She's a Catholic; He's not!

[Piamed]

I mean no offence to anyone and believe all are entitled to hold whatever views they like, so long as they don't harm others. My own are entirely personal and I don't attempt to force others to share them, although I could make the case that some RC doctrine does harm people. In fact I rather dislike the fact that some people feel the need to try to preach to me or "convert" me to their faith, just because they feel they know better than me. Such attitudes can eventually lead to war! Tolerance of others will lead to greater understanding and peaceful co-existence. I also take the view that religion should be a matter of personal conviction and not one of national policy. It should play no role in political decision making. When a politician claims he has been guided by God my buttocks wince. You can justify anything that way. Bush and Blair stand accused. Separation of church and state is essential in my view and the Philippines would become much stronger if it were to happen there.

I don't see any offence in anything that you said at all and fully agree that everyone has the right to say what they like as long as they speak not with the direct intention of causing hurt to another. Although I am not RC I do not believe that doctrines on their own hurt anyone. Only the interpretation and perhaps misguided actions claimed to be in association to those doctrines cause harm.

It is ok to share a faith if done in a loving manner. When my former boss and now close personal friend, had a nervous breakdown, I was able to overcome the cultural tendency to 'give him space' and instead share my relationship with God as a way to help me get through things, with him. Although he was an unbeliever, he really appreciated my communication with him and wanted to know more about the god I believe in, that caused me to be the person he believes I am. He has a number of philosophies and we regularly discuss them. I have a number of very close devout Muslim friends. We always focus on similarities and invariably discover that we have far more in common than it would initially appear. We only argue about football; he supports Liverpool and I Arsenal.

Certainly religion as a national policy would not work and is inappropriate as a personal relationship with God is required and God's word also speaks of free will.

It wasn't an issue between me and hubby..

That's because YOU told him it wasn't so he shut up!

same here...am catholic and hubby church of england but we both believe in God and he even attended sunday mass in PI but he never did attend church before in uk but still its never an issue to both of us

I can be described as a Charismatic Pentecostal and Pia is a Catholic. She understands why I don't 'believe' in certain rituals and traditions as mine is a purely bible-based faith. I similarly, attend mass regularly in da Phils and focus on similarities rather than differences. The most important thing is that we believe in the same God, pray together and are tolerant of each other's perspective because we love each other.

As we study the word more together we will find our own unique faith positioning as a couple.