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Expert: Le Anne Clausen - 3/28/2008


Question
I have a question out of curiosity.  Would it be acceptable for a Muslim man to marry a Christian woman?  I have had a former teacher who was Muslim marry a Christian man and they had a happy marriage (she passed away a few years ago..).  What differences/similarities would they have?  Do many Muslims accept interfaith marriages?  Thanks for the help. I'm just curious. :)

Answer
Greetings Cely, and thanks for your question.  Yes, it is actually reasonably common and accepted for a Muslim man to marry a woman of another faith, particularly Christian.  It would be less acceptable for a Muslim woman to marry a man of a different faith, although I find this to be true of many religions when presented with the possibility of 'losing' one of their women.  (Christianity too).  I've seen many happy marriages come out of this pairing, and also a few less happy ones.  The key to a good one is usually good communication and respect of each partner towards the others' background and beliefs.  Some of the issues to work out are how to raise the children (each tradition can insist on rearing the children their way; usually it's good to offer them both).  The celebration of Easter is also sometimes more problematic than Christmas--Muslims revere Jesus as a prophet, but not as a divine being.  Making sure that each partner respects and has a good relationship with the other's family, and takes the time on their own to learn about the other's religious tradition is pretty important too.

Hope this helps!  Please let me know if you have further questions I can be of help with.

peace,

Le Anne

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Le Anne Clausen

Expertise

I can answer questions on Arab culture, including differences in cultures among Arab countries and sub-groups. I can also answer questions on Christian-Muslim relations, interfaith issues in general, and human rights and peacemaking issues in the Middle East.

Experience

I was a human rights worker for four years in the Middle East, and have spent time in Palestine, Israel, Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, Lebanon, and Jordan. I speak intermediate Arabic; some Hebrew; and am starting Persian (Farsi, Dari). I have led a half-dozen educational delegations to the area for North American groups; and I have led trainings for nearly a thousand international human rights volunteers coming into the area over my years there. I am now working to launch an interfaith peace-teams based human rights organization, hopefully in the next two years. I am also currently editing the manuscript for my first book, a firsthand account of my time in the Middle East

Publications
"Be the Healers," (next steps after Abu Ghraib) The Lutheran magazine, July 2004. www.christian-muslim.net www.seminaryaction.org www.young-activist.blogspot.com Multiple press releases which I wrote from the field, as well as media interviews/articles about my work are also available via Google search.

Education/Credentials
I have an MA in Christian-Muslim relations; and I am now continuing my studies at Chicago Theological Seminary (www.ctschicago.edu). I also have a BA in Religion concentrating in global service, from Wartburg College, (www.wartburg.edu).

Awards and Honors
I received the Dell Award for Peace and Justice from Wartburg College. I have spoken and led workshops and trainings at over one hundred church congregations, colleges, schools, organizations

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