Falling in love is quite possibly one of the most beautiful things to experience. Whether it happens when you're 21 or 51, love can make you feel as if nothing can go wrong in your life. When you've met the person who sweeps you off of your feet, inevitably, not everything is going to line up perfectly.
So what if you find out that their religious views don't align with yours? Do you abruptly end things? Do you convert over to their religion or talk to them about converting over to yours?
Nekisha Michelle Kee, matchmaker and owner of Ultimate Match Agency, told INSIDER that your love life doesn't have to take a hit if your partner's views aren't the same as yours. Widely known as "The Plus-Size Love Doyenne," Kee — who is a Christian — has been married to her husband — a Muslim — for five years and their difference in religious views has not kept them from loving unconditionally.
"Religions may not align but your spirituality can," she told INSIDER. "Being married five years, we have been able to define what the culture is in our home. What ties us together and makes it work is that we believe what the bible says in 1 Corinthians 12:12-27."
Though it may seem impossible to be compatible with someone whose religious views are not aligned with yours, love — if done correctly — can and will overpower anything.
Decide what works for you both of you.
When it comes to religion and choosing a partner, it's easy and probably most convenient to go by the rules that your church, family, or those closest to you have set. According to Kee though, that shouldn't be how it works.
"Define your own rules and cohesive culture for your relationship," she said. Doing this will help you figure out what type of life you want to live with your partner without all of the outside noise.
It's possible to love someone of a different faith and be dedicated to your religion, too.
Don’t be so serious all of the time.
Being with a partner whose religious views are different than yours can become stressful and overwhelming if you let it. Taking the time to celebrate one another and finding the fun in your differences can help make the experience enjoyable.
"Couples should include laughter and even poking fun at each other's rituals," Kee told INSIDER, adding that she and her husband feel comfortable enough to even make light of the different ways they both pray.
Finding a comfortable way to tell jokes with one another can also ease those around you into understanding your decision, too.
Pray together and discuss spiritual awakenings.
Although your religious views may not line up with one another, your prayers can. Prayer, unlike many things, when it comes to religion, is universal and there’s technically no one right way to do it.
"When we pray together, we both take time to end our prayer in our own sacred way," Kee said. "We include each other on spiritual awakenings and discuss the meaning and implications from our own interpretation."
Doing this ensures that both partners are delivering respect for their own religion and that of their lover. Likewise, it offers a way for you to shed light on certain topics from your religious standpoint without starting an argument. Even if you're religious and your partner isn't, prayer time can be a great time to have a quiet moment for both of you.
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