DEBATE: Would you marry outside your religion?

Religion is of essence In the old days, couples lived in societies where almost everyone around them was from the same religion. Today, we live in a global society where we hear of a new religion almost every day and attachment to a particular religion doesn’t even matter anymore. People quickly enter into marriage with anyone (even non-believers) but we all know it isn’t always as easy as saying ‘I do’. Many religions will tell you (with no real rationale behind it) that you must marry within your religion. A practical explanation would probably be: it is difficult to see a solid foundation being formed by people with conflicting religious views/values. I am a Christian and in the Bible, every question has an answer. It warns against being unequally yoked in 2 Corinthians 6:14: “Do not be yoked together with non-believers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?” It is difficult enough to just live with someone else for the rest of your life, especially when you’ve tasted independence and didn’t have to answer to anyone or explain yourself here and there. Arguments will come up, compromises will be made, whether you are comfortable with them or not, and you will have to adjust to another’s way of life -generally a very complicated situation. When you don’t even share the same religious beliefs, it becomes worse. Should you disagree with another’s religion, it’s like an attack on them. As a staunch Christian or Muslim (or other religions out there), the top priorities in life are spiritual growth/a relationship with God. Someone who shares those priorities and won’t be upset that you spend time with church people doing church things is ideal. It’s common for two people to fall in love but their parents forbid the marriage. And why is this? Mostly, it is because of religious or cultural differences. And to be honest, they have a point. The moment you get married to someone, whose religious beliefs are a clash, it’s only a matter of time before you start slipping away from your own religion and beliefs. If your faith means something to you (which it should) and is a core part of your life, I find it wise to think critically before tying the knot with someone of another religion. After all, it is better to be safe than sorry. patrick.buchana@newtimes.co.rw It’s all about the person Religion; has for as far as I remember, been the most confusing and controversial thing that has ever existed. While some of us are actually born into it and grow up to believe and love it, others simply don’t know what to do with it; which brings me to today‘s topic of discussion. Would I marry someone outside my religion? Absolutely and this is why. I am of the school of thought that people shouldn’t be defined by what church or mosque they go to but instead, who they really are. Every Sunday morning, there are so many people who make a beeline for church but practice witchcraft in the evening. We have seen people who park Range rovers at churches/mosques yet they cannot stop to give a pedestrian a lift when it is raining heavily. We have seen on television, people who cry out God’s name and they are slaughtering others in front of cameras in broad daylight. We have seen all sorts of evil and it does not necessarily only come from people who have no religion or who don’t pray. If I fell in love today, I would be more interested in the kind of man that I am marrying. Is he kind? Does he love people? Is he respectful? What religion he belongs to is irrelevant to me. I have no use for a man who prays everyday but has no compassion. There is no value in being with someone who preaches but does not practice his teachings. I don’t know how religions came up but we wouldn’t be having such silly questions if there was no Muslim, no Christian, no Mormon but just people who every other day gather somewhere and remind each other how to co-exist comfortably, how to be tolerant, how not to discriminate, how to share, how to love. No one should be in a position to have to let go of someone that they love because he or she believes that Jesus was the son of God while the other believes that God has no sons but just prophets, and Jesus was one of them. Someone’s religion should not matter. If I really did care, my religion of choice would be that of love; because I am a believer - if we all truly completely believed in real love for self and for each other, nothing else would seem like a problem. nash.bishumba@gmail.com

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DEBATE: Would you marry outside your religion?