Section 3.17: I’m Hindu and She Is Protestant Christian

Section 3.17: I’m Hindu and She Is Protestant Christian

Hari says:

Hi Admin,

I’m a Hindu guy, and my girlfriend is Protestant Christian.

After 5 years of relationship we’ve decided to get married, and now issues have started. Her cousin is forcing her to get me converted… what the heck? I am from a typical Hindu family, once I told my dad that I am in love with a Protestant girl and my dad was fine with it. He asked me get my girlfriend to try to adopt the (Hindu) culture during festival times.

Then the issue became serious again. She said being a Protestant she won’t be able to adapt to our culture. She told she is brought up not believing praying to statues. Problems kept occurring ever since we started talking about marriage. Please advise me on this. —Hari

Admin says:

Dear Hari,

You are a good citizen of this world. We need to make sure we all live with peace and harmony. Unfortunately, these religious leaders want us to keep fighting among us so they could survive.

The Bible’s Second of the Ten Commandments teaches them not to tolerate people from other faiths. Christians (mainly Catholics) have killed millions during their crusades; more than collectively killed by Muslims. Today for an interfaith marriage, a Protestant will not tolerate a Catholic, who will not tolerate a Mormon, who will not tolerate a Muslim, who will not tolerate a Jew, and all these will not (are not supposed to) tolerate idol-worshipper Hindus. So, when will this intolerance end?

Your girlfriend said, “being a Protestant she won’t be able to adapt to our culture.” While your girlfriend may not adopt your culture for herself, this will be a very difficult and unhappy marriage if she does not allow you to express your beliefs and worship in your own manner, and if you are continuously pressured from her family and church to convert. Is this how you want to live?

Are we saying you should not marry her? Yes and No. You should not marry her if she now believes she cannot tolerate Hindus. On the other hand, YES, marry her if you could educate her before your marriage, that “Ishvara Allah tero nam.” There is only One God, you may call Her or Him LORD God, God the Father, Allah or Ishvara. Ask her to forget the church and follow Jesus. Ask her to read all that we have written on God. It is your duty to clarify your stance, help her “see the light” of at least respecting your religion and then, depending on the outcome, make a responsible decision on whether to go forward with this marriage.

You said, “her cousin’s forcing her to get me converted.” Tell them that you are a Hindu and will remain a Hindu. Make it clear to your girlfriend that, especially for children, NO BBS. A signed agreement, notarized, might be a good idea or even a more detailed prenuptial contract to ward off future conflict.

You said, “my dad was fine with it, and he asked me to get my girlfriend to try to adapt to the Hindu culture during festival times.” We bow to your parents. They are so noble and why would you go against them? Tell your girlfriend that you will take your children for Easter parade, have big party for Christmas (and Diwali), will take them to a Mandir on Saturdays and to a church on Sundays, but will not allow the label of baptism to be put on your children. Your children will not be born sinners because you are pure and hence there is no need to wash their sins by baptism. Your interfaith children should decide their own faith when they are 21 year old, whatever that faith is.

You said, “After 5 years of relationship we’ve decided to get married, and now the issues have started.” This is common to many interfaith couples. Hindus go along assuming the Christian/Muslim/Jew is a pluralist but, in many cases, suddenly before marriage the Hindu finds out the requirement of the BBS. This BBS has given much pain to interfaith couples. We believe this BBS is a social-sin for interfaith couples and must go.

Educate her. Free her from the clutches of her church. Untill she has learned the lesson of pluralism, don’t think of marrying her. Best wishes. —Admin