Marriage between Baptist and Coptic Orthodox, possible?

[Sparksw10]

I suppose I should have added a little more to my first post. I am 25, graduated and working as a FT pharmacist. At my point in my life and relationship, marriage is nearing in the next 2 years. I certainly dont want to rush anything, but i need to figure out how to handle our situation. Im not exactly looking for a loophole, I was reaching for for more informatiom and for possible options as I am not familiar with what kind of position we are in. However, that being said, I very much so appreciate everyones help and advice, but it seems my boyfriend has decided his interest lies elsewhere. Unfortunately I see now I have wasted quite a lot of time for someone who has turned out to be quite selfish. Thanks everyone for yalls help!

 

[1ke]

Im not exactly looking for a loophole, I was reaching for for more informatiom and for possible options as I am not familiar with what kind of position we are in.

I think it will all really boil down to you researching what his Church teaches in much more detail. You and he do not share the same concept of “church”. In the Baptist denomination, “church” is just a generic term that applie to all believers. This is not so in the Catholic Church, Orthodox, Coptic, etc. Church is established based on the Bishop and Apostolic Succession from the original Apostles.

I don’t know much about the Coptic Orthodox Church, but I do know that what he is telling you is correct-- he cannot marry outside the laws of his Church without being excommunicated.

He cannot simply go to your services ever other week or anything like that. You cannot raise your children baptist.

However, that being said, I very much so appreciate everyones help and advice, but it seems my boyfriend has decided his interest lies elsewhere. Unfortunately I see now I have wasted quite a lot of time for someone who has turned out to be quite selfish. Thanks everyone for yalls help!

It’s not about being selfish. This is a lesson you learned the hard way: Faith is at the core of who we are. If you want a successful marriage, you need to marry someone with whom you share this core. As a baptist, you should be looking for a baptist man who shares your faith and beliefs, who wants to establish a Christian household and serve the Lord in the same way.

Culturally and religiously, you were just too different in belief and practice from his faith. He isn’t being selfish to realize that this spells disaster for a marriage and making the tough decision to end it. He is actually being realistic.

 

[benidict]

I think it will all really boil down to you researching what his Church teaches in much more detail. You and he do not share the same concept of “church”. In the Baptist denomination, “church” is just a generic term that applie to all believers. This is not so in the Catholic Church, Orthodox, Coptic, etc. Church is established based on the Bishop and Apostolic Succession from the original Apostles.

I don’t know much about the Coptic Orthodox Church, but I do know that what he is telling you is correct-- he cannot marry outside the laws of his Church without being excommunicated.

He cannot simply go to your services ever other week or anything like that. You cannot raise your children baptist.

It’s not about being selfish. This is a lesson you learned the hard way: Faith is at the core of who we are. If you want a successful marriage, you need to marry someone with whom you share this core. As a baptist, you should be looking for a baptist man who shares your faith and beliefs, who wants to establish a Christian household and serve the Lord in the same way.

Culturally and religiously, you were just too different in belief and practice from his faith. He isn’t being selfish to realize that this spells disaster for a marriage and making the tough decision to end it. He is actually being realistic.

all good advice my friend. but right now, i dont think she would be interested in looking for a baptist or anyone. she needs to recover. if anything, other than i told you so’s and the like, we should be offering up prayers on hers and his behalf. breakups are rough. especially after investing a significant amount of time with someone. so it would be nice if we all sent up a chaplet of divine mercy, or a rosary, to ease this time of sparks loss. that Christ would comfort her even as we speak. we should also be praying for her significant other, for the same reason. this cannot be easy for either of them. peace and prayers.

 

[Bluegoat]

It’s not about being selfish. This is is a lesson you learned the hard way: Faith is at the core of who we are. If you want a successful marriage, you need to marry someone with whom you share this core. As a baptist, you should be looking for a baptist man who shares your faith and beliefs, who wants to establish a Christian household and serve the Lord in the same way.

Culturally and religiously, you were just too different in belief and practice from his faith. He isn’t being selfish to realize that this spells disaster for a marriage and making the tough decision to end it. He is actually being realistic.

You know, I tend to agree with this on an intellectual level, but OTOH I have seen some mixed marriages work out really well and be a total blessing and revelation to the people in them. And sometimes one person becomes someone really different as a result of the other. Two of the most successful marriages I can think of were mixed Catholic and Anglican - long term, devoted, deeply Christian, respectful of each other and raised great kids. Each couple approached it differently.

I don’t know why it is that sometimes this happens and other times it doesn’t. My husband was almost totally ignorant about religion when I met him. We had our marriage preparation with a priest, and he had a real conversion experience. Did I know that would happen - no, but I wasn’t in a way surprised. I can’t put my finger on why really, except it seemed like the questions and problems he had with religion were the right questions.

Anyway - I don’t want to quibble with your advice, which is essentially good. I wonder if sometimes when we are attracted to people of a different religion it represents, or can suggest - that we are looking for something beyond what we have now?

OP - I am sorry to hear about your boyfriend. He may have just decided that it couldn’t work for you two. It does seem to have been a matter of one of you having to give up things that are really important to you.

 

[Sparksw10]

I wasnt planning on adding much detail, but by “selfish” I certaintly was in no way, shape, or form intending that to be about his religious views. I would never call someone selfish for their personal beliefs. Specifically to 1ke, what I meant by “selfish” was, I just found out he decided it was in his best interest to spend his birthday telling me not to show up because he didnt want me their with his friends (that I always said were trouble) and by that he meant, he was going to sleep with an 18 year girl who I told him to stay away from. But thanks. I think hes the one that needs to be prayed for. I just need to find the strength to move on.

 

[Bluegoat]

I wasnt planning on adding much detail, but by “selfish” I certaintly was in no way, shape, or form intending that to be about his religious views. I would never call someone selfish for their personal beliefs. Specifically to 1ke, what I meant by “selfish” was, I just found out he decided it was in his best interest to spend his birthday telling me not to show up because he didnt want me their with his friends (that I always said were trouble) and by that he meant, he was going to sleep with an 18 year girl who I told him to stay away from. But thanks. I think hes the one that needs to be prayed for. I just need to find the strength to move on.

That really sucks. Perhaps his religious scruples, weren’t.

 

[PbloPicasso]

I wasnt planning on adding much detail, but by “selfish” I certaintly was in no way, shape, or form intending that to be about his religious views. I would never call someone selfish for their personal beliefs. Specifically to 1ke, what I meant by “selfish” was, I just found out he decided it was in his best interest to spend his birthday telling me not to show up because he didnt want me their with his friends (that I always said were trouble) and by that he meant, he was going to sleep with an 18 year girl who I told him to stay away from. But thanks. I think hes the one that needs to be prayed for. I just need to find the strength to move on.

I am so sorry for your situation. That is stooping really low in my book. I’ll pray for his conversion considering what you just said. I’ll also pray for you to muster up the strength to move forward in forgiveness. You’re right, he needs our prayers more for such evil acts. Betrayal is the most difficult thing to overcome. Such immaturity is common among us and doesn’t deserve anymore than “what an idiot”. Just know that God loves you and will help you through this difficult trial. Don’t let the poor example of men be the source of how you choose God. Jerks are everywhere.

 

[OneLove33]

I am Catholic and my husband is Orthodox Coptic. We married in Egypt where the only legal marriage is through a civil ceremony. However, we were not permitted to marry in the church. We are very happy and one in everything. He never asked for me to convert as we see ourselves as the same in everything. There was never a question of our religion keeping us from our union. Both our friends and families see that we are soul mates and share a very true love under God. I think that’s what is important. By the way, both my husband and I knew that we would marry from the first time we met, and the second time we spent time together he proposed. 9 months later we married. There are no words to thank God enough for what joy he has brought into our lives. We do this by living and keeping him close to us. As we always say to each other, we were made for each other by God.

I hope for your greatest happiness with finding your true love and partner.

Many blessings,

Christina

 

[katherine2001]

My experience with Baptists has been that they baptize “in the name of Jesus”, and while there are certainly some that may use the proper trinitarian formula, I’ve yet to hear of a baptist group that does.

I was Southern Baptist and we were most definitely baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.