Would you date someone with different religious beliefs?

Would you date someone with different religious beliefs (or a lack of them)?

If I liked him/her, it wouldn't matter. 37
I wouldn't date him/her if they were devout (please define "devout") 7
I'd only date him/her if they were willing to convert. 1
I'd only date him/her if they didn't demand that I convert. 16
I wouldn't. Full stop. 17
Other (please shed some light in the comments section) 5
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Comments ( 23 )
  • RoseIsabella

    Been there, done that, well, to a certain degree. Not interested in stepping in that hole.

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  • kingofcarrotflowers

    totally, it only becomes a problem for me if she would have have a problem with me being an athiest and try to convert me, happened with a distant ex of mine, not a great situation to be in

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  • thegypsysailor

    I absolutely would NOT date anyone who had ANY religious beliefs.
    One of my first real girl friends was raised catholic, (school, church, the whole nine yards). Though she really didn't believe any longer, she was severely fucked up. The guilt that the church had instilled in her for enjoying a normal healthy relationship was so all encompassing, that she ended up in prison for possession of a large quantity of heroin (she didn't use) as self punishment for her "sins".

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  • meow:3

    nope, I'm an atheist, i could never date someone who believed something i thought was incredibly stupid and childish. I'd forever be holing myself back from patronizing them and trying to change their minds..then I'd feel bad about it.

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  • Couman

    It depends on the religion and more importantly how it influenced their actions. I'm an atheist so on the one hand I don't think have any moral objection to believing whatever fool thing you want. But on the other hand I don't have a very high tolerance for people who behave in ways I consider irrational.

    If your religion gives you happiness, comfort, or a sense of meaning, good for you. But if it causes problems, either for you or other people, I really have no time for that.

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  • loopoo

    Wouldn't bother me, if they love animals and cheese its all good

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  • iEatZombies_

    I'm currently with someone who has different beliefs than I. We both have our own logic and we're quite fine that. We understand each other and respect one another's opinions. The beliefs that do affect our actions happen to be quite similar, so behavior isn't really a problem.

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  • dom180

    Yes, I definitely would date them and I'd definitely have a proper relationship with them. I'm an atheist, but I actually find faith quite attractive so long as it's free, measured and realistic. Obviously I'd require them to be respectful, but I don't see that as a distinguishing point since I'd require that of an atheist too; I can't stand people who can't respect others (my ex was very intolerant of religious people, and it was really embarrassing for me when she talked about it in public).

    Politics is a much bigger sticking point than religion.

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    • Hmm! Fascinating. I'm sorry to hear that about your ex.

      Where do you draw the line for politically beliefs that are too different for a relationship?

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      • dom180

        Haha, she was shitty in a lot of ways. Being an asshole to my religious friends was the least of it :P

        Some people have religion as the central point of their life, about which all their principles are drawn. I have politics as the central point of my life, and my principles are drawn from that. I'm a very politically interested person. My central goal in life is to find a way to live which supports my principles. Gandhi said "Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony", and I truly believe that.

        That means that if we're just dating (i.e. hanging out together, having fun, learning together) her politics doesn't bother me, because her broader lifestyle need not interfere with mine. But if we're having a really serious relationship (i.e. one with a view to be living together and supporting each other) it would be necessary to have a partner who shared my lifestyle to avoid me having to live in a way which doesn't satisfy me. It depends on the seriousness of the relationship. I hope that makes sense :)

        At the moment I've not got it all worked out yet with regards to where I want to be in terms of my lifestyle. I know I'm not content with consumerism and big business and hierarchical structure and divided labour, and I know I want to chase anarchy in some shape or form, but I'm still hazy about the details of what I want to accomplish. I am still working towards building enough clarity and specificity in the direction which I want to commit to.

        I think that word, "specific", is the answer to the question :) My really serious partner's politics would have to be damn similar to mine, I think. The less serious the relationship, the less strict I'd be about finding a partner who matched me politically. And I'm content with being without a serious relationship for a long time, if it comes to that.

        I hope that made sense and wasn't too boring and long-winded :)

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        • That was fine. A fair point. Thank you for your time :)

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          • dom180

            Of course, it's entirely possible that I'll fall in love and none of those things will be important to me anymore. That's certainly something which could happen. I hope not, but what I hope I want in the future and what I actually will want in the future might turn out to be different things.

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  • Unimportant

    This religious person would have to convince me that she is actually NOT mentally ill. I'm willing to give her a try, but the chances aren't too high.

    To believe in a benevolent and almighty god, in the face of all the evidence and logic, is obscene. I don't want that anywhere near me.

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  • Light-Yagami

    Yes, as long as he wouldn't try to covert me. Also I would not date an extremist or someone who has beliefs about life in general that I strongly disagree with - for example fundamentalist Christians who are against homosexuality and follow EVERYTHING in the Bible to the point where they become unpopular, even with other Christians. I've met a few of those people and I'd never date one of them.

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  • Thorolf

    I'm an atheist and my girlfriend is not really any religion at all but not athiest either.. says she's in the middle about it all. So I guess? Kinda? Not really? I wouldn't date a religious person, but they don't have to be strictly athiest like me either.

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  • wistfulmaiden

    I woudnt date a person who was fanatic in any kind of way. I prefer to date someone with similar likes and beliefs to myself.

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  • kahichz88

    I could date someone with religious beliefs if he was able to respect my lack of them. We don't have to believe the same thing, but we do have to respect the other's right to believe whatever we want.

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  • Avant-Garde

    It's hard to say. I definitely wouldn't want to date someone in a cult, someone who is extreme in their views, refuses to respect my beliefs and/or attempts to convert me.

    If they didn't met those limits up top and I loved them, I would be open to attempting at a relationship.

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  • Fall_leaves

    Agnostic and catholic, it didn't work but it wasn't because of religious beliefs.

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  • dickwashington

    it depends really i wouldn't want them to try to push their beliefs on me i also dont like the idea of having to watch what i say i like to speak my mind and when it comes to religion that usually doesn't go over well so it really depends on how devout they are about it

    if i have strong feelings for this person i don't think religion would stop me from wanting to be with them

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  • KeddersPrincess

    Depends on how devout they are.

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  • daydreamer394

    Absolutely. They just have to accept me like I accept them, and keep it like that. I have friends with alternative religions too.

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  • FruityGoofyFaggot

    As long as he's not trying to force his beliefs on me I'd date him.

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