My partner has different religious beliefs, will this relationship work?
With our diverse
cultures blending together in today’s world, interfaith relationships and
marriages are becoming more common than ever. When two people who share
different beliefs first fall in love, they might not always think much ahead
about the challenges that they may face as a couple in their growing
relationship.
So, what if you meet someone who shares different religious beliefs and you decide
that you want to start dating? How can you approach this situation so that
things are made clearer from the beginning of the relationship? Some
disagreements are bound to happen if two people come from two different
religious backgrounds. The key to finding a right approach is communication and
understanding. Having different beliefs can prove challenging, but these
challenges can be overcome if two people are ready to speak openly, listen to
each other, and come from a place of understanding.
An interesting article about intercultural and interfaith couples found in the
Journal of Social and Personal Relationships (2008), discusses relational
maintenance factors which can retain the harmony of the romantic relationship
when facing any relationship difficulties. Recently, studies have given that
66% of all interracial and intercultural marriages (which include racial,
religious and ethnic differences) result in divorce, which is higher when
compared to statistics for all marriages (40-50%). This goes to show that intercultural
and interfaith couples are more likely to face specific challenges in their
relationship (Reiter & Gee,
2008).
So what are some strategies that you can use with your partner so that you can
foster an open and successful relationship? Here are a few:
Communicating openly: Face issues head on and communicate about
what may be bothering you, or making you feel uncomfortable. It is important to
acknowledge where there are difficulties, and not avoid speaking about them. (Margarita Tartakovsky, 2018). Partners
who do not communicate openly about their religious differences may be coming
from a place of fear, fearing that they may damage their relationship or the
image they hold about themselves.
Differentiating between religion and the
culture: As a couple with different religious faiths, there may also be
certain differences in each other’s cultural backgrounds. It is important to
make a distinction between what is coming from religion, and what comes from culture
(Margarita Tartakovsky, 2018).
Such differences can include ways of expressing oneself, different ways of
doing things and even relationship goals.
Experiencing each other’s religion:
As an interfaith couple, learn about each other’s religion. Read up about it
and its history, traditions attributed to it etc. Another way of doing this is
by allowing yourself to experience aspects of your partner’s religion. Attend a
religious ceremony or visit a mosque. This does not mean that you are going to
convert, but it shows that you are willing to be exposed to it and are
unconditionally accepting your partner’s differences (Margarita Tartakovsky, 2018).
These are only a few suggestions that can help interfaith couples to cope with
issues they may face. Diversity, if accepted and managed openly, should not
hinder the relationship, but rather enhance love and trust within the couple.
References:
Margarita Tartakovsky, M. (2018). 7 Ways To Make Interfaith Relationships Work. Retrieved 28 September 2019, from https://psychcentral.com/lib/7-ways-to-make-interfaith-relationships-work/
Becky Faenza is one of the Triage Officers that form part of the Triage Team with Willingness. She is a University graduate, with a B.A Degree in Philosophy and Psychology, and also a Higher Diploma in Psychology (H.DIP).
