Here's the fun thing about that question; it's basically 'Would you date someone you considered mentally insane?' Whether you are atheist considering dating Hindu, a Catholic considering dating a Zoroastrian, or a Buddhist dating a nihilist, this is a person who has a fundamentally different understanding of reality. Here's the real kicker; 'Is someone who has a distorted sense of reality capable of giving consent?' Can you even date them if you value consent?
this post was submitted on 22 Jun 2025
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While I was in the process of disentangling myself from religion, the woman I lived with for nearly 10 years went off the deep end. Prosperity gospel. She became insufferable.
I made a much-needed escape, and met my wife a year later. She, like me, believes religion to be a social construct, intended to keep the masses docile and obedient.
Atheist here, married to another atheiest. If I were to date, beliefs would be fine as long as we were somewhat compatible. Open mindedness is a big thing here. Observing certain rituals would be no problem as long as I would not have to participate. However, if you are overly dogmatic or bigoted towards other people based on color, religion or sexuality, you can fuck off right away.
I was raised Christian and am now atheist. I would have a very difficult time being romantic with anyone who calls themself Christian. I have come to despise all levels of it. I don't believe in the existence of the super natural. I don't believe in the Christian creation myth. I don't believe in the resurrection or any miracles of Jesus. I believe most churches are cults that we give a free pass to be cults because it's more socially acceptable. I believe religion did great harm to me growing up and I believe it does great harm to many other young people. I could go on, but that's the gist. If someone was somehow Christian and agreed with me on all of those points there might be a chance but I'd still view it as strange that they didn't see the whole thing as a scam and renounce their faith.
People from other religions I may have similar problems with because even though religions are different their effects are often similar. Even a staunchly pro LGBT church/religion I would have difficulty meshing with because my problems go so much deeper than that.
An exception would be people who are "spiritual" but not "religious". While I myself am quite skeptical, I am still open to the idea that there's more. And even if there's not, sometimes it's fun and/or beneficial to pretend that there is. So long as they themselves are similarly open to the ideas that they could be wrong and that others could be right I think I could get along quite well with people like this. The truth is I still have moments I would call religious experiences, but I don't believe they're revelations of truth. They're still interesting and fun to talk about. Like dreams.
99% no
Not anyone who is actively/strongly religious of any kind. Philosophical/spiritual beliefs is fine with me but anyone who is drinking the Kool-Aid is either delusional or dumb (and probably stubborn/hard to reason with). I was raised Catholic (even went to Catholic school from elementary up to finishing HS) but would consider myself somewhere between agnostic and atheist now
Yes, if their core beliefs are the same. Kindness, compassion, generosity, etc.
It depends on how passionate about their religion and how the aspects of that passion affects people around them.
I'm a former/non-practicing Christian, and I consider myself agnostic or atheist now.
I married someone with a religion from an entirely different family of religions than Christianity, originating in an entirely different part of the world. The way their religion really affects me day-to-day is that there are certain ingredients we don't keep in the home for cooking. Really not a big deal.
But I can see dating a zealot (from a different religion or not) could pose problems
Irreligious Agnostic here. As long as they don't have extremist views I don't care.
Irreligious agnostic as well.
I think I would have difficulty depending on how devoted they are. Like would I need to pretend to pray beside them at every meal? Or do they just keep most of that to themselves?
Also, I do find the little rituals and habits that religious people go through a bit silly so I feel like I would not be able to just silently sit by and watch it for years and years.
Honestly it's a hard question to answer by text. Depends if they expect me to make room for them to practice their faith or expect me to to eventually follow in their spiritual path. Because these 2 are very different. I find the rituals offputting too even though I understand the logic behind them, but that could be because of internalised prejudice from my part. Also assuming this is a serious relationship would this person assume that in case you decide to have kids they will educated/indocrinated since an early age? That would be an absolute no for me. I'm certainly up for presenting them with the option when they come to an appropriate age but not raising them up to the idea that it is the only certainty in life. It's complicated for sure and there a number of things to take into account but that doesn't necessarily mean you should avoid being with someone you cherish because they find joy in a way of spirituality I/you may find archaic.
Religious people are generally dogmatic, but then there are people who think they're religious but don't actually believe most of the concepts they grew under, besides one or two traditions that essentially just become culture
No, Im not a believer and that is unlikely to change
Anti-religious atheist here.
You know what...years ago I would have said "no". Imo, often fundamentalist religious people have views that actively harm society through systemic actions. So it's not something I am able to generally sit well with.
However, years back I met someone irl (not online) with absolutely polar opposite political and religious views as me. I am an atheist who actually opposes the concept of religion in general and I am very liberal. This person I know is very Catholic and conservative. They are a hardcore Trumper and I have always seen him as a dangerous threat to the US.
Yet...
Over the years, this person has legitimately become my absolute best friend. They are the kindest, funniest, most wonderful person I know. I absolutely love spending time with them. We just don't debate our polar opposite viewpoints. We still share and talk about deep, personal things...but we don't instigate political debates or anything like that. I take their views as someone who has been brainwashed by society, and I'm sure they feel the same about me. But it means that I don't see them as evil for their views and am able to easily look past that.
I don't know what the fuck I would do in life if I ever lost them. Sometimes they are the reason why I look forward to the rest of my day.
We are not romantically involved or anything. They have a partner and a family, and I wouldn't be interested with doing that with this person anyway.
But the point is, it taught me that I can have a very deep, personal connection with someone with polar opposite views. Ideally, I would like for a partner to share my views. But life has shown me that it is possible to be opposite like that and still really deeply care for and enjoy someone.
How do you reconcile their views on deportation, human trafficking, LGBT stuff, etc etc etc etc etc with you finding them to be a "wonderful" person? Personally anyone who believes in what Trump is doing is by definition a monster and any niceties they may show other people is either psychopathy or because you happen to be the right color. It's like the standard bad date test; if they're a shitheel to their server, they'll eventually be a shitheel to you too.
I remember bringing up some LGBT stuff to them before. I told them that I initially started questioning religion because it was upsetting to me that my sibling would be sent to hell simply for being gay. Interestingly, they seem to not believe the anti-gay rhetoric of their religion, which is a relief. Trans issues are another matter which does frustrate me a bit...they seem accepting of some trans people in general but have some unfortunate other views on the matter. It is difficult sometimes to reconcile stuff like this though, I agree.
No idea what they think on deportation, but why do you bring up human trafficking? Human trafficking is pretty universally seen by everyone as a bad thing, even Trumpers.
People are individuals and while most of them might lean a certain way, they often have some views that don't fit the stereotypical mold of their demographic if that makes sense. I found out that my friend was vehemetly against bombing Iran despite being a Trumper.
As another example that is likely to yield me downvotes, I would consider myself an incredibly liberal person. And I do sympathize with someone like Luigi. But I am very opposed to weirdly celebrating what he did like most of the internet seems to do. Compassion and understanding? Hell yeah. Celebrating shooting people? Not so much. I never talk about this with others because I know how unpopular of an opinion it is on the internet. But I brought it up to my Trumper friend and she feels the exact same way.
We are all individuals with our own views and you're not necessarily going to stumble across the "perfect match" with anything. Part of human relationships is learning who you can and can't get along with and working through the points that don't mesh as well. I don't know what I'm babbling on about really.
As long as they don't try to convert me, yes.
Don't be a dick.
That basically my only requirement.
Atheist. I'm quite relaxed about it as long as I don't have to take part in the silly rituals. I've dated a lot of picky eaters so I'm okay with not having bacon at home or whatever your dietary restrictions may be.
No
It depends. Probably, as long as they didn't think I was going to hell, or believe something I found awful, or were evangelistic, needing me to believe what they did.
My mom's family was Methodist, my dad's family was Catholic, my mom stayed Methodist, Dad became just open-minded general Theist but not specifically Christian, I am not religious but not capital A Atheist.
as long as they aren't going to force me into said religion I would be fine with it, if I dated anyway.
I would try to support them and all but, I'm agnostic
If they were personally religious (spiritual) rather than socially/dogmatically religious, then it could work out. As an atheist, I'm not against spiritual beliefs, but their core values must align with mine - that is the important bit here. Obviously, communication about these things would determine where we align, and help determine if we could sustain a relationship, but it's certainly a possibility.
Note: I include a love of nature, humanism, etc. under the 'spiritual' label, as well as traditionally religiously spiritual.
Note: I include a love of nature, humanism, etc. under the 'spiritual' label, as well as traditionally religiously spiritual.
Huh. Why?
People dive different things "spiritual", whether it's mystical or natural in origin. And "spiritual" can mean different things to different people. So, my label is inclusive.
Ah. It's somewhat odd for me, as my love for and of nature, as well as (and in the same vein) my ideas about human potential and dignity come from a specifically un- if not anti-spiritual place.
Something like: The material world is not only beautiful (in a fundamental way, I don't merely mean pretty like a forest on a hill, but also beautiful like all the interconnected systems that make it a forest), but also all there is, and that is part of the reason why caring about feeling beings is important.
But yeah, we always gotta make some judgement calls on who and what we exclude and include with the terms we use.
I guess, I'd say that "spiritual" is something that moves you deeply (you spirit, soul, or whatever you'd like to call it).
This conversation has helped me hone in a bit on my meaning. Thank you.
Most likely not. Depends how serious they are about it and how big of an factor it plays in their daily lives. Belief in god, to me, is an indication that a person is not capable of thinking rationally. At least not to the extent that I'm expecting from a parther. I don't want to be with someone who can't be reasoned with.
Doubt.
It depends. My religious affiliation is likely therianthropy. I don't follow a traditional religion, and see it more as a spiritual practice, much in the same way that a trans person may deeply explore their gender identity--I am also trans.
My requirements are simple; Code of conduct, not a code of "facts". I will not engage with creation theories and such. It is an insult to science, and often resists fundamentally good change.
I also will not engage with a "Reddit atheist". I think this requires no further explanation--I was one.
What is a “Reddit atheist”? Are those the people who decry all religion as being inherrently evil and announce their atheism unprompted everywhere they go like Arch-using crossfit vegans?
While I am not the previous poster, that's certainly how I'd describe it. The "I am euphoric" types who care only about the circlejerk.
Aye. I'm not proud of it. If you think about it, it's kind of just conservatism, just not in an expected way.
I've seen a few around here.
Growing and bettering ones self is what matters. Good on you for breaking the cycle. Not everyone can do that.
I've made it a goal in life to put more thought into things. It is indeed a major turnaround. Thank you for the kind words!
I find the nutty prosletysing religious folks marginally more bearable than the militant positivists and atheists who can't stop from bringing up their belief that free will is an illusion and we should all be hedonists, or that transcindentalism is an illogical lie (maybe bitter memories here).
Both infinitely more bearable than the exclusionary and persecutionary religious extremists.
I’m atheist, but raised as a pretty diligent episcopal. I wouldn’t have any issue dating someone who is religious. I’ve dated a few women with different religious/spiritual views and it was never an issue. I’ve always been fascinated by religions and their histories despite never really believing in one myself.
I’d honestly be open to the idea of “converting” for someone I love, so long as the culture of their religion is compatible with my existing moral standards. I haven’t been to the point where I’d have to do that, but I don’t see why not to except that I’m not sure if it’s right to simply perform the practices with no belief in the core of it.