Wacky Wednesday--It’s Fine For Christians To Marry (And Date) Nonbelievers

Note: Before reading the following arguments, please understand that they are not what I believe. On Wednesdays, I deliberately argue for wrong ideas, challenging my listeners to call and defend the obvious right answer, which is usually far harder than one would expect. This is a summary of what Wacky Andrew will be arguing, not a representation of what real Andrew believes.

~You can’t know what the future holds for someone’s spiritual development anyhow. They might become Christians. They might fall away from the faith. They might become lukewarm in their faith. And you might change in all these ways as well.
~The heart wants what the heart wants
~Religion and religiosity are just one aspect of a person’s life, not the totality of it. If it were the totality of it, then you could marry anyone who was a Christian, but we know that’s just not the case. ~So why not recognize that many other features of a couple’s life might be in harmony even despite this one not being so.
~People who don’t share religion can still be deep best friends. And we know that being friends with your spouse is far more important than most other things.
~Lots of such marriages work perfectly well.
~The kids get exposed to a variety of viewpoints and are stronger for it.
~The religious commitments they make are much more genuine for having been freely chosen rather than inculturated by the family environment.
~Prevents too much influence and coercion by parents toward religion, which helps kids preserve a love of God instead of a resentment of Him.
~How dare some religious leader claim to tell me whom I can and whom I can’t marry!
~Whom I marry is my choice, and it’s really none of anyone else’s business.
~Not all dating leads to marriage.
~It looks downright redemptive to marry someone else.
~This is just the most sacrificial form of evangelism imaginable. Plus, you can help win that person over by your example.
~Are you against interracial marriage, too?
~What a narrow, dogmatic, judgmental thing to presume to tell people that only those who happen to share your religious beliefs are acceptable to you. Who are you to judge someone else’s devotion to God that way.