This discussion is a great example of how Christianity and atheism (and even other religions) differ. There is certainly a natural morality that can be apprehended by people of any or no faith (the negative expression of the Golden Rule encapsulates it pretty well, “Do not do unto others what you would not have them do unto you”).

But only Christianity reverses the paradigms of the World — cf. the Beatitudes of Jesus (“Blessed are the poor …” etc.). Or believes that the infinite, all-powerful, all-good, deity not only humbled himself to take the nature of a man, but also offer himself up in his innocence to suffer humiliation, suffering and death at the hands of the guilty, in order to save them.

These beliefs make no sense at all from the perspective of the affairs of humankind. Paradoxically, though, they are precisely why Christianity is compelling enough to be worthy of belief, even in the midst of a world rife with violence, oppression and misery.

It is great to see atheists and Christians together reflecting on the meaning of the Cross …

I don’t think her faith will be dimished if she believes in it. it may be a bit tough for her at first, but I know from personal experience that it can also be a rewarding experience. Do not be upset with her choice to be involved with someone who doesn’t believe the same as she does. If you get to know him you might realize that he isn’t all that bad to begin with.

My faith in christ has not be altered in any major way other than reminding myself of the fact that he was on a that cross for ALL, not just for those that believe.

You’re sad that people exist in the world with different beliefs from you? Big deal. The world’s a big, diverse place. Get over it.

I am very concerned about my daughter, because I do not want to see her faith diminished while she struggles to show someone else the way.

If her faith can’t stand up to a little scrutiny, is it really worth anything to begin with?

I don’t think I could have a relationship with a theist; I would find her god-belief too annoying to take fro extended periods.

Other things that I could not tolerate would be belief in the super-natural, an anti-scientific attitude and political ideas more to the right than my own.

How many religious people have you known? I know of few Christians who are anti-scientific (in fact none of them that I know personally) and only a few who are to the right of me. I can understand finding their belief in a higher power to be uncomfortable for a long time but if a person like me is in a real relationship with an atheist (which I am BTW) their daily life looks much like any other persons with the sole exception being maybe them disappearing for a few hours on Sunday morning and maybe an hour or so during the week for choir or other church activity which may or may not include volunteer opportunities.

And about interfaith relationships, I think it’s like anything else, such as inter-racial relationships. You make it what it is. If you love and respect each other despite the differences, as well as because of the differences, then it can work. Personally, though, even though I’m a Christian… I would be able to love an open-minded atheist much more so than a close-minded anything else. Thank God my husband is an open-minded Christian, although he is much more conservative than I am.