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Are you allowing your partner to openly express their beliefs?
By Carlie Fox — Written on Oct 11, 2019
Religion is a sacred, powerful tool. Many people lean on their spiritual beliefs and faith to get through hard times.
There are many different types of religions out there: Islam, Judaism, and Catholic, and the largest, Christianity are just a few.
Many religions are practiced within shared communities across the globe, and people of one faith sometimes embrace the holiday spirit of another throughout the year.
But what is 'religion' exactly? The term 'religion' can be summed up as a set of beliefs that include practices.
Theologically, religion has multiple attributes such as a sacred place, relics, sacred community or one particular person, a book used to teach the faith with a place of worship.
There are sacred practices and a shared language that focuses on enhancing depth within their beliefs.
In the United States, we have religious freedom. However, religion itself can also be taboo so it can feel like a person loses that right when coupled with a partner who doesn't see faith in the same way.
Not everyone agrees when it comes to God, creation, or if there's a heaven, hell or a soul. Religious beliefs are one of the most controversial topics two people can discuss a dinner table.
Your religion should be something you discuss openly with your partner – especially as the relationship develops and becomes more serious and long-term.
If your religion is something that is very special to you, it should be something that is respected by your significant other. This does not mean; however, that he has to agree or think the same way. This can be a deal-breaker in some relationships, but it doesn't have to be. It is all about communication and having an open mind.
Whether you are non-religious and your boyfriend is, there should be mutual respect for your individual beliefs. Once you start to develop strong feelings for your partner, religion should be a conversation you have with each other, at least once, before moving on to marriage.
If going to church together is a must, then vocalize that. If you are religious but don't really mind if he partakes in it our not, also vocalize that.
It can be a tricky and uncomfortable conversation to have – almost as uncomfortable than talking about politics. Treat the subject lightly, but never let a religious conversation waver from your views and personal beliefs.
Each zodiac sign has a rule book when it comes to how they handle spirituality and religion. Let this be a guide on how to go about connecting with your partner on the topic and insight into how he might feel during the process.
Here is how your loved one feels about religion, by zodiac sign.
ARIES (March 21 – April 19)
Aries, you are pretty neutral when it comes to your beliefs. You have no strong opinions, either way, so your partner never really has an issue when it comes to your religion. If your partner is an Aries, he admires that you never push people to accept your beliefs and that you are always up to hearing another side of a story.
Religion isn't a deal-breaker for you, as both of you have your doubts about the man upstairs. While you aren't sure of what to believe, you have an open mind when it comes to religion.
TAURUS (April 20 – May 20)
Taurus, you are a full-on religious fiend and do not like it when others doubt your faith. When you believe in something, you believe in it with your whole heart. If your partner is a Taurus, he or she admires this quality, but not when it comes to religion.
He feels he can't express his true feelings and beliefs without you starting an argument. Let your faith guide you in peace and tranquility, not anger. When your partner has doubts, listen to them or it may drive you apart.
Whether you are a true believer or a true atheist, your partner isn't sure where he falls. He feels you are smothering him with your faith, and you need to decide if that is a deal-breaker or not.
GEMINI (May 21 – June 20)
Gemini, your religious beliefs have only just started to emerge. You have recently gotten more in touch with your spiritual side and are in the process of learning about new religions.
If you're dating a Gemini, your partner is also enthusiastic when it comes to learning new things, so he is excited to take on this new journey with you. While he may not understand the ins and outs of religion and what it entails, he is willing to learn more with you.
Your boyfriend never had a religious upbringing, so he is happy to gain knowledge on the subject. Maybe a Sunday church service is in your future together?
CANCER (June 21 – July 22)
Cancer, you are very strict in your religious beliefs and put everything in God's hands. You are the type of person to pray for everyone and everything out of the kindness of your own heart.
Dating a Cancer? Your significant other admire this trait, but he also feels a bit trapped. He is religious (duh, or else you wouldn't be dating him) but he is not as open when it comes to spreading the word of God.
He isn't a huge fan of public protests and would rather go to a quiet service twice a week than a loud rally. You both juggle your religious beliefs in different ways and it is important to respect that and come together to worship in a way that suits you both.
LEO (July 23 – August 22)
Leo, your partner is one who must see the logic in religion. You have faith and let that guide you in your decisions, while your partner takes it with a grain of salt. Dating a Leo? He is more of the "seeing is believing" type and isn't sure how you can just have blind faith in everything.
You both are very driven individuals and like to believe your way is the best way, but maybe try to see where he is coming from. Logically, there is no one hundred percent accurate description of what happened during the Bible era, but you must explain to your partner that having faith is the only way to know for sure.
It may take him a while to come to those terms, so let him read up on his religion textbooks and watch his various documentaries.
VIRGO (August 23 – September 22)
Virgo, you aren't too religious. You have your few beliefs and stick to those, but you don't practice any rituals or go to church very often. Virgo personality types can be very religious and that makes talking about faith a bit tricky.
Since you have an understanding of religion and faith in God, he expects you to go to church with him and pray before every meal. You should be willing to meet him halfway, but if not then a conversation should be had. He is more of a Cancer when it comes to religion.
LIBRA (September 23 – October 22)
Libra, your religious beliefs come and go. Your partner is more stable in his beliefs and doesn't like it when you use religion as a prop. Dating a Libra? He feels religion should be respected and understood fully, so he doesn't appreciate it when you use it to your benefit.
To see your side of the story, you feel that religion is confusing and only partake in the activities and rituals and seem relevant to you. It is crucial to let him in and explain that you are unsure about where your beliefs fall on the religious scale. He is more private when it comes to his faith, so he will practice in private and hope that you do the same.
SCORPIO (October 23 – November 21)
Scorpio, nobody would know you are religious. You keep it very private and aren't super vocal about your faith. You don't mind when others participate in church services or rallies, but you prefer to pray before bed and speak to God on your own terms.
Dating a Scorpio? Your partner may not even know you practice religion, but he is similar in that he does not care what other people do. You both are perfect for each other because you never force your beliefs down any person's throat.
Both of your faiths are deep down in your hearts, and only ever come out to each other in times of need. He feels religion should be between the person who believes and God, and you feel exactly the same.
SAGITTARIUS (November 22 – December 21)
Sagittarius, you kind of have the Bible memorized. Nobody can argue with you about religion without you pulling out a verse or two from the New Testament. Dating a Sag? Your partner isn't so fond of this, as he likes a good debate here and there.
He doesn't like that you always have to be right and can't see the other side of religion. He practices but does not share the same religion as you. His faith is similar, but some of the key aspects differ.
As your relationship grows, you must hear his side of the story and learn more from him. You both can widen your religious beliefs and understandings if you hear each other out.
CAPRICORN (December 22 – January 19)
Capricorn, you kind of just go with the flow. You aren't too religious, but you are open to hearing about it. Dating a Capricorn? Your significant other is also not very religious, so you guys just move where any conversation takes you.
If you both are at a party and the dinner table discussion is religion, you guys sit, nod, and pull from what other people say. You just agree with everyone and neither of you likes to start an argument about faith. You both respect each other's opinions and hope that strangers do the same for you.
AQUARIUS (January 20 – February 18)
Aquarius, you are a non-believer. Similar to the partner of a Leo, you reach for facts and logic to understand the phenomenon that is God. Dating an Aquarius? Your significant other respects that you do not believe, but since he is a believer, wishes you would have more of an open mind.
He would love to pray with you when with things get rough, or at least try and get you to come to a Christian rock concert. He understands that your religious beliefs must come from your heart and grow naturally. He never wants to force anything on you, but he would like you to try to step out of your comfort zone a little more.
PISCES (February 19 – March 20)
Pisces, you are also not a hugely religious person. You have many doubts and also like to look for the facts and statistics. However, that doesn't mean you aren't open to being proven wrong.
Dating a Pisces? Your partner likes to challenge you and tries to get you to see his side. He likes to teach you about his faith – even though he isn't that religious himself. You both laugh about your differences and like that you can have different beliefs, but still respect each other's opinions.
You have found the right person to show you the religious ropes and he has found someone to challenge him on difficult topics.
Carlie Fox is a writer who covers astrology, pop culture, and relationship topics.