Is it right for a Christian to date or marry a non-Christian?

It's not going to work out. A christian who has a relationship with God and knows the meaning of marriage should also know that it's dangerous to be so radically different. It's like if you wanted kids and she didn't. It would cause huge strains in your marriage if one of you decided to give in unwillingly and end it all together if there could be no agreement. Marriage is a spiritual thing where you and your significant other join as one in fellowship with God. It's blessed and there are many warnings in the bible against marrying someone with other beliefs.

I've thought about it before but now I understand why you should look for someone who believes the same thing you do. Your love will be stronger because God will string your hearts together and you will also understand each other better. Both of your lives will improve greatly as you grow closer to God walking hand in hand on the same path. You will walk through heavens gates together.

Others have already put up the relevant scriptures and so I will not repeat them.

If you are asking if it is a sin, the answer is no. The relevant scriptures are advice from God, but not specifically a command. And other scriptures in the Bible show that if you do marry a non-Christian, you are not to divorce that person later even if you think later it was a mistake. The advice is to avoid marrying in the first place, but if you do, then you are to treat it just as respectfully as a marriage to a Christian, meaning "what God has yoked together, let no man put apart."

But the reasoning behind the advice is a strong one. As a Christian, you have certain duties to God, but also certain privileges and rewards. As one example, in Matthew 28:19,20 Jesus commands all Christians to preach the good news of God's Kingdom worldwide, and to teach anyone who will listen. This is your duty as a Christian, but from personal experience I do know that when you do find someone who you can be a part of teaching them (God's holy spirit is also a major component here, so you will only be a part of the teaching but an essential part), it is also a reward and privilege as you see them grow in the ways of God.

But if you should try to share this joy with one who is not a Christian, you will often find that they are not as happy for you as you would think they should be. It is not necessarily that they hate what you are doing, they just don't see the same value in it as you will. In some instances some non-Christian spouses may actually be angry with their Christian spouses for these efforts. You will find that your joy is often diminished when you recognize that you cannot share some of your greatest successes with your spouse simply because they do not understand why it is such a joy for you.

And it works the other way as well. Time spent serving God for two married Christians is time spent together and so is joyous. But when a Christian spends time serving God and is married to a non-Christian, they do not spend time together. Whether the non-Christian spouse is an Atheist and does not serve any god, or if the non-Christian spouse is of another faith and does serve God but not your God, either way that time is spent apart. And if the non-Christian spouse wants to spend time with their husband or wife, but that Christian is currently taking time to serve God, they can find themselves lonely for a time and that may lead to resentment. It places a strain on the marriage.

Is it a sin to date or marry a non-Christian? No. And God does expect you to honor the marriage if you should marry a non-Christian. But is it a good idea to do so? Again, the answer is no. The stresses that can be placed on such a marriage can make life difficult. Marriage certainly has its rewards, but it can be quite stressful even among the happiest couples, why add to the stress by dating one that is outside your faith and will not always understand your faith, nor will you always understand their different faith or no faith at all.

It is not advised. The scripture says we must not be

"unequally yoked" with an unbeliever... There are clear

problems associated with such a marriage, when the

children come along ~ about which religion in which

to raise them.

The couple may also clash over whether to worship

separately, and the dysfunction that can arise over it.

We are encouraged to have the spiritual headship of

Jesus Christ in the family, which is impossible if one

of the couple does not know Him.

Well- my significant other, who I've been with for 5 years, is a Christian. And I'm an Atheist.

We fight and bicker but we still love eachother unconditionally.

Christians shouldn't be allowed to marry anyone without prenuptial neutering.

No.

The Bible says:

"Don't team up with those who are unbelievers. How can righteousness be a partner with wickedness? How can light live with darkness?"

Its like teaming a donkey with an ox to a plow. You don't want to do it.

You've never heard of conversion?

That is totally OK.

Why wouldn't that be right?