5 Talking Points On Religious Differences

Religion is often a deal breaker but in most situations there are workarounds to create a happy life for new couples.

By MySahana 

This article was originally published at Masala Mommas.

If you are in an inter-faith relationship and are thinking of getting married, talk with your partner about the following important topics to ensure that your relationship can still be happy and healthy despite your differences in religion or spirituality:

1. What are your religious/spiritual beliefs? 

This may seem like an obvious answer, however many South Asians don’t stop and think about what they actually believe in, assuming what they grew up in is what they believe. With a clear understanding of what it is that you are bringing to the relationship, establishing compromises will become much easier.

2. What are your must haves and what are you willing to compromise on regarding your beliefs?

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Many couples say that they must have a partner who is of the same faith as they are. However, amongst South Asians, even if an individual is from the same faith, the practices and nuances can be very different. A Hindu from South India can have very different traditions than a Hindu from Punjab, for example. Be specific in identifying what you cannot compromise on no matter what and what you are willing to be flexible about. For example, for Terrence going to church on Christmas Eve was non-negotiable and he stated that up front but Sonal was able to be flexible about Easter to incorporate a holiday that was meaningful to Terrence.

3. Outside of religion, what are the values you wish your partner to have? 

Often couples get stuck in the name of the religion and forget that other matching values need also be present for a happy and healthy relationship. Do you want your partner to be outgoing? Do you wish for your partner to share in your passion for community service? Religion is certainly a major part of a relationship but often South Asians mistakenly assume that by marrying someone from the same faith they will be automatically compatible.

4. If the two of you want children, how do you want to raise them with regards to religion and spirituality and what are you open to compromising on? 

As if religion wasn’t a difficult enough topic to engage in, talking about children can become very tricky as well. Often, South Asians feel even more strongly about how to pass on their faith to the next generation than they do finding a compatible partner. Take turns talking about how you envision raising children and for the first several conversations, just listen to each other. Try not to find a solution until you both fully understand each other’s priorities and visions.

5. What are you afraid of losing if you compromise some of your religious or spiritual practices? 

Many couples, when they start talking about religion, tend to become polarized and hold a more stubborn and conservative stance than they truly believe in. Most of the time this is because of a fear of losing oneself or being worried that your background will not be valued as much as that of your partner’s. Identify what it is that you are afraid of losing and work with your partner to establish a plan that will value both of your traditions.

These questions will not be answered in one conversation. Take time to listen and understand each other. Heated arguments and fights ensue when we do not fully understand our partners but instead make assumptions about what they are thinking. In addition, it is crucial to know fully exactly how we feel so that if we become polarized or start fighting for something more strongly than we actually feel about it, we can recognize it and stop the argument before it escalates.

As with most delicate topics, empathy in a conversation goes a long way. Remember that you are having these discussions with your partner because you both feel you are right for each other. Never forget that you are on the same team and are trying to come up with a solution and a life plan that will suit the two of you together. Finally, this is a conversation that you will have throughout your lifetime so don’t expect to find a solution one day and to stick to that plan for the rest of your life. Accept that flexibility throughout your life is needed and be open to addressing these topics repeatedly as your relationship grows.

*Photo credit: Howard Owens (Used under the Creative Commons Attribution License.)

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