Theists: What would you do if your son/daughter wanted to marry an atheist?

Love is love, regardless of race, religion, or gender.

It would not be my job as a parent to belittle my children, but support them.

It really depends on the person.

If this is the type of atheist who pushes it in people's faces, trying to convert them, and would most certainly never allow my daughter to teach her kids what she believes as well... then I would discourage it, but in the end welcome him to the family and just hope for the best.

If this is the type of atheist who doesn't care what others believe, they just don't believe it, then I'd have far less of a problem since that would mean my daughter would be free to teach her kids what she believes.

Either way, I wouldn't forbid it or protest. I would welcome the person and love them. I would encourage the wedding (because I'd prefer them married over them having an out of marriage sexual relationship, and most of the time that's what would happen...)

This extends to things outside of atheism too. I mean, if my daughter wanted to marry a Vegan, I'd have to get to know the boy before I'd fully encourage the wedding. If he's the type who would throw blood on my husband's bison burger... If my daughter wanted to marry a Lutheran, or a Baptist, or a Buddhist, again it would depend on their attitude towards things. If I feel like her beliefs would be pushed aside by his, then I'd be against it, no matter what.

First I gotta get me a girlfriend, then I marry her. Then I finally get to do that thing that men and wimmin do together. 9 months later, out comes our non-demoninational Christian baby.

Then the atheist can come around in about 18 years, and we'll talk

Probably won't happen though. I just bought one of those bumper sticker about my car being unmanned in case of Rapture, so me and my family (if it comes to that) are on the next flight.

I would be much more concerned about his/her moral code, about his/her compassion and outlook on life.

Considering the issue of religion alone, the one kind of person i would be most concerned about would be one without the capacity to make rational judgments and needing a totally self-serving belief system -- as in Fundamentalism.

I would sit down with my child and try to explain the difficulties that this decision would bring upon them both and their children (if they chose to have any on down the line). I would explain that marriage is hard enough when you have two people who believe in God and who try to submit to His will every day and in every way. And, I would try to explain that the troubles will multiply if they don't have that same core belief and core goal of Heaven. But, I would trust my child to make the right decision because I had done my best to bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord. Then, after I prayed with my child, I would speak to their fiance and go over the same things. I would stress to them the importance of obeying God in our family and they need to strive daily to not impede my child's spiritual growth. I would explain that, if they really loved my child, that they would do that for them. Then, I would pray with them and I would pray with both of them everyday until the wedding.

With all of that said, even though my wife and I don't have children yet, I honestly can't imagine any of them considering marrying an atheist. I just don't see it happening.

I would attend the wedding, love my son/daughter all the same, and welcome the fiance. I might not be happy that her views differ so much from those of my son/daughter, but I wouldn't be rude or angry.

I would bathe my child in holy water before praying to God for forgiveness and to cleanse the presence of Satan, and then I would ask him to smite the heaten in question, before locking my daughter in a cellar with a bible so she could learn a lesson

Nothing. It would be very hypocritical of me to not allow my hypothetical future children to marry an Atheist, as their father would be one as well.

It would depend on the persons character.So far the atheists I know are judgmental,rude,and always seek to press an unwanted opinion.I have yet to meet a polite atheist that tries not to copy the fundamental people they see.

i would tell my daughter or son honestly that im not happy with what he or she chose to be his or her partner. i wud try to convert the person but if he or she still wont then i wont force that person. i wud pray for him or her