Girlfriend is an atheist Harriet Cole New York Daily News February 8, 2005 http://www.nydailynews.com/city_life/advice/story/279048p-239105c.html
Dear Harriette: I have been in love with this girl for about four years. Her name is Diana. We have been friends, but we have been really close for about a year and a half now. It's gotten to the point of our talking about getting married someday. My problem is that we have different views about religion. Is it wrong to date and marry someone that doesn't believe the same way you do? I am Christian, and so is my family. Diana's dad is Christian, but her mom is Muslim, and Diana herself is atheist.... Confusing, huh? We talked about it a little. She's telling me that she doesn't care if I am Christian, and she wouldn't have a problem. The real problem I think will be the kids and my side of the family when they find out. Everyone I talked to before is telling me that it's wrong and I should forget about her. That's easier said than done. Plus she may have a problem after the kids come along when I teach them about God and make them go to church. I have not told her about how worried I am about this. I don't know if I should stay or leave. If we break up I know that we will still be friends. It will just hurt a lot that I won't marry someone that I really love. Brian, Dallas - Brian: You are right to be concerned. The foundation of family definitely includes spiritual practice. Couples have been able to work through religious/spiritual differences to create strong families. It is possible, though may not be easy. Before you involve your parents, talk to your girlfriend directly about your concerns. Tell her about your reservations even though you love her. Explain that you intend to rear your children as Christians and find out how she feels about it. Invite her to go to spiritual counseling with you where you talk openly about your beliefs and search together for common ground. She may end up embracing Christianity because of your devotion or fully enrolling in letting you guide your children's spiritual practice. http://www.nydailynews.com/city_life/advice/story/279048p-239105c.html __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Read only the mail you want - Yahoo! Mail SpamGuard. http://promotions.yahoo.com/new_mail ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> Has someone you know been affected by illness or disease? Network for Good is THE place to support health awareness efforts! http://us.click.yahoo.com/UwRTUD/UOnJAA/i1hLAA/TXWolB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> *************************************************************************** {Invite (mankind, O Muhammad ) to the Way of your Lord (i.e. Islam) with wisdom (i.e. with the Divine Inspiration and the Qur'an) and fair preaching, and argue with them in a way that is better. Truly, your Lord knows best who has gone astray from His Path, and He is the Best Aware of those who are guided.} (Holy Quran-16:125) {And who is better in speech than he who [says: "My Lord is Allah (believes in His Oneness)," and then stands straight (acts upon His Order), and] invites (men) to Allah's (Islamic Monotheism), and does righteous deeds, and says: "I am one of the Muslims."} (Holy Quran-41:33) The prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "By Allah, if Allah guides one person by you, it is better for you than the best types of camels." [al-Bukhaaree, Muslim] The prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) also said, "Whoever calls to guidance will have a reward similar to the reward of the one who follows him, without the reward of either of them being lessened at all." [Muslim, Ahmad, Aboo Daawood, an-Nasaa'ee, at-Tirmidhee, Ibn Maajah] -------------------------------------------------------------------------- All views expressed herein belong to the individuals concerned and do not in any way reflect the official views of IslamCity unless sanctioned or approved otherwise. If your mailbox clogged with mails from IslamCity, you may wish to get a daily digest of emails by logging-on to http://www.yahoogroups.com to change your mail delivery settings or email the moderators at [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the title "change to daily digest". Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/islamcity/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
