How often do you go to church

[lord of the mark]

Originally posted by Last Conformist

Northern Europe has alot of nice Protestant churches and cathedrals. The lack of taste is probably an American thing.

You need to see some old New England Congregational churches. Austere beauty. As a tourist I visited the church in Bennington, Vermont, on a leafy fall day once - it was simple, but stunning.

[lord of the mark]

Originally posted by OzzyKP
Yea, speaking of intermarriage and Jews... now there is some strict tradition...

Whatever rules the Catholic church has about intermarriage, the culture among Jews about intermarriage is much worse (not the more liberal ones of course). I dated a Jewish girl once... that was fun..

Almost all major jewish groups are opposed to intermarriage. Orthodox and Conservative rabbis will not perform intermarriages, and most Reform rabbis wont. A few Reform rabbis will, as will Reconstructionist rabbis( a fairly small group), IIUC.

OTOH, to compare to the communion question, AFAIK none of the non-Orthodox place any limits on what an intermarried Jew can do in terms of Jewish rituals. In the past the Orthodox did say that intermarried Jews could not lead services, read from the Torah (as part of a public ritual) etc, though Ive been in Orthodox Synagogues where that was not kept.

Jews do make a big deal about in marriage (though theres also much intermarriage) Some for religious reasons, some for a mix of religious and "national" reasons.

Doing so purely for non-religious reasons strikes me as old fashioned - I can sympathize to some extent with the concern, as well as with those who rebel.

[Barnabas]

what if they agree to raise their kid as a jew?

[lord of the mark]

Originally posted by Brachy-Pride
what if they agree to raise their kid as a jew?

That would probably be required by most of those reform rabbis i mentioned above.

It woudnt affect everyone else - its not a judgement that the marriage is "good" or "bad" in some utilitarian sense - its a pretty settled matter of Jewish law - a Jewish marriage is a legal agreement under Jewish law - as a non-Jew isnt subject to Jewish law, its not possible for a non-Jew to enter a Jewish marriage.

It doesnt follow that an intermarried couple cant be welcomed to a Synagogue, etc. Although opinions differ on that.

[Ben Kenobi]

but I do know they can marry without the Catholic ceremony and still receive communion fine.

Pyrodew:

I was of the understanding that the non-Catholic Christian would not be permitted communion, while the Catholic could still partake of the eucharist. The only way I thought someone could take communion is if they were confirmed into the Catholic church.

[Ben Kenobi]

That doesnt make any sense from my standing, since a catholic cannot marry a non catholic in a catholic cermoney unless that other person has made the sacraments required before marriage which is baptism confesion and confirmation. You cannot not be married in the catholic church with out these sacraments. I am not saying your wrong but this has been my experience.

Yeah, that makes sense.

[Ben Kenobi]

You love them and possibly want to raise kids with them within a marriage... could that be a very serious reason?

Yes, but then the question becomes how are you going to practice together if you are members of different churches? If you love each other and are sincerely committed to your respective churches, than that's a very difficult situation to be in.

[Ben Kenobi]

I beleive there is a god but dont feel i am gonna find him in a church. So my answer is never now.

[Pyrodrew]

Originally posted by Ben Kenobi
I was of the understanding that the non-Catholic Christian would not be permitted communion, while the Catholic could still partake of the eucharist.

By "they" I meant Catholics who marry non-Catholics, not "they" as in the married couple. Nevertheless, IIRC, there are conditions where a non-Catholic Christian may be permitted to take communion I'm just not sure of the details.

[Spiffor]

Originally posted by Ben Kenobi
Yes, but then the question becomes how are you going to practice together if you are members of different churches? If you love each other and are sincerely committed to your respective churches, than that's a very difficult situation to be in.

Indeed. I've seen two excellent couples break because of that

[Alexander's Horse]

One of my favorite pastimes when travelling is looking at churches and temples.

[Pyrodrew]

Originally posted by Ben Kenobi
Yes, but then the question becomes how are you going to practice together if you are members of different churches? If you love each other and are sincerely committed to your respective churches, than that's a very difficult situation to be in.

Lots of other questions can follow that "very serious answer" to help a couple avoid a path they both may regret.

[BlackCat]

Originally posted by Ben Kenobi


Yes, but then the question becomes how are you going to practice together if you are members of different churches? If you love each other and are sincerely committed to your respective churches, than that's a very difficult situation to be in.

Actually no. Why should you destroy your life and love because of religion ?

If you have different belifs then attend them for yourself and don't push it upon the other part.

Children ? Well, agree to not push any of them on them - let them descide for themselfs.

[Alexander's Horse]

According to Max Weber reading the Sunday newspapers and the like replaced Sunday church going a long time ago for most people so its not surprising that few here go.

Everyone has their priests.

[Ben Kenobi]

Actually no. Why should you destroy your life and love because of religion ?

If you have different belifs then attend them for yourself and don't push it upon the other part.

Children ? Well, agree to not push any of them on them - let them descide for themselfs.

That's rather problematic for a couple of reasons. First of all, if you are in love with each other, you want to go to church together and share.

As for the children, are you going to alternate with them? Stop going altogether? Or is one spouse going to allow the other to take them to their church?

For many folks religion is an integral part of their lives.