A question has long been plaguing me over the last few years. That question is this....should you date/marry someone who doesn't share your faith? I have pondered that question many a days and I am not sure that I have yet to come up with the right answer. I have to be honest and say that my first instinct is that NO, you shouldn't date someone who doesn't share your faith with you. As a faithful Catholic, my faith is the number one thing in my life that drives me soul and my livlihood. My dreams and visions of my husband all include a beautiful wedding celebrated at our first Mass as husband and wife and then continuing on each and every Sunday. I dream of praying with my husband and praising God in the good things and falling to our knees in the bad. But as I have entered by 31st year, I am beginning to wonder...am I asking too much? Many would argue that I am. And although my initial reaction is to disagree, I sometimes find myself questioning my inclinations.
A friend of mine was recently sharing that her friend passed some advice along to me that I shouldn't limit my dating life to only Catholic men. She shared a story that she and her husband had married and for 7 years (I think it was 7...) she went to church faithfully on her own while her husband stayed at home. Eventually, he came into the church and they now raise their family as Catholics together. My thoughts went two ways when I heard this....a) I am being too picky and I never know what God has in store and b) That is great that her husband eventually came into the church...but what if mine doesn't? Do I really want to spend the rest of my life attending Mass alone on a weekly basis?
I realize that I could evangelize my husband, but wouldn't it be better if we could evangelize together? I realize that dating devout Catholic men really narrows my playing field, but do I want to risk watering down my faith by dating outside of my faith?
So my dear readers, I throw this out to all of you. What do you think? Married couples? Single folks? Divorced folks? What are your thoughts? Help a poor girl out....;)
I say date....God has a plan, let Him choose!
ReplyDeleteI have always been a big believer in dating only a man that you could see yourself marrying. I married a man that was the same faith and things changed and we ended up divorced. The 2nd time around I still wanted a man that shared my faith, convictions and beliefs. I cannot imagine trying to raise children with a man that doesn't share your love of God and church. I have seen friends go through it and it's hard.
ReplyDelete2 Corinthians 6:14
I believe you should only date someone who shares your faith. It has been proven that the unbeliever has more influence to hinder your faith than you do to convert them. I know several people will disagree with me but you asked and this is how I feel. God has a plan for you, wait on Him to reveal it.
ReplyDeletePS. This is Aunt Beth. I am not very saavy so I could only figure out how to post if I said Anonymous.
I agree with "Anonymous" up there!
ReplyDeleteJust saw your blog . . . Love it!!
ReplyDeleteI think you've answered your own question. It sounds to me as though God has put it on your heart to date within your own faith. That being said, if the right-guy-for-you shows up and isn't Catholic, have a long talk with God about him and see what God has to to say. Some say we can't know "God's mind" . . . but I think that we can if we immerse ourselves in Him.