Ok.. I'm not knocking religion here so if I offend anyone I will apologize first. I have this dilemma and to me it's serious. This guy I have went out with before in the past is wanting to date again. We stopped dating before due to the distance and gas prices. Well we have been talking and discussing dating again, but today he throws me a curveball. We were discussing religious preferences. I attend Baptist/Methodist churches primarily. I find out he is Jehovah's Witness. Now I have a strong dislike for this so called religion and voiced this to him. I also told him that religion would be something we really could not discuss.. the only thing we would have in common religious wise is that we both believed in the same God. He is an awesome man and would treat me great and would love me as no man ever has.. that I have NO doubt. But what is other's opinion on a relationship being able to grow and become so much more with this difference between two people?

You should do a bit of research to find out what the differences are. Baptists and Jehovah's Witnesses are very different.

Other people's opinions can be helpful, but you are the one who would have to be comfortable in the situation.

Organized religion is a farce. But I find that differing religions do tend to cause small problems, if there is no rule set up from the beginning, to not try and change the person, unless they want to.

I would not try to change him because we have both made this clear to one another that neither would convert. I respect him for who he is... which is a good man.

Just don't go to church

Then it prolly won't be a problem, well, unless you plan on having kids, then it gets a lil murky. But if you're all good with it, gas prices are good, so have at it.

http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/2919/reasons.html


Check out #40 and 41.
40. They are forbidden to have friends who are not Jehovah's Witnesses
41. They are forbidden to marry a non-Jehovah's Witness


If they don't obey the rules, they can be shunned/disfellowshipped. A friend of my daughter's was disfellowshipped. She told me that if she saw her mom in a store and they spoke to each other, her mom could get into trouble if someone found out.

Instead of focussing on the differences of your two beliefs, why not try having a focussed discussion for the purpose of finding the similarities.

Do not get of topic, do not go vent or rant on a tangent. As the discussion unfolds put the differences aside or examine them to find a route back to a similarity.

We spend way too much time looking at our differences, this is a major cause in prejudice, biases and stereotyping.

If you really like this guy, focus on what you have in common, and when you find a difference, look for the way back to common ground.

You will not know if the two of you will work if you only look at differences, you will only know if you are compatible by finding your similarities.

Hmmm I wonder if HE knows this! Thanks Sandradee!

I know that this comment is going to sound weird coming from me because: 1. Of many of the comments I've posted on this forum, and 2. I'm an Atheist, and also very Anti-theist...

But, I have never really understood why when in love, to the point of wanting to spend the rest of your lives together means that someone has to change their minds.

I'll be completely honest here, as long as the person I'm seeing/interested in doesn't sit there and continually try to convert me, I have no problem accepting them as they are, and letting them keep their beliefs. Sure, I will poke fun at them, but I won't force them to change. Now, in the case of someone who is constantly trying to convert me, I'll take the easiest way out: I'll get out of that relationship myself.

It rarely works out. As a matter of fact, I don't know anyone personally who has made it and of two different views. At least when both were heavily practicing their faiths. Those who aren't so involved do a bit better.

I'm Pagan and will stick with fellow Pagans or Atheists or Agnostics. There's a better meshing there.

I am having a similar problem: the woman I am seeing is an atheist and I am an agnostic and we can not decide which religion to not bring the children up in.

I would ask yourself why are you skeptical of the claims of Jehovah's Witnesses, and then apply the same thinking to your own beliefs.

After that let me know if your religious at all.

I love it! This is gold, pure 24k gold.

Thanks TBRich!

look at the bright side..you wouldn't have to give him any gifts

My three step siblings are very involved in the Jehovah's Witness church. They are good people, and sincere in their beliefs.

Not my cup tea you understand.

Pagans r awesome!!!

Seriously, if religion is an issue then take it out of the equation. If you want to be with a baptist then forget the JW and be with a baptist. My philosophy on the matter:

"If she doesn't give a sh*t what I believe, then I don't give a sh*t what she believes"

Well, something like that anyways. Cheers

Actually, I stole it from woody allen