christians and ismailis?

vwj1985 · Post by **vwj1985** » Mon Feb 06, 2006 2:13 am

I am a white Christian (although not very dogmatic). I have met and become very close to an Ismaili woman my age of Pakistani descent. I respect her very much, and her faith as well. I do not want to hinder her faith in any way in regards to our relationship. I admit that I possess very little information regarding the faith, but I would like to learn more. A problem I have is that she is unwilling to tell her family about me. She says that our relationship would not be understood or approved of by her family. I can understand the difficulties inherent in encountering different religious beliefs, but my strict Christian parents have been understanding. Any help regarding this issue would be greatly appreciated. I apologise for having unwittingly offending anyone or breaking any rules of the forum in my short time here.

yaali101 · Post by **yaali101** » Mon Feb 06, 2006 10:22 am

I do not think you will offend anyone by asking such questions, as you will find many people to be understanding on these issues. The only objection I think her parents might have is on culural issues. Also, maybe, on the matter of religion too. It is my conviction that a relationship that is founded on two, in some cases conflicting, views is bound to have it's hardships. I think it is this issue that her parents might have trouble with. In the end, if the relationship does not lead to any restrictions on you partners beliefs than I do not see an issue. However, I am sure that others might disagree with me.

kmaherali · Post by **kmaherali** » Mon Feb 06, 2006 10:50 am

I think the parents would be concerned about the long term implications of the relationship. What if this ends up in a marriage? How will the children be raised? These and other issues are discussed in this forum under: Current Issues --> Marriages.

nashvelshi · Post by **nashvelshi** » Mon Feb 06, 2006 11:20 am

I think that it should be easier that she is an Ismaili and not a more orthodox muslim because Ismailism is the closest, I think, that one can come to a "world" religion. If her Ismaili parents and your Christian parents can be made to understand that Christianity is viewed as being part of the continuum of religious traditions that have culminated in the Ismaili vision of religions in general and Islam in particular, it might be possible to convince them intellectually that a relationship could work. Another aspect of these two religions are their gnostic traditions, where much in common can be found. Henry Corbin's book "Cyclical time and Ismailian Gnosis" talks a lot about the Celestial Mary(Mariam), the Celstial Fatima, the Celestial Jesus and the Celestial Imams as reflecting the unchanging inner dimension of these religions as opposed to the changing external scriptures in the sweep of history. 

nashvelshi · Post by **nashvelshi** » Mon Feb 06, 2006 11:26 am

Why does my computer include all the superfluous gobbledygook when I post on the site?!!<BR>Somebody, please help me.

nashvelshi · Post by **nashvelshi** » Mon Feb 06, 2006 2:27 pm

This is just to let you know that I have, with the permission of the Administrator of this website, changed my username from NashVelshi to easynash.