Hello I am new here

[SoSarkissian]

my point of view

the most important base for any family is having love + 1 relgion.

Once you have more than that in the same house, children will not be raised correctly. No matter how well you do, it will simply not work out.

2 different races, 2 different cultures, ...etc all will work out (no problems) as long as they have love as a base for their relationship + 1 religion to live by its commandments ...

[Helen]

And luckily my Non Armenian husband is Apostolic , I thought only we and some Ethiopians r Apostolic, but turnes out...not only) and we got married in Yerevan, in Surb Hovhannes...

[1.5 million]

Armine - my scincere adivice to you - and I do mean what I say - and you are free to take it as you will - but you and your boyfriend are both much better off giving up (any and all) religion entirely. You can attend functions and go through the motions (I urge these to be minimal however - only for the cultural and social value) - but if you take it seriously it will only ruin your life. You have to live for yourself and not for the expectations of others. And you have to be firm in your commitment to this (thus make it known to your families that you are making up your own mind about these very personal things and not just taking the direction of others) - otherwise you invite all sorts of problems for yourself. I urge you and your boyfriend to grow together in your understanding and appreciation of the world and of each other and to do so without the fetters of imposed false beliefs and rediculous limitations based on superstision, ignorance and at best dictates that may have once been useful but are no longer anymore needed). I very scincerely mean for this advice to be a positive thing for you and also just as scincerely believe that it is just about the very best thing you two can do for yourselves. I wish you well regardless and I think both you and your boyfriend are very special people.

[phantom]

Armine - my scincere adivice to you - and I do mean what I say - and you are free to take it as you will - but you and your boyfriend are both much better off giving up (any and all) religion entirely. You can attend functions and go through the motions (I urge these to be minimal however - only for the cultural and social value) - but if you take it seriously it will only ruin your life. You have to live for yourself and not for the expectations of others. And you have to be firm in your commitment to this (thus make it known to your families that you are making up your own mind about these very personal things and not just taking the direction of others) - otherwise you invite all sorts of problems for yourself. I urge you and your boyfriend to grow together in your understanding and appreciation of the world and of each other and to do so without the fetters of imposed false beliefs and rediculous limitations based on superstision, ignorance and at best dictates that may have once been useful but are no longer anymore needed). I very scincerely mean for this advice to be a positive thing for you and also just as scincerely believe that it is just about the very best thing you two can do for yourselves. I wish you well regardless and I think both you and your boyfriend are very special people.

But 1.5, if an Armenian gives up their religion, they are in essence giving up being Armenian. Christianity is integral with being Armenian. It is one of the 3 things distinguishing us from others: Language; Alphabet; Christianity. Living in Europe or the West, you will eventually lose the first 2, and once you lose the last one, the Armenian branch dies, and another Armenian family is lost.

My wife is an athiest, but she does not interfere with the religious education and indoctrination of our children. When they are old enough and they ask her about her beliefs, she will tell them the truth of what she believes. By then they will already be infused with what I want them to learn about our culture and religion. They don't need to be extremely religious, but they need to know about our religion and our cultural and religious beliefs and values. If they decide to abandon those beliefs and values, that means that I did not do my job very well.

[1.5 million]

But 1.5, if an Armenian gives up their religion, they are in essence giving up being Armenian. Christianity is integral with being Armenian. It is one of the 3 things distinguishing us from others: Language; Alphabet; Christianity. Living in Europe or the West, you will eventually lose the first 2, and once you lose the last one, the Armenian branch dies, and another Armenian family is lost.

My wife is an athiest, but she does not interfere with the religious education and indoctrination of our children. When they are old enough and they ask her about her beliefs, she will tell them the truth of what she believes. By then they will already be infused with what I want them to learn about our culture and religion. They don't need to be extremely religious, but they need to know about our religion and our cultural and religious beliefs and values. If they decide to abandon those beliefs and values, that means that I did not do my job very well.

I fully understand what you are saying - but I cannot in good conscience advocate the perpetuation of dangerous untruths that directly contribute to personal psycological harm of individuals as well as being a highly detrimental and potentially dangerous force to society and humanity as a whole. While our cultural traditions have value I believe it is entirely possible to preserve most of them without the false and dangerous overlay of religious belief. We can never reclaim the past. We must more forward and live for the future. Part of this process wil be the necesity of dropping harmful misconceptions and doctrines that are responsible for ignorance and hatred among peoples. (all) Religion is first and formost in this category. Additionally my comments were specific to Armine's situation. There is practically a no win situation unless the involved parties (her and her boyfriend) make a clean break with the past (if indeed they see themselves having a future together). Otherwise the guilt and dishonesties that religion will force upon them will only make them miserable and will critically endanger what otherwise might be something special and beautiful.

[Gavur]

What is the saying?
Woman is the neck and Man's the head?
she can change any direction She wants to!
Its really up to her how she want's to raise her future children.
But if its gonna be him I would definitly caution her against any plans of settling in Turkey with a Turkish husband.

[Jade]

I am back everyone...I've been very busy with schoolwork lately but now that the easter vacation is approaching, all the work has decreased a bit...Today at our school we were shown a video about AIDS in Tanzania (which made me cry much to my friends horror) and my International side is boiling...Let's do a favour to each other today and embrace each other regardless of our differences...I see the world a bit like a puzzle, like the pieces of a puzzle, every culture land, religion etc are different sized, different shaped, but remember that all these pieces in the end make up a beautiful picture and even one piece that is not put back will be missed...However small. Without even a single piece, the picture is not complete. I do sound corny/cheesy I admit. But after seeing those African people suffer, and people from different countries coming over to help them, learn their languages etc. regardless of the fact that they are not even from the same religion or nation etc. I am more aware of how wonderful/magical it is to feel compassion, empathy and most importantly love.

[Helen]

Jade, beautiful message...and beautiful girl in ur profile, is it you?

[Joseph]

I am back everyone...I've been very busy with schoolwork lately but now that the easter vacation is approaching, all the work has decreased a bit...Today at our school we were shown a video about AIDS in Tanzania (which made me cry much to my friends horror) and my International side is boiling...Let's do a favour to each other today and embrace each other regardless of our differences...I see the world a bit like a puzzle, like the pieces of a puzzle, every culture land, religion etc are different sized, different shaped, but remember that all these pieces in the end make up a beautiful picture and even one piece that is not put back will be missed...However small. Without even a single piece, the picture is not complete. I do sound corny/cheesy I admit. But after seeing those African people suffer, and people from different countries coming over to help them, learn their languages etc. regardless of the fact that they are not even from the same religion or nation etc. I am more aware of how wonderful/magical it is to feel compassion, empathy and most importantly love.

Jade, good to have you back.

[Jade]

Jade, beautiful message...and beautiful girl in ur profile, is it you?

yes it is me actually I was fooling around yesterday while doing my homework didn't realize it was still up there