Can religion rescue my love life?
Religion and love at opposite extremes can either be synergistic or antagonistic. There are several major world religions, Christianity, Islam (Sufism), Judaism, and more. Often, our religion serves as our source of Truth. We let scriptures, tenants and traditions guide our relationships. It is common to use scriptures and ancient quotes to drive a point home (i.e., adultery is wrong, wives should submit, God’s love is superior, etc.). However, I believe that a healthy love life isn’t necessarily tied to a particular belief or creed. No matter what your religion, you’ll find that certain principles of love have a universal application, no matter your religion.
Religion has the power to help or hurt
Your religious affiliation isn’t necessarily an obstacle to a fulfilling love life, however. In fact, it may have afforded you the familiarity with what it means to reflect, meditate, and listen for the purpose of learning a deeper truth about yourself and your partner. Note though, that religion can sometimes be a deterrent to exploring the darker facets of our relationships. Using Holy scriptures and ancient texts as excuses for our negative relationship habits can be limiting and destructive.
For those who’ve spent their lives culturally steeped in a religion, you may be wondering why that’s not enough to fix your relationship problems.
Why can’t I pray harder to get my relationship to a happy place?
Can’t God just send me the perfect mate?
Isn’t it possible to meditate my way to a solution?
Stop using religion as a relationship crutch
I’m not claiming that prayer, meditation, and divine intervention don’t have their place in the grand scheme of our lives. But often, the practice of religion causes us to repeat the same thought patterns and traditions. This can blind us to the personal power we each hold to transform our relationships. When exploring the bi-directional relationship of religion and love, it’s important to take ownership of where we’ve blamed religion for our dysfunction.
How has religion shaped your relationships, for better or worse?
Read more about love and spirituality!
LoveLifeLinks.com believes that looking at your relationship outside of a religious lens can provide a more balanced view of your love life.
