TomboyMom

I was thinking about how people sometimes convert to their fiance's religion to facilitate the marriage, and then live the rest of their lives in their newfound religion. In these cases, what doesn't happen is that the fiance or in-laws try to persuade them that the evidence best supports Judaism, or Catholicism, or whatever. Rather, it's: if you want to marry so-and-so, you have to convert. So they do. I think this indicates that religious belief is rarely formed from examining evidence, but because it meets a need in the believer. In this case, it's the need to marry so-and-so. Sometimes it's a need to conform to their society, a need to find meaning and purpose, a need not to be executed (as in modern Afghanistan, apparently.)

So I guess pointing out to theists that there is no evidence for their belief is not very likely to cause them to change their minds.

Spitfire

It's not as often an issue around here where most people are already at least nominally Catholic anyway, but I don't think it is a good idea to become religious or convert from one religion to another just to marry someone. There needs to be a better reason than that. I think if someone can't take the religion seriously or doesn't agree with it, they should back out of the engagement, and that would only be realistic. I would never convert to another religion just to marry someone else. Nor would I want anyone to convert to Catholicism to marry me unless they were really convinced. So convinced that they would keep on being Catholic even if I died shortly after our wedding. Of course, that may be impossible to judge accurately. Sometimes people trick themselves into thinking they are far more convinced than they really are.

TomboyMom

Well, I know Judaism values actions over beliefs more than many religions, but I have known some very sincere, active, devout marital converts to Judaism. My point is that it highlights the real reasons for religious faith in general--not evidence based.

flintknapper

My folks married in 1951, and my mom had to convert to Catholicism to marry my dad *in the Catholic Church*. Of course, when a Catholic marries a convert, the ceremony is not held on the main alter, but one of the side alters. (alter, altar? I forgot how to spell altar...now that's a wonderful thing!) Side alter for you...a little slap-down Catholic symbolism.

My dad turned out to be a typical Italian male...just a Catholic in name only. My mom, being a convert and a non-Italian marrying an Italian son, was always treated like an outsider at the church. She followed my dad's lead and also became Catholic in name only.

It only took me until only 2nd grade to figure out this Catholic nonsense is just that...nonsense. I stayed in Catholic school until 8th grade then bid them farewell forever. My mom and dads lack of religious attitude no doubt hastened my departure to the side of the living.:devil3:

My mom recently started going to church again at age 72. Not the Catholic Church, but the one she went to years ago before she married my dad, the First Congregational Church. I also saw she was reading Rick Warren's "A Purpose Driven LIfe" a few months ago. Poor mom. If she wasn't my mom I'd think it was hilarious.:banghead: