Thread: Religious differences in relationships

"If her ass fits mah hand I'll take her we'll work out the other problems later "

wat

Originally Posted by Mes Tarrant

Oh no dear, I just picked up on your shallowness. I guess I shouldn't expect more from a 15 year old though, or however old you are.

That doesn't make any sense at all. You don't know how old I am, but still you claim that my age is an indication that you shouldn't expect anything at all from me. Besides, how does this add anything at all to the discussion? Being attracted to attractive women isn't being shallow, it's called being a guy.

as the mystical teachings were imparted to the boy, words broke the silence
the mystical teachings were lost again amongst the endless concepts

yet still the teacher spoke, whipping with each sentence
until the boy realised that he was the whipping himself

grasping the whip, the teacher fell
but a cloth upon the nothingness

I wouldn't even be friends with a diehard catholic/christian, or anyone with really strong religious beliefs. They just scare and depress me.

I do have some slightly religious friends, but all our time is spent arguing about religion. It just really bugs me.

If I wanted to go out with a girl, then found out she was religious (even slightly), I would definitely reconsider. I mean, it might be possible for me to have a relationship with a religious person, but she'd have to be pretty awesome in every other aspect.

By the way, I'm athiest...

Who starts the arguments?

Originally Posted by Tsiyeria

Who starts the arguments?

At first I did... it was just a passing comment about religion, and he went on the defensive. I've been having (friendly) arguments with him ever since. Even though the arguments aren't hostile, I feel it's a sort of barrier that prevents me from connecting with people.

It can be. But have you ever considered not arguing, but discussing? It's a great way to learn about how your friends think, even if you don't agree with them.

Originally Posted by Tsiyeria

It can be. But have you ever considered not arguing, but discussing? It's a great way to learn about how your friends think, even if you don't agree with them.

Well, like I said, it's not really a heated argument. But I see your point. Even so, I would still view them with less respect. I know it's pretty bad of me, but it's just the way I am.

Hey, at least you can spot and acknowledge it. That's more than a LOT of people around here (my here, not DV) can do. As long as you and your friends can work around it, then I'm not the one to say, "ZOMG UR DOIN IT WRONG!!!111!!11oneoneone"

Originally Posted by Pensive Patrick

At first I did... it was just a passing comment about religion, and he went on the defensive. I've been having (friendly) arguments with him ever since. Even though the arguments aren't hostile, I feel it's a sort of barrier that prevents me from connecting with people.

I had a friendship like this in college, but eventually it went sour because of the fundamental distrust and disrespect. We actually were close friends for a while, and religion wasn't the only thing that came between us, but it was a big part of it. Oddly enough, one of his best friends at the time, a vehement atheist, is still a good friend of mine ten years later, and neither of us have crossed paths with our Jesus Pal since college.

I have a coworker now who is not terribly religious, but believes unshakably in a Sky Daddy who made everything and sent us the Bible, which comes up now and then. We have little debates occasionally, and it's not that different from me thinking he's full of shit liking some movie or vice versa, but that's what I'm getting at with this thread--friendly coworker is a tolerable level of intimacy with someone who believes they're locked in a battle of good and evil on behalf of a beneficent Superbossdad. Close friend? Maybe. Lover? I don't think so.

I recognize a degree of hypocrisy there, in that I believe plenty of things that perhaps the majority of humans on earth would find crazy, for instance that there are larger or more extensive intelligences with whom incarnate beings may entrain themselves, and of which incarnate beings are sometimes direct (though not exclusive) manifestations. I'm skeptical but fascinated by Terrence McKenna's Timewave of compounding novelty.

Also, I think that we're all sufficiently deluded about the fundamental nature of what we're doing here that the distinctions between a born-again Christian, a vehement atheist, and a lazy Buddhist are almost negligible, a Butter Battle. Regardless, about half the time I encounter Christianity, it's "Knives out..."

Yeah, I have an angry reaction to Christianity too. Its silly really. Just the result of growing up around it and being afraid of people who claim to believe the words of a book that says I should be executed, and burn in Hell for ever.

I don't think I could manage a relationship with a conservative Christian.

Some of my best friends are people with completely opposite beliefs. I'm not bragging about that, it's hard work and there are times when I feel like saying "wait a second" but don't. I think the important thing is respect, if people have mutual respect and they don't lose respect for the other person based on their opinions, then they grow and learn from each other rather than butt heads.

My love is Catholic and goes to church every sunday, but she acts like a normal person. I love her the way she is with the beliefs she has and she has respect for me no matter what I say or what ideas I present. She listens, because she's open minded, she knows she doesn't have it all figured out and she's just doing what she has determined best based on what she knows thus far. I don't feel like I'm working against her, and that's what's most important.

I'd also like to say to mes tarrant, it's not shallow to be attracted to hot girls, it's shallow when it starts and stops there.

Originally Posted by Omnius Deus

My love is Catholic and goes to church every sunday, but she acts like a normal person. I love her the way she is with the beliefs she has and she has respect for me no matter what I say or what ideas I present. She listens, because she's open minded, she knows she doesn't have it all figured out and she's just doing what she has determined best based on what she knows thus far. I don't feel like I'm working against her, and that's what's most important.

People like that give me faith in humanity.

I honestly could care less where their beliefs lie. If I were to have a boyfriend in the future who is Atheist, that would be fine with me. I have a bunch of Atheist friends and we get along great, even when we talk about Religion. Why should religion interfere with a relationship? And if my boyfriend is religious, again, that's fine with me. I really can't see religion messing up any relationship I might have in the future...I guess it's all perspective.

I really don't get how a lot of you have let religion or non-religion mess up your friendships and relationships. Maybe it's just me, but I really don't get it...