How to Make an Interfaith Relationship Work

Surely, when you start a relationship, one of the first things to come up will be religion. However, there are some instances in which the parties involved learn their faiths conflict with each other after they have already fallen for one another. How do you deal with this great issue?

It's really not so difficult, and the success lies in the dedication on both sides of the argument to each other. There is no need to compromise your beliefs in order to be in an interfaith relationship.

For a large majority of said couples, religion is something that can be easily overlooked, because the principles in the differing religions are not as defined as say, Orthodox Judaism and Buddhism. However, no matter how strong the religious difference of an interfaith couple may be, in order to keep peace and loving feelings, both must understand that the first key rule to making any interfaith relationship work is that you must keep your religion and relationship separate; a kind of secularism, if you will.

The second key point to making it as an interfaith couple is to never impose you religion or beliefs on your partner. There is no need for this, and you should remember you fell in love with this person for who they are, and not necessarily what their thoughts on the after-life might be. If they want to know more about your religion, they will ask, and you are welcome to tell, but trying to get them on "your side" of things will almost undoubtedly ruin your relationship.

The third key point I will make when it comes to interfaith relationships is that you should not judge or dwell on your partners' religion. You have your beliefs, your partner has theirs, probably instilled in them since birth, so the beliefs have nothing to do with you. In other words, it's none of your business. Be accepting, as all Gods in all religions intended.

Another key point in making relationships between differing faiths work is that one must NEVER mock or disprove the other. Some people have a natural tendency to do this, not in a mean-spirited way, but "trying to help". More often than not, what you are doing is quite strongly the opposite. Before speaking about religion, make sure you understand the shifty grounds you are walking on, and make sure you aren't going to say anything that might offend or discredit the other.

The last and probably most important key to a long and happy interfaith relationship is to love, and be loved, openly and without hindrance or too much though wasted on something that you can do nothing about. If you love the person, love the person, and never change who you are to try and "fit" better with the other. Don't change your points of view. Be yourself, and leave religion for your private time.