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Permalink Reply by Peter on July 29, 2011 at 11:01am

I would like to think that love transcends different views of the universe. I think I could marry a religious person, though it would require many upon many conversations on their beliefs, why they believe, and how we could make it a mutual relationship.

The matter on how to raise kids would come up too (assuming we get to that point and are both willing and prepared to take on such a task). If I were to raise children, I'd prefer them to be raised atheist (of course). I wouldn't do this by preventing them from going to church or reading the bible though, I would instead try to have them experience and learn about multiple religions. This way, they can choose which path in life to take (and if I succeed in raising a smart child, they will choose the most logical one).
I doubt a religious spouse would agree to such terms in raising a child though, which would definitely hinder possibilities of me marrying a religious person (their family would most likely get in the way too).

So when it comes down to it, I think it's raising children that gets in the way of such a marriage, and not necessarily myself. If me and my spouse were to decide not to have children, then I think a marriage between me and a religious person would be more probable.
If I loved someone, I think I would be able to accept who they are, even if they prayed to god every day.
(we of course would both have intentions of "saving" one another from our beliefs... But I think that may draw us closer together and perhaps one day my spouse will put together the facts and stop praying... lol)

[edit] So to specifically answer the question, No, I don't think I would HAVE to marry an atheist, though it probably would make things a million times easier haha.

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Permalink Reply by Arcus on July 29, 2011 at 11:27am

Atheist without a question.

I've been in three fairly long relationships (4, 2.5, 3 years) with a Norwegian agnostic, a US "spiritual" person, and an atheist Tica. The second was by far the worst relationship experience I've had, and the latter was perfect. I cannot tackle the world view espoused by non-Atheists and occasionally end up lobbing fairly mean spirited comments towards them when "I don't honestly know" is replaced by "God did it".

As for marriage.. Don't really see the point from an emotional point of view, though it does have some practical applications in regards to, amongst other things, citizenship, tax and family law reasons.

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Permalink Reply by Sassan K. on July 29, 2011 at 11:59am

I've never met/dated an atheist out here in the U.S. - and I am in Southern California! While everyone I have dated/relationships have not been religious - but they still "believe in a god" in a vague way. Many have even been against religion like my last girlfriend I was in a serious relationship with - but she still had a 'vague' belief in a higher power. :yawn: 

I don't even know if atheist females exist in Orange County - and I don't live in a religious county at all. Whether the girl sleeps with not many guys or a lot of guys - they all seem to have some kind of belief.

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Permalink Reply by Arcus on July 29, 2011 at 12:30pm

Must be lots of expat groups in SoCal, and I've met precious few expats in the US who are not atheists. Expats usually have at least a Bachelors degree and grew up in privileged surroundings elsewhere. Education and wealth is quite correlated with a secular belief system. Also, many expats are hot corporate chicks. ;)

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Permalink Reply by Sassan K. on July 29, 2011 at 12:33pm

Everyone I know is secular - not religious - but they hold on to a "belief" in god even though they are never religious or attend church. And they are educated too - education doesn't seem to make much a difference unless it is Ph.D. from my observations out here.

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Permalink Reply by Sassan K. on July 29, 2011 at 12:34pm

The wealthier one here - the more conservative they are. Even though Orange County conservatives are "Republican", they tend to not be too religious but they certainly are not atheists.

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Permalink Reply by Arcus on July 29, 2011 at 12:45pm

Don't judge expats based on local conditions as they are from somewhere completely different. Like Europe, and you'll be hard pressed to find a non-atheist around.

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Permalink Reply by Sassan K. on July 29, 2011 at 12:47pm

What do you mean by "ex-pat" in reference to America? Like someone originally from Europe living in America?

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Permalink Reply by Arcus on July 29, 2011 at 1:06pm

Most are probably from Europe, but usually there's plenty of diversity.

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Permalink Reply by Sassan K. on July 29, 2011 at 12:48pm

No - I am suggesting that it doesn't matter if the girl has slept with 1000 guys 100 guys or 10 guys or 5 guys - out in America - she still have a belief in a higher power - even if she is not religious. It is kind of hypocritical if she sleeps around a lot and then praises god at night.

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Permalink Reply by Arcus on July 29, 2011 at 12:52pm

I'm not quite sure what being sexually selective has to do with religion or if I said anything resembling that. I actually don't see being highly sexually selective as anything positive at all, but rather a sign of a narrow mind.

"Are you suggesting  atheist women sleep around more?"

I certainly hope so! ;)

To be perfectly honest I have no clue, but my personal experience is that they do and that they are much better in bed. Then again, I usually select for both atheism and sex experience, as I find these things build character.

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Permalink Reply by Sassan K. on July 29, 2011 at 1:08pm

probability - the less religious one is - the more sexually liberated one tends to be

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