Girlfriend is religious, I'm atheist.. Can this work?

Just imagine the conversation going only one way....
Her convincing him that the catholic way is peace, love, joy, glory be to Mary, blah blah blah, and him agreeing to let some of it in, then getting fully hooked.
And what does the OP have to convince her religion is not all its cracked up to be? (except paedos etc)
Think he's on a hiding to nothing, and ought to split.
She'll have her family on her side for sure and the pressure will be immense. Religion can be oppressive in this way, and i think he has no chance of getting her to compromise.
She loves her faith more than she loves him, simples.
 
This may / may not help but I thought I'd just put my input in.

As a child myself and my sister were made to go to Church / Sunday School, neither of my parents are particularly religions so I'm not quite sure why we were made to go??

However I'd consider my self to be atheist and even with a few years of going to church I've made up my own views on religion and think its quite a lot of waffle in my own opinion.
 
swain90 said:
This may / may not help but I thought I'd just put my input in.

As a child myself and my sister were made to go to Church / Sunday School, neither of my parents are particularly religions so I'm not quite sure why we were made to go??

However I'd consider my self to be atheist and even with a few years of going to church I've made up my own views on religion and think its quite a lot of waffle in my own opinion.
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I think it's a good thing for children to learn 'Christian' morals and values, they are after all merely precepts for a reasonable way of life; indeed I would have no objection to children of mine going to Sunday school. I would however also teach them my beliefs at the same time, and hope that they make a reasoned decision as to what they believe.
 
Just explain that the only reason her Catholic religion has survived to modern times is through centuries of worldwide mass murder & torture in the name of a god that doesn't even exist
 
I think it can work. My mums a roman Catholic and my dad's atheist. I went to church as a kinder and did Sunday school etc. Helped me get into a good school which required a priest as it was a CoE school. I couldn't complain. I used to take books and toys in to church with me.
 
I'm catholic and my other half is dirty none believer and we have no issues.... especially since I burnt her at the stake...

Stelly
 
Tell her that God is everywhere; so you don't need to go to church.

Tell her you are happy to keep Xmas and Easter for the sake of the kids.
 
platypus said:
I think it's a good thing for children to learn 'Christian' morals and values, they are after all merely precepts for a reasonable way of life; indeed I would have no objection to children of mine going to Sunday school. I would however also teach them my beliefs at the same time, and hope that they make a reasoned decision as to what they believe.
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This has been bugging me more and more recently.. Why is it that basic morals and values are known as 'Christian' values? I know what you and other people mean, in that they teach people to be reasonably decent human beings but they've got just as much to do with Christianity as they have to do with Islam, Judaism, atheism... They're just vague moral guidelines that exist in pretty much all cultures, they're not specific to Christianity in the slightest... Unless you start bringing in attitudes to homosexuals and things like that.
 
I agree with those saying that so long as you agree the kid should have a balanced upbringing and left to make their own choices then I think that could work... but there are definitely countless situations that could be difficult (compared to two parents who agree with each other still allowing their child to learn about both and make their mind up)

If you fundamentally don't agree with each other and that fact comes up with your young child - how do you explain it? You just don't agree? Why not - surely only one can be right? Does that mean one of you must be a liar? But liars are bad aren't they? Oh okay neither of you know for sure - does that mean you aren't the wise knowledgeable protectors I thought you were?

Total minefield
 
zenf said:
This has been bugging me more and more recently.. Why is it that basic morals and values are known as 'Christian' values? I know what you and other people mean, in that they teach people to be reasonably decent human beings but they've got just as much to do with Christianity as they have to do with Islam, Judaism, atheism... They're just vague moral guidelines that exist in pretty much all cultures, they're not specific to Christianity in the slightest... Unless you start bringing in attitudes to homosexuals and things like that.
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They tend to be known as Christian values in this country because Christianity is the predominant faith here for those who are religious and it has been important in shaping our societies mores to a degree. I'm certain there's a good argument to say that with or without Christianity many of the morals and values would still have come into being as at a basic level they're necessary precursors to maintaining a stable and functioning society. However it's partly a shortcut to say they are Christian values rather than try to sum up the above in a pithy saying and partly a recognition that Christianity has had a large influence in our society one way or the other.

As for the original question - as a general point it's perfectly possible for people of different faiths (or indeed no faith) to have a wonderful relationship together but it will almost certainly require tolerance, understanding and respect for each other and their beliefs. Basic components for any relationship I'd have thought but what do I know? In relation to the specific question of whether it will work for this situation - no idea, that's for the OP to answer.
 
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