Having different religious views undoubtedly causes a lot of problems in the world. But what do you do if you're dating someone who is from a different faith or has no faith at all? This can make a relationship impossible if you're expected to date within your faith. But interfaith relationships can work perfectly if you respect each other's different views. Here are some ways to make a relationship work if you have different religious views …

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1. Respect

If you're in a relationship with someone of different religious views to your own, always respect their faith, even if you don't agree with it. Even if you think that yours are the correct views, they have different opinions. Each of you needs to respect and acknowledge that the other has the right to their views.

2. Don't Try to Convert Them

Your faith (or lack of) is obviously important to you. But however much you wish that your partner would share your views, you shouldn't try to convert them to your religion. They may decide to do so, but it has to be in their own good time and their own decision. Equally, if you are an atheist you shouldn't denigrate your partner's beliefs - if you're that against religion, you shouldn't be with someone who has a faith.

3. Children

If you decide to have children in an interfaith relationship, you will need to discuss how you want them to be brought up. Will they be raised in one religion, or learn about both and decide when they're older? Again, it is important that they are brought up seeing that both parents have respect for the other's faith.

4. Discuss

Since faith can have a major impact on a relationship, it's essential to the health of the relationship to talk about the issues involved. Don't ignore them and hope it will all resolve itself. Talk about how your families react, where you would get married, and how you will raise your children.

If you're looking to engage your partner in intriguing conversations, why not try some hypothetical questions for couples? These fun queries will not only keep the conversation lively but also stimulate deep thoughts and potentially reveal insights about each other's personality and thought processes.

5. Open Mind

Always keep an open mind about your partner's religion or atheism, even if you don't understand why they feel the way they do. If you have a strong faith, or no interest in religion at all, it can be perplexing or upsetting that your partner feels so differently. But accept that they have the right to their opinions, and that nobody is 'right' or 'wrong.'

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6. Learn

Try to learn something about your partner's faith or lack of. That doesn't mean you have to change your views, just that you should try to see things from a different perspective. It will also be interesting to learn about a different faith; every religion (and atheism) has its merits, but should also be open to questioning.

7. Support Your Partner

Finally, support your partner and their right to hold different views. It can be very challenging if your family dislikes you dating outside their faith, but if you want the relationship to last you will need to defend your partner. If they face hostility, and you don't speak out, it will undermine the relationship.

Dating outside your faith is a challenge, but can also enrich your life. More interfaith relationships could actually be a very positive thing - we shouldn't forget that we're all human! Have you been in an interfaith relationship, and what were the challenges?

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I was in the relationship like this. He was an atheist but intended with buddhism and i was a christian. In the beginning it was not a problem. When i visited him, i joined the church alone but he took me and picked me up. When he visited me, he joined me to church and deep in my heart i felt so happy and i realized that was i wanted. Close to our wedding he told me if he knew i wanted a man who has same faith with me and he asked if we had children and he didn't want them to go to church with me, could i accept that? Frankly it was really broke my heart because i thought it was depend on them not him and as their mother i wanted to introduce them with christianty. I had responsibility for that. Finally we broke up and i felt it was the best for us. I did love him but i didn't want to sacrifice my children's life.

My boyfriend is a Muslim and am a Christian we respect each other's religions and have no problems between the two of us regarding that issue it's just his family they want him to get married to a Muslim

I'm Catholic by birth and my boyfriend is a Muslim. We sometimes talked about out faith not to convert each other but to share our spiritual side. We respect each other's faith and for now we don't have any issues with it.

My boyfriend and I were basically perfect for each other except I was a Christian and he was an atheist. In the beginning he was open to my faith and came along to church. Moving along he became quite hateful towards my God because I put Him first in my leg and my boyfriend wanted to be out first. So basically I was left to choose between the love of my life or the creator of my life. You can probably guess which one I chose :/

I came because I have this issue. Grew up as a Christian, but recently decided to become Spiritual and not religious. My Christian girlfriend of 3 years doesn't like it and wants me to go back to Christianity. I really love her but, I don't

I needed this!!

I don't believe I should force people to believe what I believe.

I came here because i love someone who's differend relligion. I don't know if my family would agree it but i don't really care. She is muslim, and im christian. I do respect her views, but i don't know if she does. She loves me too, but i think that, that can make a big inpact in our relation ship