Would you convert to another religion for the one you love?
By aso322
@aso322 (75)
United States
March 30, 2007 1:39pm CST
Or would you be okay with both of you practicing different faiths? Would you even consider dating anyone outside of your religion?
I was raised a Catholic, although I no longer practice it. Growing up, I had a lot of Jewish friends, and ended up being fascinated by Judaism and wanting to learn more about it. I've been with my Jewish boyfriend for over a year, and while marriage is still far away, we've discussed the possibility of me converting.
In the Jewish faith, the children are whatever the mother is. I would want to raise our children Jewish, therefore I'd have to convert. Obviously it's not a sure thing, but I've done research and at the moment, I would be absolutely willing to convert to marry my boyfriend and raise our children Jewish.
What do you think? What would you do?
1 response
@oldboy46 (2129)
• Australia
14 Apr 07
It is not necessary to convert but should be a personal choice ... based on what you want and not what your partner wants you to do. If means following the new faith in all ways and forgetting what you have been bought up with. I see from your profile that you are still young and it is not unusual for people at the age you are not to be regular practitioners of their faith ... or going to church on a regular basis. Nobody should go to church just because it is expected ... but go because they want to be there.
If you do decide to convert ... that should be because you believe and are willing to put into practice everything to do with that faith or else it is a pointless exercise.
A family can live and survive with more than one religion in the household, as long as their religious beliefs do not conflict ... or each is prepared to allowed to practice their beliefs. For example ... those of the Jewish faith do not eat certain foods, so that must be catered for and so on.
I did convert prior to my marriage because I had been bought up to believe that "the family that prays together stays together" .... a lot of rubbish as I now know. My ex-wife no longer goes to Church unless it suits her and she certainly didn't care whether or not our children went to church once we separated ... yet she insisted we had to be of the same faith before we could marry. I was bought up in the Catholic faith, converted to Lutheran and my partner now is an Anglican. I would not convert again.
My mother was a Catholic, converted to Lutheran as well when she married my stepfather. She is elderly now but when her time comes there will be some conflict .... one brother insists she be buried with a Catholic mass ... despite the fact that he changed religion when he married (and now divorced); I think it should be Lutheran and our other brother doesn't care. He and his wife say it doesn't matter but maybe it should be a combined Mass.
Now I know that nobody should convert simply because of marriage .... if you truly believe and can accept the Jewish faith and all that it entails, then by all means convert. Otherwise, do not. Do not make the decision lightly .... take a lot of lessons in the faith ... talk to many people of all faiths, including your own (Catholic) as well as of the Jewish faith. Children can be bought up with any religious belief .... even learning about both of the faiths and then making their own decision when they are older.
Your boyfriend knows you are not of his faith .... you are young and there is still plenty of time. I cannot see why you should convert just for your boyfriend or even for your children. One, children might never come into your life .... plus they can be raised learning about both faiths.