Question for members who are "religious"

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I don't practice any religion, and I don't believe in God in the same sense as someone of a particular religion would. My idea of "God" is the mathematics, physics, chemistry, etc. that make the universe work. There's still much to be discovered there, which is why I hesitate to call myself a complete atheist.

My girlfriend, on the other hand, does believe in God and the Bible, but isn't afraid to explore her own ideas about it.

She doesn't fault me for not believing, nor do I fault her for believing, so it works!

Religion is part of my lifestyle and dictates many things about what I do. I could go on a date with a non-Jewish woman but we would not be able to go out on the Sabbath and I would not be able to eat non-kosher.

So whilst that might work on a date or two, it wouldn't really be good foundation for a relationship.

I would not reject most religions, but I doubt that either muslims or orthodox jewish would work. They would be forbidden to go near me anyway. I would also reject the Church of Scientology.

Preferably Christian, but I'd accept almost anyone as long as we had a lot in common, and weren't right-wing.

I thought Christians wer generally right wing; least the ones in my area are. I think that's why I'm a Secular Humanist; I do NOT like the people in my area & they think their better than me because they are religious & conservative & they generally hate anyone who's different form them

That's what makes it extra hard. Despite being a Christian, I'm politically rather liberal.

Personally, I acknowledge my Jewish heritage and history, but I do not practice or believe in a higher power. The reason I am atheist is because, if there was a higher power, I would have been diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome sooner than age 16 and without any of the fifteen-plus misdiagnoses. That alone would have saved my parents more than $100,000 over the course of a ten month period during which I went to an "emotional growth" boarding school.

On the dating note, I could care less which religion the women I date come from, as long as they don't force it upon me. Marriage, on the other hand, would need to involve a woman with beliefs similar to my Jewish Atheist style. Otherwise, my parents would not approve.

Don't argue with me about Christians or Catholics, I wouldn't date one of those either. Christians aren't arrogant, they're just lost in their beliefs. They certainly aren't as narrow minded as athiests either. I can't stand athiests and never talk about religion with my friends who are athiests at all.

Basically I would prefer someone who follows the same beliefs as me or is agnostic. Could not ever date an athiest, not now, not ever. Prefer not to date a Christian unless they aren't practicing and don't preach.

...yet you are keep talking.

Not all atheists are like this btw, but I wouldn't date someone who is strong believer of those stuff.

Not being rude to any one at all, but i don't really like religions (I'm Atheist). So if I was going to date a girl It would not be a girl religious.

They can be both, lost in their beliefs and arrogant. They are arrogant in that they think their beliefs are best, not just for themselves, but for everyone. I'll repeat that Atheists don't go around trying to force their beliefs on others, Christians/Catholics do so readily.

And Christians are far far more narrow minded than Atheists as well. I mean the hardcore bible thumping Christians who are into Intelligent Design and all that ridiculous stuff. If their magic book doesn't say it then it isn't true as far as they're concerned. That is a much more narrow minded stance than Atheists have, because Atheists are actually open to new information, and scientific laws being changed etc.

With any group there are more unreasonable Atheists too, so I'm not saying all Atheists are fantastic or anything like that.

Anyway, you saying you wouldn't date any Atheists or Christians/Catholics is, in my opinion, pretty narrow minded on your part. But, it is ultimately your choice of course.

I don't have a problem with other people having a different religion than I do, I think everyone should pick what works best for them. That may cause me to refrain from getting into a theological discussion with them, but it doesn't mean I would not be friends with a person or not date them just because their religion differed from my own. As evidenced by my fiancee being Catholic, while I'm Agnostic.

The only time I'd have a problem being friends with someone of a different religion is when they try to force it on me, or feel the need to start theological discussions all the time. Which is why I have a noted dislike for the hardcore bible thumping Christians, as I mention frequently, but have been friends with such people in the past regardless.

Treating someone else like they're stupid because of their beliefs, frankly, when no athiests have any proof that nothing supernatural exists is a lot worse than "forcing their beliefs on others".

I didn't say I wasn't narrow minded when it comes to dating.



Really? Thats news to me.

To be honest, humans know pretty much squat about life, the universe and physics. I am extremely keen on science and theories. But thats what they are - theories. Most are open and they have to keep being changed so they will work. I love science and I think a lot of the theories have basis on fact, but it doesn't subtract from the fact humans know very little about, well, anything.

And that is not something that all Atheists do, some do sure, but you can't just make a generalization like that and expect it to apply to everyone that is in a specific group. Also, in my opinion, saying someone is stupid is not anywhere near as bad as saying "you have to believe this because I do!"



Fair enough, your prerogative. I just think you could be missing out on some great people, simply because you choose to discount them based on what they label themselves as, and nothing more.



Scientific understanding changes everyday. When new information arises due to a new discovery most Atheists are not going to say "well my 8th grade science book doesn't have that in it, so I don't believe it." Sure there might be some people who dispute new information, but with enough proof general acceptance eventually occurs.

Meanwhile, if it's not in the bible the hardcore Christians are content to stick their fingers in their ears and act like they can't hear you.



And? Human understanding grows and changes all the time. I'm well aware of this, which is why I say I'm Agnostic rather than Atheist, though I lean much closer to the Atheist side of the fence than I do the religious side.

I have no problem with you saying you are spiritual. Then only thing I find distasteful is the generalizations you keep making. I would think that with you championing ASD's the way you do, that you'd be against people making generalizations about entire groups, yet you have no problem saying things like:



That is why when speaking of my distaste for certain aspects of Christianity I make sure to specify I am talking about the "hardcore bible thumping Christians." In the USA most people will have a clear picture of what I mean when using that phrasing, in other parts of the world perhaps not as much, I'm not sure.

But I would not make generalizations about all Christians, because that would be silly and entirely inaccurate.

Religion is a touchy subject.

I have athiests as friends, but I certainly would not date someone who calls me stupid. Sorry if that sounds like a generalisation, but I have never ever met an athiest who does not do this. Ever.
People don't have to follow my beliefs, very few do anyway, but I don't like being told i'm STUPID because I believe in stuff in which i've had experience with (spirituality, not religion).

I'm not advocating for christianity. I don't follow their beliefs and don't agree with what they think, but i'm not going to come onto a forum and call them STUPID, each to their own, don't try and convert me and we are all fine.

I am a scientist and it was my best subject in school and what I read in my spare time (A brief history of time is a great book) but people just don't seem to get how little we (humans) know about anything. These discoveries are what people think they know.

I would not expect you to date someone who calls you stupid, and all the Atheists you know may do that, that still doesn't mean that all Atheists do.

As for Christianity, we are in agreement, as long as they're not trying to convert me we are good.

I am also a scientist, some of my main interests lie in various scientific fields. I was reading college level textbooks on Zoology and Paleontology when I was in Elementary School. No where would I insist that humans know everything there is to know. I don't think most Atheists would say that either, they just think all that there is left to learn has nothing to do with any sort of deity.

That is fine.
People are entitled to their own opinion but a lot of people assume I believe in Christianity because I believe in the supernatural.

The fact of the matter is I am a firm believer in evolution, inter dimensional things at work also and spiritual energy.

It hits a nerve with me to be called stupid when I have experienced things as have people very close to me.

Thats good if all athiests are not arrogant, because I have yet to meet one who doesn't question the intelligence of someone who is not an athiest. Like I said, I have athiest friends, but I do not talk to them about religion.

I could not date one because to me a proper relationship is a connection on a deeper level and if they don't like spirituality, simply, they don't like me.