Did you change your religion for your Desi SO?

[k1spain 0]

Different religion, color, language, continent and size!

I was raised as a Roman-Catholic and I never had any contact with other religion at all until until just a couple of months before meeting hubby. I went to a Catholic school and University.

Hubby's dad is sikh and mum is brahmin hindu. Totally different. They had a love marriage 30 years ago. That is something surprising in India at that time. He was raised as a mixed of both religions. He went to temples and gurudwaras (sikh temple).

My family doesn't practice much but hubby's mum is super religious or I'd better say she has lot of faith. Hubby's dad does not wear turbant or anything cause he believes some sikh practices are not practical nowadays. Some of his brothers do wear.

Currently, none of us practice any religion and we only go to temple when some family event requires for it.

We had a civil wedding at a very nice place and we also got married in the sikh temple for hubby's family.

I guess I am a sinner and sometimes I think to myself what the nunnies teaching me at school when I was a kid would think about my life.

Regardng children, when we have any, I guess my m-i-l will teach them her things and although I would like them to know about Christianity, I don't think we will be sending them to a religious school.

I'd like them to grow up with an open mind knowing that there is not only one truth or one answer for life.

[anya-D 8]

Ever since then I have learned that no matter what the religion... we all ultimaetly are believing in primarily the same thing... stepping out of the box.. looking at the whole picture. it is a part of spirituality .. the belief.. that is important.

I learned it is not the formality but the thought and belief... whether you call it your quest via Christianity or Budism, Taoism .. Muslim.. Hindi... .. do we not all seek the same enlightenment?

I beleive the same..

I'm Buddhist and Bram believe in God but not a christian.. we do not have a problem with my family or friends.

As some of you might know Buddhism welcome everybody who wants to learn without have to convert to buddhism that including marrying one that is not For myself, Religion is never a reason for me to marry - as long as he doesnt try to convert me or try to prevent me from who i am and what I beleive.

Infact I talked religion with Bram's mother alot. She wants to know about buddhism. She actually asked me how buddhist think about the begining of the word and I dont know what to tell her because we actually dont have those stories in our teaching..... so I told her about Ramayana coz it's the closest story i can think of!! (I believe it's Hindu - buddhism and Hindo are closely related though)

Also we discover that our believe are very VERY similar hance i'm buddhist and she is a follower of God and we had fun sharing our believe and found out that it's just the same thing with the same goal just with the different teacher.

For our children... I plan to teach them buddhist teaching and also to temple and meditation (a must!!) - but will let them choose what to believe.. as long as they grow up being a good person...

Edited January 18, 2007 by anya-D

[anya-D 8]

I forgot to add that -

For those who is interested... the book "Dhammapada" is a very good book to learn about Buddha teaching... Very easy ready for both Buddhism and Non buddhism.. (I've never read our holy book (or what ever it calls in English) all my life.. it's normally strick to only for the monks - so i was fasinated to know about this book!!)

[Saddle Bronc 124]

(sigh)

Perhaps the word desi should have been left out of the title (as donaal and anya-d, both NOT South Asians) have posted here.

[anya-D 8]

(sigh)

Perhaps the word desi should have been left out of the title (as donaal and anya-d, both NOT South Asians) have posted here.

I am Thai - am i not south asian? umm.. actuall south east asian ??? sorry ^^

oops ^^

Edited January 18, 2007 by anya-D

[deathbydalbhat 0]

Oh well, it's interesting(for me anyway) to read other people's experiences, even if they are not desi(or married to a desi). I was originally curious because at the Ganesh Temple here in Queens I have met a few 'Euro-American' women who married Indian men and were practicing Hindus. I would be curious if they were interested in Hinduism before meeting their husbands(as was the case with me) or if they converted afterwards, but don't know them well enough to ask such a personal question. I have a few Jewish friends who married women who were not originally Jewish but converted after meeting their husbands so they could have a Jewish wedding and raise their children in the Jewish faith - I understand that is quite common in Judaism and probably Islam but was unsure about Hinduism or other S. Asian religions.

Hey Anya,

It's nice seeing another Buddhist here(yes, I practice both). I hope when I go to KTM I am able to get a good fare with Thai because it would be nice to spend a few days in Thailand - I have never been there but it sounds beautiful, even if BKK sounds like a crazy place.

[chri'stina 190]

deathby...kind of off topic, but I was born in Queens, NY and my mom grew up in Flushing. We moved away when I was almost 4 so I don't have many memories. We had lived in College Point before moving. And I am sure many things have changed a lot since we left in 1984. How long have you lived there?

The last time I was in Queens was 1991 on a short trip, we were in Flushing and Woodhaven to visit some people, though we slept at someone's house in Newark, NJ and drove one day into NY to visit my grandma who was still alive then. After being in Florida, I remember being kind of freaked out walking around Woodhaven with an old family friend while our mom's talked in the house. I could not make it in the big city life too easily I guess. Florida has wimpified me.

[ELW 5]

Thanks deathbydalbhat, I agree it would be great to get this forum a little more active! (Sorry I'm late in the discussion but I haven’t checked this forum in awhile as usually nothing is happening in it!)

When I was 9 years old my parents joined SRF - Paramahansa Yogananda's organization and also were interested in Sathya Sai Baba (not anymore) so I was brought up with Eastern Philosophy. My father took us to church and to SRF temples too - he saw the unity in the basic teachings. I guess I am mostly Hindu since childhood, and my fiancé is Hindu sooo basically we are the same religion... but he also lately has been visiting churches too! One God, different paths, basics the same - only difference in all the different religions, are the unimportant details.

As for marriage, probably we will have a civil ceremony as soon as he comes (to get the AOS process going!) but later on do something in a temple. No big family thing because his family can't come here and my family is only sis & her 2 kids (mom is bi-polar and pretty much impossible to deal with).

[deathbydalbhat 0]

deathby...kind of off topic, but I was born in Queens, NY and my mom grew up in Flushing. We moved away when I was almost 4 so I don't have many memories. We had lived in College Point before moving. And I am sure many things have changed a lot since we left in 1984. How long have you lived there?

The last time I was in Queens was 1991 on a short trip, we were in Flushing and Woodhaven to visit some people, though we slept at someone's house in Newark, NJ and drove one day into NY to visit my grandma who was still alive then. After being in Florida, I remember being kind of freaked out walking around Woodhaven with an old family friend while our mom's talked in the house. I could not make it in the big city life too easily I guess. Florida has wimpified me.

Wow, I live in Flushing, moved here in 2001 - it's probably a lot different from how you remember it, lol... I think it actually is the most diverse sommunity in the country, I recall reading somewhere. I live on Franklin Ave. which I call 'Little Nepal' because it separates 'Little China' from 'Little India'.

I love this area because we have so many Desi grocery stores and restaurants - it will be easy to make Kumar's favorite foods when he comes I think

[The_dip_sticks 0]

Im catholic and my hubby is Muslim. I love him for him and he loves. We did not change. We both understand and respect each others religion.

[Vipul and Jamie 0]

Vipul is Hindu, and I am a Christian. No, I could not change my religious beliefs to his. We may disagree on religious topics at times, but we respect each others opinions greatly.

-jamie

[deathbydalbhat 0]

Vipul is Hindu, and I am a Christian. No, I could not change my religious beliefs to his. We may disagree on religious topics at times, but we respect each others opinions greatly.

-jamie

I like your wedding pic - did you have a Hindu wedding as well? We are planning on a Hindu wedding but I will kind of miss wearing the white dress and all... I am not used to wearing a sari so I hope my hem does not catch fire or some other accident...