Follow Jesus, Not the Church

August 3, 2022 By Dr. Dilip Amin

Jesus was a progressive thinker and believed in adapting to the times. Unfortunately, many churches and followers of Jesus tend to overlook this crucial aspect which once defined Christianity, thus strangling its very spirit. Is it a wonder then that an interfaith dating couple should find it easier to follow Jesus than the church? Jesus as a progressive thinker The Second Commandment[I] in the Old Testament carries stern warnings against praying to ‘other’ gods and thus inviting the wrath of... Read more

Idol-worshiper: Who Is and Who Is Not?

July 23, 2022 By Dr. Dilip Amin

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The Abrahamic scriptures not only condemn idol-worshiping, but also carry strict warnings against it. Yet the definition of the term “idol” continues to remain enwrapped in quasi-obscurity. The author wrote this article to stimulate discussion on the topic of idol-worship, including the author’s personal life experiences, to gain a better understanding and maybe an empathic perspective. In Victorious Living’s article titled “How to destroy an idol,” an idol is described as something that is not true, something to which we... Read more

15 FAQs on Interfaith Marriage

July 20, 2022 By Dr. Dilip Amin

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If you are in an interfaith love relationship, you must critically evaluate these frequently asked questions about your planned interfaith married life. These 15 FAQs are applicable to inter- or intra- Dharmic and/or Abrahamic faiths. 1. What is the main message here? Interfaith relationships should be based on mutual respect for both the faiths, and marriage should be solemnized without imposing religious conversion on a spouse. After marriage, both the spouses’ faiths should get equal respect and consideration at home... Read more

Meera versus Margaret: Discrimination of Own Type

July 9, 2022 By Dr. Dilip Amin

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Discrimination expresses itself in different forms. The aim of this article is to highlight the paradoxical discrimination against women of one’s own type. Interfaith marriages have many issues, however intra- or within-faith-marriages are not without their own challenges. In this article, some of the main issues related to within-faith marriages of people from Eastern Hindu and Muslim cultures are highlighted using hypothetical names, Meera representing as a Hindu woman, read it as Majida for Muslim, and Margaret for Western Christian. Just... Read more

Interfaith Marriage and Divorce Laws

July 7, 2022 By Dr. Dilip Amin

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Interfaith dating couples must clearly understand all applicable laws relating to marriage, divorce and child custody before committing to an interfaith marriage. Such couples may have to tackle two forms of laws: Religious Institutional Rules and Regulations, and Governmental Laws. With interfaith marriages becoming more and more prevalent, the legal and cultural complexity of this emerging phenomenon has taken up new dimensions in a world which continues to remain polarized by religions. Many Americans may regard religious freedom to be... Read more

Circumcision: Science, Faith or Superstition?

July 2, 2022 By Dr. Dilip Amin

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When a male child is born, interfaith parents are often faced with the crucial decision on whether to cut or not to cut. Undoubtedly some parents, while leaning in favor of circumcision, would like to back it up with scientific merits. This may sound like a benign suggestion, but one should find out the motive—science, faith or superstition—behind such thinking. Photo: mhudzaifah-Flickr For the doctors in the US, carrying out a circumcision is a routine procedure. However, if one parent... Read more

10 Keys to a Successful Interfaith Marriage

June 29, 2022 By Dr. Dilip Amin

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Successful interfaith marriage is possible if the decision is made after critically evaluating all the facts on hand. Ten key talking points are proposed. Interfaith marriage is a part of our new life. There is a high rate of interfaith marriages (40% to up to 70% in America) across all faith groups. Photo: Алексей Чернышев/Wikimedia Most articles and books on interfaith marriages in America are mainly focused on Judeo-Christian relationships. Now significant numbers of people from other faiths or no-faith... Read more