ForumGarden

Strange? No, of course not.

Religious people have always tried to ensure their children married within "the faith." I was engaged to marry a Jewish man and it was clearly understood that I had to convert, since the child is only Jewish if the MOTHER is Jewish. His children would've been cut off from the "Jewish" identity, had I not converted.

When my cousin Kathy married a Catholic, some years ago, his family would pray every night for her conversion.

"The children" are always the stated reason for objecting to these marriages, but whether or not that's a valid fear is up to the people fighting it.

Ummm...yes. Isn't that what I tried to say?

It is just family concerns over marrying outside of their religious preferences. My in-laws are always trying to have me convert to become Russian Orthodox-I just smile and tell them I couldn't do that. It doesn't seem to bother me anymore, but they wouldn't talk to me for 3 years when we were first married, because I wasn't of their faith. Now, I think they are quite glad just to have me around taking good care of their son. We are not close, and never will be. But that is not from my lack of trying.

Even if she marries him and they have children, the children will be Jewish wether the father converts or not. I think its a BIGGER deal if a Jewish man marries a gentile woman.