posted September 13, 2006 04:30 PM           

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"WHATEVER the soul longs for, WILL be attained by the spirit"

"Love knows not its own depth until the hour of separation"

posted September 13, 2006 05:10 PM         

I once dated and entered into a relationship with a man who was brought up in a die-hard Catholic family. He once questioned my belief system and regretted it for quite some time.

I was brought up in the Christian church, but since I was a very little girl I questioned Christianity and am quite Pagan at heart..I hold alot of the Druidac principals. His Catholic upbringing "haunted" the relationship eventhough he was not a practicing Catholic.

I dated for several weeks another man who stated his two passions in life were Christianity and Patriotism (I hold little endearment for American militia as well.)He told me once that he could not be intimate with someone who did not live by the Bible, I gave him very detailed examples on how my beliefs and lifestyle were WAY more intune with the Bible than his! He too questioned my belief system and I never heard about it again!

And if one considers marriage and/or children a whole new can of worms is opened.

posted September 13, 2006 05:26 PM         

I have a Christian friend who won't get into serious relationships with non-Christians for essentially this same reason.

She fears falling in love with a non-Christian, then not being able to enjoy eternity "on the other side" with this person because the non-Christian would be denied from heaven.

I believe that anyone who tries to define God's Will is only setting themselves up for disappointment. Organized religion is for the foolish. NONE OF US KNOW THE TRUTH!!! So none of us should ever act like we have the answers.

I was baptized Lutheran, I don't practice, but I have no reason to denounce it because I have no idea what is right or wrong, and neither do any of you, so I'm going to let the Lutheran thing ride by default.

posted September 13, 2006 07:18 PM         

I had a similar experience with an EX-Jehovah Witness: notice the EX, he had been 'dis-fellowshipped' and yet believed and said I was going to Hell for my beliefs in astrology, tarot etc. I was open-minded, HE, the christian, was not!

Anyway, I can tolerate people having different belief systems to me - however, I would not tolerate HATE attitudes such as racism, sexism, homophobia etc. I just couldn't spend my time with a person who was that closed off to the rights and opinions of others

posted September 13, 2006 09:18 PM         

Being with my current I know that even though he was baptized Catholic he doesn't believe in alot of what the church says which I'm okay with; sometimes even I find flaws in the Catholic Church teachings. He just knows not to shove beliefs down my throats because I'm very strong-willed about things like religion (just like he is).

posted September 13, 2006 09:44 PM         

I do not like condemnation of a person's religious/spiritual beliefs, either! Actually, for those who want/need it religion is a wonderful thing.

Live and let live.

posted September 14, 2006 09:02 AM         

If he doesn’t try to "save me" or whatever, and we respect each others views…we can play nice.

posted September 14, 2006 04:44 PM         

If I was with someone that was a rabid Liberal, it would never work. I have my view points and my political party, I respect the others, but I have had an occassion or two to met severely leftest men that only seemed to want to date me to change me. Even if I would laugh it off and say "If living in Portland, Oregon for 5 years and living in Maryland for 6 years didn't change me- you won't"

I have many friends from various religions and different political views. I take what they say with a grain of salt and let it go. To each their own.

But, I would never marry an Athiest or Agnostic. I would be friends with one, but dating them didn't work in the past either. I am a spritual person and my base religion is Lutheran. While I do not preach my views nor do I ever want to convert a person, I don't want to feel ashamed for believing in God. I dated one man that thought I was utterly stupid for graduating college in science, but still attending Church. He would often say "How could you be such a stupid follower, you are educated, you don't need God, you have science?"

My ex-fiance, a Taurus was semi-Liberal and and a die hard Agnostic. He ridiculed my beliefs as often as he could- even though he coined himself "spiritual". He hated astrology, shamanism and even my science background LMAO.. he most likely just hated everything that I was... but that is another story.

I don't want someone that always agrees with me, but it is sure a wonderful thing when I can call my husband (since he is in Germany right now) and never worry about our political discussions or spirituality.

He is a former Mormon- but doesn't practice- he is spiritual in the same way that I am.

So, it does depends. My idea of warming up the sheets is not with someone that is going to challenge me on every single account of every single day to change my political party or my religious affiliations.