> If you mean the second ... well, I am (honestly) interested in your explanation.


I can't answer for Nyperold, but I would go with the second, more restrictive one. If marriage were just about two people, that would probably not be necessary, but marriage usually involves children.

Let's say a Baptist marries and Orthodox Presbyterian (this was the situation my fiance and I were [nearly] in for a while). Baptists believe that baptism is a sign of belief on that person's part; Presbyterians believe that baptism is the duty of the parents and doesn't necessarily mean the infant is or will be converted. It means something different. So, what will they do? Each feels very strongly about their position and can't, in good conscience, compromise. And this is only one kind of difference. How do you raise children? How do you teach them? In families where kids are taught both and left to choose, it often doesn't end well.

It's fine to be friends with people of other beliefs; in fact, it's probably a really good thing because it challenges me to think over what I believe and why I believe it and change my mind if I'm wrong. But marriage involves more than that, so I think it's important to have very similar beliefs.

ZwemGek