It matters greatly. I wouldn't have married someone without my same belief system, and Catholicism is the core of that. I wouldn't be happy with someone who didn't raise children with me in that vein and live our lives accordingly. FOR ME, love wouldn't have been true without that connection.

Do I think it's possible for others? Of course. But dating/marrying for both are equally important for me.

Yes, it does matter. I am very lucky that my bf and I share the exact same religious beliefs and our views on how we will raise children, etc.

I think this is one of the main things to consider when you are getting serious with someone.

I agree with Greggie.

Now that I'm 26 I think it is important to date someone that shares the same beliefs as your person. When I was 18, I didn't really think much of it and my friends didn't either. But at this point in my life, I think that being with someone who shares the same practices in religion is very important. I know people who have converted to their significant other's religion & I think that if you are in love & are willing to do that then it shows how strong love really is in a relationship..

My boyfriend and I are 23 and 22 (respectively). He is Hindu and I am Christian. This doesn't bother either of us. We respect each others' beliefs, but don't find it necessary to convert. We've talked about if we had children, and have talked about introducing them to both religions. However, I recognize this can be complicated for kids to understand, so I think that would be the biggest issue--starting a family. My parents aren't happy about him being Hindu, either, but it doesn't bother either of us.

i thought when i was younger that it didnt matter what religions your life partner would end up being. but now in my late twenties i realize its really important. do i think you have to be the same exact religion not necessarily. but though i consider myself a very tolerant person i know i want my children to be raised within the traditions of my religion adn that can become very sticky if a person doesnt have similar beliefs in that arena.

My boyfriend is Jewish and I am Christian. Neither of us are super-religious, so it's not a huge deal. We are dating because we like each other, religion has no part. When we get down the road of kids/marriage,I like the idea of introducing kids to both religions.

well it matter to some extent

My husband is Catholic and I am an atheist and we've known since the day we met that we'd never agree on religion-- and we're fine with that. I would never want to marry someone who is my clone; our difference in belief is one of the many things that illicit stimulating discussion and keep our marriage so happy!

FOr me, personally, it doesn't matter as long as we respect choices. My parents weren't strong praticing christians, and allowed me to find my religion. As a result, I'm agnostic for the time being until I more throughly understand what religion is to me, and my boyfriend's spiritual, he believes in God, but he also believes that you have to find something that's right for you, so yeah.

It honestly depends on the person, like for many, it'd matter big time because religion is at the core of their lives, and they want that core to be stable. For others, it's not so important as the connection is.

I think it depends on the 2 people for me religion is not a big deal. I do not consider myself religious even though I was raised Catholic. There is a lot more to someone's beliefs than religion.

I think it all depends on if religion is an important part of your life. For my husband and me, it was extremely important for us to be with someone of the same faith. We don't agree on all of the little issues but when it comes down to fundamental beliefs, we're on the same page. However, it's totally understandable that if religion is not an integral part of your life it's not going to be a big deal. To each his own, you know?

Personally, to me it wouldn't have mattered what faith my husband practices, as long as we share the same core values. (And we do.) Religion right now isn't a huge part of our lives and even though we're both Christian, a lot of people (particularly my family) question whether we'll be Catholic or Methodist.

So even within the same Christian beliefs, we still have some discrepancies and people can make a big deal of it. But I don't mind the idea of introducing children to multiple belief systems either.

I think it just depends on the person. I wouldn't have minded dating someone with a different belief system, as long as they had the same values of family.

Yea I don't care what their relgion, race, nationality, politcal views, or hair colour is!!!
If I love him, I love him! I can't help who I fall in love with

I once dated a devout christian for two years only for him to break up with me because i would not get "saved". I was heartbroken that he couldn't see past my jewish faith, but i still respected his decision to end our relationship because his religion was such an interagal part of his life. So i think inter-faith relationships can only work if both parties can put aside their beliefs and respect each other for who they are.

if you go into a relationship thinking you can "change" someone's beliefs, chances are its not going to work.

I've dated Muslims, Jews, Sikhs, atheists - it never really mattered to me. BUT there are some issues that connect to faith that do matter, in the long run - for instance, if I'm dating a Catholic guy and perhaps I become pregnant... is he going to put his religion before my right to get an abortion? Or, if I'm dating a Jew (and this has happened to me), is he a Zionist? I couldn't date someone who didn't support abortion rights, Palestinian rights, I couldn't date an evangelical Christian who uses his religion to support racism...

I'm making generalizations to make a point - that while religion itself does not matter to me, some people do have complicated religious ideals that will reflect in their lifestyle. Often its extremes, but I find that good communication (like, "How would you feel if I decided to have an abortion?") can avoid these problems.

For me, it was important because my faith is a huge part of who I am and how I lead my life. However I think being on the same page is more important. You need to have the same core values and ideals. You need to know how you would deal with certain situations and how children would fit into the picture if they came along.

Religion is not an important part of my life, and thus it hasn't been much of a consideration in choosing my partners.

I think if my fiance hadn't agreed to let me take our future progeny to church, I might have had second thoughts about our engagement. The issue wasn't that his views didn't match mine, or that I want our children to believe the exact same things I do, but that he was so reluctant to compromise. He's an atheist, who wasn't raised with any particular faith, and who is vaguely suspicious of organized religion. For him to say that I could absolutely not take our kids to church seemed to me to be disrespectful of me and my beliefs. If he loves me, and respects me, and my religion is a part of me, then I should be allowed to share that part of me with my children. It would have been especially insulting when you consider that he's not a member of a conflicting faith, but doesn't believe in anything in particular. Fortunately, he soon saw my point, and agreed, as long as he could expose the children to other faiths too, which I am totally down with.

In general, I think true love CAN conquer all, but that doesn't mean it will. Both partners have to be willing to compromise, and their are definitely some religious pairings that are more difficult to make work than others. I agree with what most posters have said: it varies from couple to couple. Best of luck to anyone who's trying it, though.

religion has caused nothing but problems between my fiance and i. im roman catholic and he is a non-practicing ukranian orthodox catholic. we have had many fights over me not wanting to live with him until we're married. i would prefer to be with a practicing roman catholic, but what can ya do...you love who you love i guess!

Like most people stated it depends on how much religion is a part of your life. For me (Roman Catholic) it's huge. I'm a full-fledged practicing Catholic (church every Sunday, pray the rosary daily, no premarital sex etc). Anyway I have found dating to be self-selective meaning guys who won't respect my religious beliefs tend not to date me. I have dated an atheist who thoroughly respected my beliefs. I also believed in the "love can conquer all scenario" but when I would envision the future it just wasn't going to work. I do not believe in converting someone, but strongly believe in raising my children with the my same convictions. Just thinking of going to church as a family without my husband (I wouldn't force anyone to go) was horrifying. Or thinking about not praying together or thinking about how for him marriage is "just a ceremony" and not a unification of souls ordained by God etc. Well you get the point wasn't going to work. So for people with strong religious beliefs I don't hink it works. For people who believe in God, go to church sometimes and aren't associated strongly with a faith..totally fine.

No it doesn't matter to me in any way whatsoever.

It has never really crossed my mind as I haven't really met someone I liked of another religion yet. If I ever did, I don't think it would matter much.

I am not religious, and neither is my BF. I wouldn't be able to date a very religious person, because I don't share the same beliefs.

Whatever peoples beliefs are, are very important to me. Especially in a partner. I would not have married my husband if he didnt share the same beliefs, because in the long run its what is at the core of our values, morals and futures. I wouldnt want him to be embarassed if i prayed before a meal, just like i wouldnt want to worry that things arent kosher.

My boyfriend and his family are very catholic, and I was raised Christian. We both believe the similar things, and have agreed if we have children to raise them catholic. (I have no problem with catholic. Christian is just how I was raised)

I think it matters on the partners. We have similar values and virtues.

my dad was catholic and my mom was jewish when they were married. they've made it work for more than 30 years, but my mother's advice is to date people within your religion. i was raised jewish, but as an adult my beliefs have changed. i feel that a person's religious beliefs are not my main concern in deciding whether or not to persue a relationship.

I'm athiest so i feel more then partial to that.

Its tough only b/c my boyfriend's parents are Jewish & think I should be too. Even though they aren't religious at all, they still hold that against me.

I'm not a practicing Catholic, but I do appreciate it when other people respect my religion, although I didn't choose to be Catholic. Having little or no respect for other people's religions/beliefs is the root cause of why so many bad things happen in our present world. I think as long as a couple have the same values and have respect, then religion doesn't matter too much. To me, it matters a bit because then I when talk about things in regards to Catholicism, I would get an understanding. Which is how it works with me and my boyfriend.

Definitely, religion and politics are very important. Though more so politics. I like to have something to talk about.

I think compatability is deeper than just the label of a religion. People are going to like each other because they have the same beliefs and ideals, not because they are both catholic or jewish. You have to think that many people within a religion are still completely different. I'm agnostic but it doesn't mean that I don't share values with other religions and can't be in love with someone of a different religion.

My husband and I are both former Catholics who were beaten up by the church due to our divorces. In both cases we were the Catholics married in the Catholic church to two non-Catholics. Our two ex spouses cheated on us and caused the divorces. Since our own faith and church turned their backs on us we both have the same beliefs in regard to our former religion. We both consider ourselves spiritual and not religious. We will never practice an organized religion again.

In the Bible says you are not supposed to be "unequally yoked" and marry someone who has the same religion. I think it really matters if you're going to have kids because some people have disputes over what religion they want to raise their child in. My best friend's mom is a strict Catholic and she married a semi-practicing Buddhist and although they have raised all of their kids Catholic, my friend's mom sometimes feels horrible because her husband may not go to Heaven (according to our Catholic beliefs).

As for me, I probably would have marry someone is Catholic or Christian, or at least believe that God and Jesus (as God's Son, not just a man) exist even though they may not practice an organized religion.

Oops I need to clarify my first sentence. You are supposed to marry someone who has the same religion (according to the Bible). Sorry I didn't make it sound clear the first time.

YES!!!

Let me tell you right now. I used to think it didnt matter, then i fell in love with a muslim [im christian] and i thought everything was perfect. As long as he supported mine, and i supported his, i thought everything would be ok. Let me just tell you... i fell in love LOVE with him, but something was always off. It tore at me everyday i was with him. He treated me different because of his culture and i respected that, but then i started doubting everything i believed in and let him control me and tear at everything i believed in in my life. I was even willing to move to saudi arabia and wear a veil for him. I used to be the most independent girl you had ever met.

...thats when i knew i had to end it, and the past 3 weeks of my life have been hell for me because I just broke up with the guy i loved. But it couldve never worked... it just starts amazing but it wont ever work in the end. Not unless they are similar cultures.

PLEASE learn from me... you dont think it could happen to you but it can

of course religion is important or whatever your belief system is because ultimately when you settle down with someone you need some common ground on whats right and wrong especially with raising kids.

spyglassjenni thats really sad but i guess people have to decide how they want to live their lives. sacrifices are hard to make, especially if your heart isnt in it.

islam does not condone forcing anyone into religion and if your heart isnt in it, you will never fully embrace the way of life, or be happy. that's why we should all live by what we truly believe and not do things half-heartedly for the sake of others.

just my opinion guys

this is something that's coming up in my relationship. i am not religious - raised by "agnostics" i guess you could say - i'm from alabama, the bible belt, and my parents rebelled against that. bf's parents are very religious and he was raised as such - his father's family is catholic, and his mother's presbyterian - when we started dating a few years ago, he was agnostic, like me. and now he's "religious" but not in the conventional sense of the word. he agrees wit me on the specifics of things, but is MUCH MUCH MUCH more spiritual than i am. having not been raised in a religious household of sort, it's very hard to find my way - he has always been very spiritual and is pretty much buddhist now - which is fine with me, i love that about him, it makes him much more compassionate - except for one thing, he is always pressuring me to meditate - with him and in a group - which i really just am not comfortable with. i tried it once because he wanted me to and i wanted to see if i liked it, i didn't, and i figured that would be enough. now he's upset because i don't want to go to guided walking meditation - says i don't ever want to do anything he wants to do (he has only asked me to meditate with him and exercise with him - two things i look at as personal time) which i think is completely untrue. i don't know how to get him to understand that no one was in a religion they liked and appreciated if they were pushed and guilted into it. sometimes he understands this, but seems to forget it. i understand he wants me to be part of this with him, but i haven't had the same experiences as he has to come to this...i guess it'll just take time?

and for kids, we've decided to go to many different churches and let them decide.

im jewish and my boyfriend is catholic. i practice my religion and he doesnt except for christmas and easter. we've been together for over 3 years and plan on staying together. its important to me for my children to have religion in their lives and he agrees and its important for god to b present at our wedding. so wer just celebrating both. my kids will be primarily jewish but im not going to ignore his religion, theyl undertsnad and celebrate it too. love comes first in my book, everything else will work its self out after that

Spyglass - that's really sad, and this guy shouldn't consider himself a Muslim at all. The basic tenent of Islam is that all people of the book are equals and should be treated equally - hence the relatively peaceful Ottoman empire of most of Europe from 711-1492 A.D. Your ex should be ashamed that you were so mentally manipulated by his false interpretation of his religion.

It's always important that, in a dual-religion relationship, both faiths are considered equal between the two people involved. If you harbor (or your partner does) any subconscious notion of superiority because you consider your faith to be the "right" faith, then you should never pursue a relationship. THAT is a scenario where two faiths cannot meld well together.

It's kind of like this one time I dated a white man and after three awesome months together, he drops this bomb - we were walking through Harlem and he said something like, "Christ, these people are just backwards..." and then revealed his complete ignorance of the racial and social construct of America. Needless to say, he had to find his way out of Harlem by himself - I was in Queens before he figured out I broke up with him because he was a racist, and didn't even realize it himself.

I could not imagine dating someone of a different faith. My faith plays such a large role in my life that it would be really hard if I could not share that with my boyfriend. I go to church, bible study, and I volunteer for a Christian organization that reaches out to high school kids (takes up about 3-4 nights a week); I need (have actually) someone that I can share all of that with. My decision making, my reasoning, may character, all center around my faith. Without sharing God with my boyfriend I could not share my whole self.

My boyfriend and I have been together for over a year, and he's Jewish and I'm Catholic.

We've had talks about this many times. I think as long as you are both open with each other about it, you can work it out. For example, I'm not too religious and neither is he, but his family is. So I know, that when we get married, I'll be converting so our children can be Jewish. To me, this isn't a big sacrifice, because I've never really agreed with the principles and such of my religion. He's told me that I don't have to convert, but I know it would go a long way with smoothing things out in the future.

I know he's gotten pressure from some members of his family to "meet a nice, Jewish girl" but he tells them time and again that as long as I'm a good person, what does it matter? And I appreciate that so much, that he sticks up for me, for us.

So it can work out if you want it to.

For me it was a huge consideration when beginning to date someone. My religion and culture has become increasingly important as I have grown up. I have seen a few friends marry those of different faiths and they are ALL struggling now to see eye to eye on the topic of children, even though they made concessions/agreements when they were dating and engaged. Even when people say, religion doesn't matter, I have seen otherwise.

So it is no surprise then that I married someone with the same religious beliefs as myself.

This is how wars start.