Now I have been wanting to write about two topics for a long time. One of which I am going to talk about today and the other on my next post hopefully.

I would like to talk about religion, specifically with regards to a relationship. Does religion actually matters in a relationship?

Well, ideally I would think it should not be a factor when you are considering whether or not to accept the other person. I mean if you love the person, you should really love the person for who she or he is. Different beliefs in religion should not hinder the relationship. It is like when you love someone, it encompasses the person's character, habits, background, status etc. So when you love the person, you should accept the person's religion even if it is different from yours.

Realistically, this is not the case. Often, people will take religion as just one of the many factors mention above. Before getting to know the person well enough, one would usually stereotype or place a certain value on the person based on his or her religion. This is human nature. People like to be with people of similar traits, and often when determining whether to go into a relationship, they take having different religions as an important criteria.

Many also argued that religion is a kind of belief. If two people are not having the same beliefs, it will spoil problems in the future. Hence, these people prefer to be with someone of the same religion.

I have lots of friends in this kind of situation. I should not mention names because this is an sensitive issue. If you think you are, leave a tag behind will you?

Anyway, for my stand, personally I am a Buddhist though not a very devoted one. I believe in the teachings. Although I do not go to the temples regularly enough, I live by what is being taught.

I believe in supreme being/s. Take a very simple example of water. When liquid water is cooled, it contracts like one would expect until a temperature of approximately 4 degrees Celsius is reached. After that, it expands slightly until it reaches the freezing point, and then when it freezes it expands by approximately 9%.

Scientifically, you can go and check it out here.

The important thing is that because of this unique characteristic of water which is an essential element for life, ice floats on water, giving a new lease of life to many aqua creatures. Amazing? It is up to you to believe why it is so.

Coming back to the topic on religion in a relationship, I really won't mind being with someone of a different religion. By the time I fall in love, all these would have already been taken care of. What is difficult to do is not to judge a person too early by his or her religion. Like I said, it should not be a factor, but it is usually easier to say than do.

What make it worse is the ever changing world. Society norms. Social perception. Peer pressure. All these really makes love a complicated thing, although it is already a very "hard to understand" matter.

Now, can you love in peace?

I doubt so.