I love my boyfriend but he wants me to convert to Judaism. How do I know that this is the right  thing for me?
83079
No boyfriend/girlfriend is worth changing your religion for unless his/her religion is correct. \n\nHow do you know if his religion is correct? \n\nWell, if Universalists are right, than all religions are right. However, I fail to see how Christianity, Judaism, and Islam can all be right if they all say that the other two are wrong. \n\nIf Atheists are right, it doesn't matter anyway. You can worship whoever you want, because we're all going to the same place anyway. Might as well enjoy life while we have it. However, I believe Atheists are wrong for too many reasons to list. If you really want more info on that you might want to read "I Don't Have Enough Faith to be an Atheist" by Norman Geisler and Frank Turek. But your question was not about Atheism. \n\nAs far as Judaism is concerned, I really think it is incorrect. The Jewish people (who are often wonderful people) are still waiting for the messiah. I believe the messiah has already come. Jesus of Nazereth claimed to be the messiah and predicted his own death and resurrection. Eyewitnesses were killed when all they had to do to save their lives is say that Jesus didn't rise from the dead. Twelve eyewitnesses who are willing to die before they change their story is pretty compelling to me. \n\nBefore you change your religion, I would strongly advise investigating that religion. A few books come to my mind that would be relevant to Judaism, but you should know that they're written by Christians.\n\n1. "The Case for Christ" By Lee Strobel -- This is a long book, but it reads like a novel. Lee Strobel was an Atheist who set out to prove Christianity wrong. This book is the result.\n\n2. "More Than a Carpenter" by Josh McDowell -- This is a short book, and an easy read. Josh McDowell also set out to prove Christianity wrong.\n\n3. "The Third Day" by Hank Hanegraaff -- This is a short book that focuses on the evidence that Jesus rose from the dead.
1137481
All that you need to do is contact the Rabbi of the temple you want to join. He'll explain everything to you. Pretty much all you have to do is take some classes and go to a service. You might want to figure out whether you want to be a Reform, Conservative, or Orthodox jew. Reform is the most flexible, and Orthodox and Hasidic Judaism is the most strict. Conservative Judaism is right in the middle.
655035
Just love him the way you feel like he would like to be loved, follow your heart. Try to be considerate in everything you do with your boyfriend. If you think a rational person wouldnt be happy with what you're going to do, then your boyfriend is most likely not gonna like it. Last, be yourself! That's why your boyfriend chose to be with you from the beginning. feel lovely!!
1151605
i live in a predominantly muslim country, ...several of my friends were previously christian, then converted to islam to marry their man... my observations are:\nAdvantage 1: you'll never have to worry if or not he is cheating cuz he is allowed to have up to 4 wives! oh, n they dont have to be legally married, title of mistress is good enough (but he has to financially support them)\nAdvantage 2: if ur intrested in converting to islam, here's your chance! moslems aren't allowed to marry anyone of a different faith.\nAdvantage 3: he's definately circumcised and your sons will be as well - this slippery operation is done at age 12.\nAdvantage 4: he will have 100% control over you. spousal abuse is not frowned on in the moslem religion\nAdvantage 5: in order to marry him, u need to convert first. this is a tedious process if done "correctly." oh, u'll have to learn arabic as well.\nAdvantage 7: if ur more of a "service" type personallity, this religion will suit you very well because the wife's role is to literally serve her husband (its not reciprocal) if he wants hot coffee, u'd better make it quick girl!\nAdvantage 6: when ur married, you'll be moslem, and guess what?!! its a sin (a really bad sin) to refuse ur husband sexually\n\nDisdavantages: none or all of the above...depending on ur point of view\n\noh, a word of caution, the moslem men act very "normal" while ur dating. after u marry, well....
959629
Your relationship with God are between you and the higher power you believe in. Converting to please another "human being" wouldn't be putting the spirtual relationship as a priority but the earthly one. No One can make you convert. In the end you will not stick with it. Do what makes you happy and what your conscience can deal with.
485167
this is an imposible relationship , how could you even think about him ?! , i know that love has no rules but our relegion is the most preceious thing we have , God how could you even think about him ? this is a big ( HARAM ) action what you're doing , if he really loves you so he must convert , he must or else both of you has just to move on , and be sure that God will be with you and will give you the best , but don't sacrefice your relegion or enter any illegal relation with him , tell him that it's his choice and he must take his decesion , whether he convert to be able to marry you , and that's what i really hope to happen , or if he refuses so he doesn't love you , good luck .
1124324
This completely depends on how strongly you and your girlfriend feel about religion. You have several options:\n\n1. Marry her, but keep your current religions. If either of you come from religious families, marrying outside of your religion may cause a great deal of tension. When my Romanian Jewish father and my Filipino Catholic mother got married, they took this route. Many of my father's Jewish relatives didn't speak to them for several years. However, after I was born, his family members came around and reconciled with my parents. Sometimes, these situations take time. How would your families react, and what are you willing to deal with? How would you want your children to be raised? I celebrated both Christian and Jewish holidays my whole life, and I feel that this gave me a great respect and appreciation for religious customs. However, if raising your children as Muslims is important to you, now is the time to talk about these things.\n\n2. She converts to Islam. This could also work. My friend is half-Pakistani and half-Filipino, and her Filipino mother converted to Islam when she married her father. Her mother's side of the family was not very happy about it, but religious conversion is a very personal choice, so no one really held that against her. Talk to your wife about her feelings on this topic. Tell her that you would like to marry her, but that you are concerned about the fact that she is not the same religion as you. Ask her if she would be open to learning more about your religion and, if it feels right to her (no pressure, of course!), would she ever think about becoming a Muslim and raising a family together in Islam? \n\n3. You convert to her religion. This doesn't seem like something you are considering, but it's similar to #2 above, so I'll just cut to #4...\n\n4. None of the above. Yes, it's possible that neither of you are willing to change your religion or imagine a marriage/life with someone of a different religion. If this is the case, it's going to be a very tough decision. It sounds like you love her enough to want to marry her, but the religious difference is a stumbling block. Can you live without this woman in your life? Or, can you find an acceptable compromise that both of you will be happy with?  This situation is very common, and it can definitely work! My parents have been married now for over 30 years. :)  Good luck!
965822
Good question!\n\nApostle Paul says in 2 Corinthians7:14-18, "Do not be yoked with nonbelievers." If God is speaking to you, telling you that this boy is not a Christian, then you should listen to Him, pray about it, and see what God leads you to do. In my opinion, if he was practicing witchcraft... then within 4 days-a month he probably did not accept Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior. Yes, DO ask him these questions, to his face-- have a sit-down talk. Is he attending church? Does he profess that Christ is his Savior who died for all his sins? If so, then he is a Christian and you should help him grow by having a Christ-centered relationship with him. Christian dating is focused on marriage. And marriage, the Bible says, must be with a believer. If it turns out that he is not a Christian, and you still feel like you should stay together, then ask God to help you help your boyfriend seek Christ in his life. Take him to bible studies and retreats and church. Let God do the rest. If you feel like your boyfriend is not a Christian, and has no desire to truly discover Jesus and eventually accept Him into his heart, then I say you should break up with this boy. He will not be good for your own spiritual walk, and he might even pull you down to his level. Make sure he doesn't "falsely" accept Christ just to make you feel better. Christ is not a dating instrument-- He is our Savior and Lord who died on the cross for us.\n\nPraise God for this strength that you have for seeking His heart! I wish you the best of luck through this, and pray that you'll find the man of God who will lead you spiritually in love and encouragement-- that is also the man of your dreams!
263492
As a person married to a spouse of a very different religion, I can say that anyone who offers an "easy answer" has probably not been in that position.  Make no mistake, it can be difficult.  That said, this is decision time for your daughter and prospective son-in-law.  \n\nIf they are ready to be with each other, they are going to have to get used to navigating religious and cultural differences.  And this is an opportunity to decide whether they wish to cleave to each other or to their respective families of origin, to the extent there is some conflict between those two loyalties.  If they cannot prioritize being together over parental approval, the marriage is better off not starting, for its future is not good.  On the other hand, if they establish that their love for each other is something they wish to put at the center of their lives, learning that now can create a valuable opportunity to build a foundation for a future marriage.\n\nI would encourage them to:\n(1)  Engage his family's rabbi (or another rabbi, if his family's rabbi refuses to participate) in the dialogue;\n(2)  Talk about mixed-religion marriages with others in similar marriages, particularly Christian-Jewish pairings;\n(3)  Pray to their shared God/G-d in their two very different ways for guidance and help for their relationship.\n\nBtw, even in Orthodox Judaism conversion for purposes of marriage, and marriage to converts, is acceptable.  Try the Book of Ruth.  Possibly this is actually about cultural, rather than religious differences.\n\nImho, despite the challenges of interfaith marriages, they may play a very important role in moving our world from the present mutual hostility of all the world's faiths towards greater mutual understanding and peace.  And that is certainly a noble pursuit.\n\nMy blessings and my wishes for good luck to them and to both your families, which may yet become one family.
1170653
In order to convert, you have to go through a process.  It involves many things, including meetings with a Rabbi.  You should go to your local synagogue or temple and see what their requirements are to convert.  It is a significant process and not fast or easy.  Several friends have done it and they are very happy with being jewish.  Start attending the local jewish house of worship and ask about conversion classes.
259167
I am not sure what you mean. WHILE one remains in one faith, one cannot ALSO become a Jew by converting to Judaism. So, if that is what you mean, you are right, while having other religions one cannot ALSO convert to Judaism. But if one gives up that faith, then one can convert to Judaism and become a Jew.\n\nBUT, if you mean that no one can convert to Judaism at all, then you are very wrong!
475585
The best advice is to find and speak with a knowledgeable rabbi.  Here are some genralities:\n\n\n1. Do a lot of reading.  Think about the various "streams" of Orthodox vs Conservative vs Reform vs Reconstructionist, and decide which of these best fits you.\n\n2.  Having done so, visit several nearby synagogues within the stream you have chosen and speak with the chief rabbi. You should then choose which of these rabbis you want to work with.\n\n3.  The rabbi will lay out a course of study for you, but will probably start by asking why you want to become a Jew by Choice.\n\n4. You will take the course of study the rabbi proposes.\n\n5. Meanwhile you will attend synagogue services, and you will learn various rituals.\n\n6. You will attend various discussion groups with people also becoming Jews by Choice.\n\n7. You will take a final exam, and you will make various commitments.\n\n8. A male would probably need to be circumcized if he is not already.  A woman may need to be immersed in a bath called a mikveh.\n\n9. You may need to appear before a group of scholars and answer their questions.\n\nJews do not actively try to ocnvert non-Jews.  However, it is a wonderful thing for the Jewish Community when someone voluntarily decides to become a Jew by Choice.  The clergy and the Jewish Community will welcome you with open arms and do everything we can to help you succeed.  G-d bless you in your journey.\n\nhttp://www.convertingtojudaism.com/\nhttp://www.uscj.org/intmar/shouldi.html\nhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conversion_to_Judaism
371950
You are both married? To other people?! Are you cheating on your spouses? \n\nIf not I'm going to guess that you are married to each other or plan on marrying each other? \n\nAs far as the religions go....WOW....That's a tough one. Both are hard core and will want you to convert so one is going to have to make up their mind. If you don't want to convert you need to explain to your significant other that it's not an option and if they don't understand oh well. I love my husband but if he told me that he had converted to Catholisism and that I had to convert or else I would tell him sorry. First people you love should ask you to go against your faith and secondly no man or woman on this earth should be more important to you than God. If you believe that all you have to do is ask forgivness and that you shall recieve redemption then certain other beliefs are going to stick in your craw anyways. But hey, it's up to you...\n\n(p.s. Before I start getting hate mail folks please keep in mind that I don't dislike or hate Catholics at all nor am I anti-Catholic in any way. All the Catholics I know are cool people. The only point I'm trying to stress is that someone who is a hard core Baptist (enough to put that title in with a question, which means it's important to them) is going to have problems with the Catholic faith in general and vice versa. Wether or not he is able to get an annulment I'm not sure it wouldn't work anyhow if one person or the other is forced to convert.)
133555
There is a process which you would have to first undergo.  It involves a great deal of study and ritual.  The first step would be to contact a Rabbi and share your interest.  He may push you away, but dont give up.  Some Rabbis follow the tradition of turning away a potential convert three times before finally deciding to follow through with the conversion.
250686
Your husband is absolutely correct hon and you should listen to him for his heart is in the right place. I am a person who doesnt have much of a faith but was brought up christian and am with a Jew.  Quite the mix according to our families.  You just have to hold your head a little higher and know that your heart is where it belongs.  If it gets hard just let it out from time to time.  The comments will come but remember they are only words and when you are home and night you can close the door and not let the world inside.  I wish you luck hon.
781148
What exactly do you mean by "let you."  I think you are giving your father too much power over your life decisions.  Is he threatening to withhold financial support? Telling you that he will disown you? \n\nI was raised in a Christian home (although I now consider myself agnostic).  I met and fell in love with a Jewish man.  My father, too, told me my partner would have to convert to Christianity before he would approve of my marrying him (even though we have not especially talked about getting married and I don't care about his religious background/beliefs).  I finally got to the point where I told my dad that he was welcome to his own opinions, but he would  ultimately suffer if he distanced himself from me because of my personal relationship.  \n\nI stopped letting my dad have any mental control over my life, and we are both better for it.
616432
You have to decide if that is the lifestyle that you want to be involved with.  You cannot change a person.  To stay with him in the hopes that he will change is foolish.  Hopefully you don't have any children so you can make a clean break.  If you don't have children but you decide to stay with him, please don't make any children.  They don't need to be brought into a life like that.  It takes more than love to make a marriage work.