Torn

[robbie]

Hi I'm a student at LSU just ready to get the spring semester underway (classes start Monday). I met my girlfriend of (almost) five months this past summer right before school. I grew up in a Southern Baptist church and she did too but a few years ago her family began attending a non-denom church. I made sure to find out that she was a Christian and that type of thing before we started dating and so far everything has been great. I'm not from Baton Rouge and she lives here with her family still so I've just been attending church with her (Healing Place Church in Baton Rouge).

Right before the fall semester ended, we had to schedule classes. My girlfriend was helping me out and I needed a social sciences elective so she suggested I take anthropology with her. I guess I got anthropology mixed up with archaeology until the other day I realized I had no idea what anthropology was.

So yesterday I was over at her house and we got on the subject and I asked her what anthropology is. She told me: evolution. Specifically of monkeys and all that. I asked her what she believed about evolution/creation and she said "It's debatable. I believe in fact. And if there's fact to back something up, I believe it." I asked if she believes what the Bible says and she said Yes. I mentioned wanting to maybe switch to another class and she said something about having an open mind and learning about what others believe.

I figure it's probably best I switch out of the class. I don't see any sense in me sitting in a class three times a week being forced to question my faith. That's not a problem. The problem is what about my girlfriend? It bothers me that she believes that. These matters of faith are very important to me and we discussed that before we even started dating. I know for sure she's a Christian. And I know without a doubt this girl wouldn't be in my life if it wasn't God's plan. I love her very much.

But I just don't know what to do in this situation. If I switch out of the class, I feel better but it'll still be eating me up inside that my girlfriend and I don't see eye-to-eye on this matter of faith. I can't change her mind but I need to ease mine. If I don't switch out, I'm miserable every class and learning about something I just don't have any interest in.

I've prayed about it and I hope someone here can help, too. God bless.

-Robbie

 

[lamplighter]

hey

hey i'm a newbie here...(edited by LLJ) is that a problem? whew... (no offense meant)...

in my opinion, that's not a biggie, just be open-minded, like what your girlfriend has told you. Faith is something that is within you and if you have it there's no reason to be afraid of. Evolution, questioning your faith..etc. might just help you to understand more about your Faith and might even deepen your "Faith"...you've known your girlfriend for a pretty long time, why don't you talk to her? If you really care about her, talk to her and i'm a sure a good conversation is a solution. Don't hesitate to talk to her about this kind of topic.
Good luck!

 

[robbie]

Okay I spoke to my girlfriend again. Somehow it came up in the conversation that I didn't think I was going to switch the class. She said, "If you want to, go ahead. I'm not going to think you're close minded." Then I tried asking her about the evolution/creation thing and I said to her straight up, "We don't see eye to eye on this do we?" All she could say was she doesn't know.

And she brought up how there are Christians who believe evolution, but I said how I think it's kind of hypocritical to say you believe what the Bible says and believe something that sort of contradicts the Bible. She made it seem like she might not even believe the Bible is entirely true.

So the issue for me isn't so much this class. I can take the class and probably learn something, although I doubt I'll give it much thought. Now I'm just very bothered that this girl, who I know is a Christian, might not be on the same page as me as far as some issues of faith go.

I'm so bent up about this because in order for she and I to have a healthy relationship, we need God, but how can we fellowship as Christians when we might not even believe the same thing. I thought we did...