Why Religious Compatibility Is Important In Relationships?

Falling in love will always be charming if you meet the right person and proceed with things positively to explore pleasant surprises. The only thing to consider for a new relationship is to prepare yourself for a commitment. Everyone wants passion, companionship, or romance in life, and this must be a special feeling to have since this is the most beautiful experience. When you meet your potential partner, not everything is going to be lined up perfectly. You might be on different pages when it comes to religion and beliefs, which can be very perplexing. It requires a lot of understanding to standby each other's points of view and identity; for utter satisfaction.

This should be decided in the beginning if one wants to carry on with the differences or not. All relationships need a certain level of understanding where you can draw the boundaries and see what can be done and for how long. One needs to be comfortable with the situation if pursuing a long-term association. Love is indeed the essence of life – but sometimes it will not save your relationship if you have such differences in the foundation. Though loving someone from a different religious background is hard, things can work positively if common grounds on other essential aspects are present.

There are many complex situations between couples, and sometimes, it is quite challenging for them to decide if they want to go for it. It will depend on their analysis if they think that the association is much more significant than the differences. It may not seem like a huge deal to many couples, but it can certainly be complicated to cope with.

When it may be challenging to love someone with a different faith, religious and spiritual compatibility can lead to a better companionship. Couples with shared religious interests and associations will have infinite support pillars within the relationship that will become more significant during hard times. Many psychologists and relationship experts say that the couples would be delighted in their life if they are praying together. This way, they will be focused on shared needs and not on individual differences.

If a couple is in a relationship with many religious differences, then it is most likely to happen that they would keep themselves from sharing their spiritual experiences. This might lead to having problems remaining connected with their spirituality. This disparity in religious ideals can start to cause discomfort in couples with different religious beliefs

People may have a different religion, and relationships may be hard for them. The probability of being happy in a relationship relies on the common grounds that a couple will have. Content relationships and marriages need both partners to be on the same page regarding communication, understanding, finances, sex, and religion. In a society that we live in, where religion plays a significant role in every part of life, it becomes vital that there must be religious compatibility for things to work out positively. Even if the couple follows the same religion, there is likely to be a problem if their understanding of the religion is not in the same line.

A vast number of people think that religious compatibility is critical for a successful marriage. As per Pew Research Centre, the percentage of people dating outside of their religion and married with mixed religious affiliations is 25%, including many couples where one is religiously affiliated, and the other is not. Individuals in diverse marriages are far less religious than married couples who are practicing the same faith. Spouses who share the same faith are more likely to discuss their spiritual experiences and are more likely to participate in religious activities with their minor children than couples in mixed religion marriages.

While talking about mixed religious associations, it is worthy of exploring various religions' views on the concept of dating and courtship before marriage and of knowing how the people of different faiths are exploring the romance world within their boundaries and social cultures.

When it may seem that Islam has the most common and natural methods towards different aspects of life, the Islamic fundamentalists believe that the contemporary form of courtship and dating cannot be seen in a good sense within the religious boundaries. There is a concept of mahram in Islam, which means 'close blood relatives' who are allowed to hang out and practice various social activities together. It means that the idea of any isolation or hanging out with the people of the opposite sex does not exist in Islam unless they are lawfully married – this denies any concept of dating in Islam. As per the teachings of Islam, people must be truthful and realistic towards life, and in the same context, an unchecked romance may lead to a wasting of time that would preferably be used in remembrance of God.

The concept of love in Islam is unique. When Muslim men or women loves anything, be it someone or something, it must be for the sake of God that means that their love should lead them to God, and it should help them in making their association with God more strong and powerful. There cannot be a more realistic expectation from each other than practicing the same beliefs together in a way that will eventually lead to a successful marriage. Islam denies that only love and romance can contribute to the success of a marriage, but there must be common grounds for the couple to survive and live happily in the real world.

Since typical dating norms include being involved with a person for some time to know the person in detail before opting to marry, it might lead to a breakup, which will bring feelings of remorse and unhappiness. After the breakup, one may start dating another person, and this might go on and on. Islam tells us to avoid such behavior that has a high potential to cause hard feelings in someone, which might seem normal if repeated. People involved in such types of relationships and dating may marry each other, but there are high chances that they may have a callous time in their marriage, and they might end up proceeding towards a divorce.

Islam focuses on marriage and tells us that it is the purest and permissible relationship between a couple. It is an essential thing, and the spouses' rights and duties are clearly defined in the Islamic teachings that they must follow religiously. The most crucial factor to be considered while choosing a partner is their piety towards God. There are no Muslim dating rules, but the couple is permitted to know each other while following a set of opposite modern dating boundaries.

Muslim relationships are also focused on Islamic teachings. Islam emphasizes on the development of a united brotherhood within the societies of different cultures and ethnic backgrounds. This serves as a network to the associated families, which helps them know about each other in detail. The majority of the time, the potential partners come from the same networks or ethnic and social backgrounds. Still, in the modern world, Muslim relationships are possible by associating other social and cultural Muslim networks. There are Islamic teaching to process the whole situation in which the families and the couple need to agree to pursue a lawful marriage after understanding each other in detail. Islam has given this freedom of choice to men and women, and they cannot be forced to enter a relationship without their comfort.

Having said it, all-online social media has been playing a vital role in the modern world for dating a Muslim man or woman. There is a concept of 'Halal online dating,' which helps find a spouse if someone is having difficulties in traditional ways. Physical intimacy is strictly prohibited. The only purpose of online dating is to know each other before the couple takes up the matter with their families for their consent. Learning about a person is very important before marriage, as it will help avoid many future problems. Traditional ways may have more simplicity and easy ways to choose a spouse in old times. Still, with the global advancements of societies, online dating with certain religious boundaries has made it very more comfortable for the Muslim boys and girls to search out for the potential partners.

Judaism has this firm belief from its Holy religious scripture of Talmud that it is complicated to find the true partner in life. Still, there is a necessity in traditional Jews to get married and fulfill the holy commandments to multiply. Because of marriage's religious importance, the Jews have a very unthinkable dating process before a couple can proceed for a lawful marriage. It is governed by spiritual laws and extends to detailed checks on family, work, character, social relationships, and the list goes on. Jewish dating rules are stringent, and compliance with these rules is mandatory for a couple, including keeping themselves away from physical intimacy, restricting spending time alone, etc.

Like all the religions that support marriage as an institution, marriage breakdown is considered a source of discomfort and sadness. Traditional Jews believe that a healthy marriage relationship is essential so that the children can be brought up in a secure way within social cultures. Jews opt for dating as a way to know the potential persons and their families in detail; however, their ultimate idea is to unite with someone for the rest of their lives to please God, and subsequently to have children so that they can be raised as per the Jew traditions.

In the Jewish culture, the concept of shadchan and shidduch is vital if someone wants to go for dating a Jewish man or woman. Shidduch is a matchmaking process in Jewish communities for lawful marriage. A shadchan is a person who professionally offers Shidduch services to interested families. The concept of dating is in religion; however, it is strictly limited to be used only for marriage, and physical intimacy is completely forbidden. There is the legal age in various Jewish communities, after which a couple can start dating lawfully. The role of shidduch is essential in a way that the smaller Jewish communities may find the potential matches in a much easier way from a broad spectrum if the choose a shadchan to help them in their search.

Additionally, the tenure of the shidduch varies from community to community within Jewish societies. Once the dating process or shidduch commences, the couple informs shadchan about its success so that the things can be moved forward. In case of a failure of the process, the couple confirms it to the shadchan for informing the others that this will not be moving ahead.

During the shidduch, a religious practice of bashow is typically followed in which the families sit together and talk about things in detail. After a few sittings in bashow, the couple may be allowed to sit in a different area or room to talk with each other to analyze the potential of the proposed relationship. Finding love in Judaism has fascinating and religious practices followed by the couple and the families.

Since marriage is a fundamental religious institution in Judaism, the Jews also believe that marriage should not be dependent on the potential partners' financial stability. They carry the idea that God will create ways - He will help all His creation sustain, including one more family, and He will bless them all with divine rewards.

Though Hinduism has experienced a plethora of changes in social and cultural traditions because of western influences, the customs for a legal marriage are considered religiously, and Hindus follow these traditions to the core. Like most religions, marriage is a sacred institution in Hinduism, and religious limitations are to be complied with. For this purpose, the concept of Hinduism dating has been evolved over centuries, and it is dependent on a lot of social factors, including the communities, associations to ethnic backgrounds, values, and socioeconomic status. Hindus tend to marry or date within their community in general.

Given Hinduism's social and traditional values, the modern concept of dating is a bit tough to accept since it involves a trial and error approach. Hindu society does not allow this dating approach, and the only acceptable form of dating before Hindu marriages is to know the potential partner and his/her family. Though love marriages have also attained popularity in the Hindu cultures, the social and traditional norms are still to be followed by the families. Dating is entirely restricted, and the nature of restrictions may vary from family to family based on cultural differences of areas and localities. Many families do not allow their kids, especially girls, to date the opposite sex before marriage. If they are allowed to date, then it is for the ultimate purpose of marriage.

Hindus prefer dating in the same religious communities. They believe that the mixed religion relationships will not help pass down the Hindu culture and values for upcoming generations that will end the Hindu legacy. Thus, Hindu marriages are prevalent in the related communities as compared to mixed marriages. In Hinduism, sex is not taboo, and the intentions matter a lot in determining sexual desires as lawful (dharma) or unlawful (adharma). If there is a desire to procreate, Hinduism favors it entirely since it will help humanity continue and enable us to serve the gods. This divine purpose is to be coupled with a lawful binding through marriages to ensure that people from similar social backgrounds can marry each other in the context of their wealth, power, and status.

In Hinduism, love (kama) is one of the four goals of human life. It signifies association with or without sexual, erotic, and sensual desires. The elevated form of love in Hinduism is prem, which supports selfishness in love.

An interfaith relationship brings a couple to a situation where they try to minimize the differences in love. These relationships are more complex as compared to the relationships between people of similar religious backgrounds. Partners must exchange their cultural and religious differences in a way that is comfortable for both of them. By doing this, the couples can learn to discuss the differences in a healthy manner, learn to deal with in-laws, and learn to help their children obtain a sense of identity in a bi-religious family. This is a tough thing to do but not as hard as breaking up with someone you love because of religion.

Some of the essential tips to cater to complicated situations are described hereunder.

1. Religious Affiliations

In an interfaith marriage, the couple's religious affiliation can be of various types in which both can be affiliated to different religions, or only one of them may be affiliated. In contrast, the other one may not be affiliated with any religion.

Dating someone religious when you are not is not a bad thing rather a positive one. Because you will be indifferent towards your spouse's religious beliefs and practices, and you may positively help the relationship to grow.

2. Learn The Differences

In interfaith marriages, couples try to avoid the biggest problem, which is denying any differences. In these situations, the couple must try to acknowledge and accept religious differences. One crucial factor is to support the spouse in participating in his or her religious activities while the other may continue with his or her own beliefs and practices.

3. Cultural Codes

Religion is associated with culture and vice versa. But it is not a simple case. Even if you do not have any differences with your spouse, you may still have cultural differences that will never disappear. Try discussing on these cultural values and traditions and positively explain things to your spouse about the normal cultural expectations that you have for a prospective family.

4. Listen To Each Other

The couple must put in extra effort in building a great trust and understanding level to make things go smoothly in an interfaith marriage. They must listen to understand rather than listen to argue – this will help resolve many tricky situations. Always respect each other's religion and practices and, at the same time, do not try to be serious all the time. You can have a little fun while discussing religious differences.

5. Make Your Own Culture

You may opt to go by the rules of the society or the religions that you and your spouse might be following. This is the most accessible approach, but it may not be the best one. The perfect method to figure out the type of life that you want to spend with your partner without any outside and unnecessary intrusions is to define your own culture and own set of rules for your relationship.

In the end, it is essential to note that things take time to evolve. People take time to adjust. Try supporting yourself and your partner in understanding the differences to make things work, without forcing anything.