Hi All,
I'm a newbie here and signed up today as I'm seeking advice from anyone who may be (or may have been) in a similar situation to me.
I'm a 41 year old single Dad in Australia and 6 months ago I fell in love with a 40 year old single Mum. It's been a whirlwind honeymoon period for the both of us since then and we love each other heaps and both feel that things feel just right, but recently, a recurring topic keeps creeping into our conversations that we can't seem to get past. - Religion - When religion makes it into the conversation, I can't seem to (and don't want to) back down on my personal view that religion is a myth and I find myself in a 'Richard Dawkins' mode where I'm trying to disprove religion - but the response is always the same. "you are disrespecting me and my views" - and so the conversation ends with a stalemate and not a happy ending.
My partner is Catholic and is very involved in her big Catholic family and associated religious gatherings and is also a teacher in an elite Catholic school here in Sydney.
I am quite the opposite. I'm from a small family, non-religious, quite passionate about science and enjoy a robust debate and question the status quo.
I've met some of the family who are great but I've been told by my partner that some will be quite dismissive due to my lack of faith.
I'm now questioning the future of our relationship as although I'm not intent on disproving religion, and have never had an issue with anyone who has religious beliefs, there are so many increasing references to religion that I am exposed to in our daily relationship and conversation that I find it hard to 'bite my tongue' and not voice my own views.
We have so much in common except our views on religion and aside from pretending that our views are not important - or don't exist - I can't see how we can get passed this important basis and foundation of our moral views.
I'd be very grateful for any advice or shared experiences from anyone reading this. I'm clutching at straws a little bit by signing up for this forum but I don't know how to try and resolve this.
Thanks
Paul
I'm a newbie here and signed up today as I'm seeking advice from anyone who may be (or may have been) in a similar situation to me.
I'm a 41 year old single Dad in Australia and 6 months ago I fell in love with a 40 year old single Mum. It's been a whirlwind honeymoon period for the both of us since then and we love each other heaps and both feel that things feel just right, but recently, a recurring topic keeps creeping into our conversations that we can't seem to get past. - Religion - When religion makes it into the conversation, I can't seem to (and don't want to) back down on my personal view that religion is a myth and I find myself in a 'Richard Dawkins' mode where I'm trying to disprove religion - but the response is always the same. "you are disrespecting me and my views" - and so the conversation ends with a stalemate and not a happy ending.
My partner is Catholic and is very involved in her big Catholic family and associated religious gatherings and is also a teacher in an elite Catholic school here in Sydney.
I am quite the opposite. I'm from a small family, non-religious, quite passionate about science and enjoy a robust debate and question the status quo.
I've met some of the family who are great but I've been told by my partner that some will be quite dismissive due to my lack of faith.
I'm now questioning the future of our relationship as although I'm not intent on disproving religion, and have never had an issue with anyone who has religious beliefs, there are so many increasing references to religion that I am exposed to in our daily relationship and conversation that I find it hard to 'bite my tongue' and not voice my own views.
We have so much in common except our views on religion and aside from pretending that our views are not important - or don't exist - I can't see how we can get passed this important basis and foundation of our moral views.
I'd be very grateful for any advice or shared experiences from anyone reading this. I'm clutching at straws a little bit by signing up for this forum but I don't know how to try and resolve this.
Thanks
Paul
