couple.

I was raised Catholic and went to Catholic grade and high school. My mom made me attend church weekly until I turned 21, at which point I stopped going altogether. I do believe in a high power, whether it's "God", I have no idea. How could any of us really know? I agree with the answerers who say the bible is merely a book written by man, it is no guarantee of what really happened and it could be a work of fiction, again, no one really knows.

I like it

yes I would walk away ,it would never work.....
the diff. between a christian and an atheist is like that the distance from here to the sky....

bigmom

Christians should follow the rule: judge, lest not ye be judged by the same measure.......

I see no problem with two people agreeing to disagree about religion, politics, or any other personal choice matter.

Rapscallion Account #2

You might reconsider your belief system. I'm no bible thumper, and i don't practice any certain religion.

Quite honestly i have to think that atheists are the most ignorant people on the planet. Take into account that a great deal of the events in the bible have been proven by science. And then take a look at the world around you, none of this happened by chance, someone created it. The thing about the bible is it is man's interpetation of events, the masses are not what we would call great thinkers. Imagine going back in time and trying to explain the world we live in today to the people back in the time period that "Christ" walked the earth. Only way you could do it is metaphorically, the bible is one huge metaphor. Read it again and put some thought into it this time.

Here's some more food for thought for you, even Charles Darwin believed in god.

Joel pay your child support!!

I have a strong belief in a higher power, I certainly don't follow the whole God thing, anyone who calls themselves a Christian and walks away is not someone I would want to know anyway, your friends are your friends, they can believe what they like as long as they and you don't push your opinions onto each other, I am sure most people have far more facets to their lives that can be explored in a friendship or relationship, as long as religion stays out of it and there is a mutual understanding of this. I bet most religious people would walk away though, it's the Atheist that would try and make it work. And who is the judgemental one.

Woof!!!

I wouldn't walk away. Everyone is entitled to their own ideas and opinions. If I we're the "religious" type, I wouldn't try cramming my religion down anyone elses throat. I think that you can still build a healthy relationship with that difference.

Personally, I was with a guy that claimed to be a "GOOD CHRISTIAN" but I noticed he found God only when it was convenient, when push came to shove and he was between a rock and a hard place. I question whether or not there is a God, and I feel the same as you for the most part.

Morals are something you learn from life, not the Bible.

You have your own "spiritual" beliefs, and I respect and admire that... your "faith" lies with your friends and family and I think that is more important, because IT IS REAL.

SCruzMom

As I'm Atheist too, for me the deal breaker would be if they were over the top Christian. Devout I might be able to deal with, as long as they respected my beliefs. Over the top, trying to convert me all of the time and telling me how I'll be damned to hell on a regular basis, I have a hard time tolerating. :)

Peace!

Clo is back from Florida !

I've married an Atheist and have two children with him. It's been nine years we don't talk about religion and I still go to mass on Sunday. (Kids are being raised Catholics like me).

Sue B

So many folks who attend church regularly, all think they can sin as much all week and be forgivin by going to church on Sunday! I think this is funny! Many have strong beliefs. That's their choice.
I believe in a higher power, but is his name God? If you think of studying Mythology in school, look at all the different God's there were.

Yes, I think a bible thumper and an atheist can live in Harmony as long as one doesn't step on the toes of the others.

Christy D

Well I don't think a person's beliefs should get in the way of their affections for one another. It depends on you and the strong christian believer to accept each other for the way you guys are and if you can't then move on. There will come a time when you meet someone that NOTHING will matter to you or to them you will find a way to make it work believe me lol. I don't have n e thing against n e kind of religion but my parents tried to raise me to only be with someone that's in my religion. WHY? It's like saying you can only date your own race forget that lol! Just like you made a choice not to believe in God it's another choice to make if you want to accept a strong christian in your life or not. If you want to work with her beliefs and even too if she is willing to work with yours then go for it. There's more to it then just religion you know lol.

Mimi

I can't say I would walk away, but I do believe it is difficult to find harmony when religious beliefs (or lack of) are so different.

DEBBY'S BABY

It's possible to maintain a relationship as long as you both respect each others beliefs. But if you have children it's going to get awful sticky.

Lavender

Well I think there will always be a issue with that in a relationship. Depends on how strong the other persons beliefs are.. Right is right, wrong is wrong, good is good, bad is bad.. I don't need the bible to tell me that..

Dream

I was always taught that it is the partner's duty that believes in Christ to share, be witness, and a role model for the partner that doesn't.

David T

While I'm not a bible toting person, I feel a person needs to ask themselves 1 question? Where did EVERYTHING come from? I mean what made Earth? The Sun? Stars? The entire Universe? Are you going to say that it was "just there"? That's ludicrous. Now, they asked Einstein if he believed in God? He replied, "I worked it out on the board, once. There is a higher power, an energy, if you will. If you wish to call that "God", then that's as good as name as any".
So, my consensus is this, if you wish to not believe in God, that's on you. I don't believe everything in the bible, either. Too many discrepancies, but I do believe in a higher power, a creator. I know that logically, SOMETHING had to start everything. That SOMETHING had to ALWEAYS BE THERE. ALWAYS. Being a human, it's hard for us to fathom the word "infinite". So rather then try to accept it, we try to rationalize it with irrational behavior. We call that denial. Easier to dismiss something then to see the logic that something had to start everything. Again, to say that the Universe was always here is ludicrous. Something had to create it? What was it? WHO was it? That's where "faith" plays it's hand. I'd rather have faith, then live in denial. But your "mocking others" like you have been (your comment to Valerie, ending it with LMAO), who choose to believe in God, is wrong. You can believe what you want, it's your life. Talking online, about religion is fine, but I never discuss it around people. If you make comments that are rude like "LMAO", that's how you start fights. That puts you in the wrong in the argument. Not your beliefs, but rather, your attitude. Same with politics. It will lead to fights. I don't need jail time. I would never start the conversation. I tell people, "I don't discuss religion" (or politics). If they push the issue, I tell them to find another table to sit at. Try not to get involved in those conversations in public. Two opposite point of views will never end well.
PS: Valerie, stop being so condescending and smug.

Somethingtotry

It will not work over the long term.

If you are right and there is no God, Heaven, or Hell, then Christians have still lead a good life - but if you're wrong - then I would not want to be you and in your shoes when the day of judgment comes.

Killer Queen

It can work. My brother is atheist and is married to a devout Christian. After a few discussions about their own beliefs, they decided they would just not talk about it. Each is free to follow their own path. Their children are given a choice to go to church or not. Sometimes they do, sometimes not. More often they do. So it works for them.

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