Thread: Converting to Islam

Hello everyone!

My boyfriend and I have decided to marry!!!! He is from Java but we both decided to get married in Bali, as that is where we plan to live for 6 months of the year.

He is Muslim and I am Buddhist. I know I must convert on paper for the marriage certificate I am having a difficult time with it. I did not think I would as much as I am. His family is coming from Java to witness. We have discussed many hours about how it is a formality and I will remain my own religion afterwords. We do have open conversations and GREAT communication about all religions, it seems so simple and so complexed at the same time. I have done loads of research as I do with anything I am doing... Just wanted to hear anyones experiences... It is always helpful to get other perspectives!

Is there any way of getting around the converting bit?

Any insight would be helpful...

Thank you, :D

CONGRATULATIONS! Like I did write on your other post that you did sound happy, so I wasn't that wrong after all, huh?

And as for religions, I for one come from a family who's multi-religions. I have already written on one of the posts here that my father was Bahai; mother Muslim; one brother Muslim; 4 brothers, one sister and myself are Protestants.
My husband is Catholic, and I went to Catholic school and Sundays school as a child.
A friend of mine here who is a Javanese Muslim (I'm afraid I can't elaborate on this too much as otherwise some might know who I am) but let's say she comes from an excellent family who's married to Italian who's a Catholic and comes from an excellent family too and whose daughter is Catholic.
All I can tell you is "respect" towards each other's religion and that's all there is to it. Simple, no fuss and works wonderfully.

Hello Anshu

I believe in order to get married in Bali that both partners need to be the same religion and that this is what you are referring to. You have said that "I know I must convert on paper for the marriage" and "it is a formality". The other option would be for your prospective spouse to convert to Buddism for the purposes of the marriage. Compromise on both sides is always healthy in any relationship so I am sure these discussions will help you both in understanding each other more before you take the big step into marriage.

Hopefully you will be able to work together to reach a decision which makes both of you happy.

I don’t know of any away around that formality that requires both spouses to be of the same religion. The last Christian/Muslim wedding we attended, the conversion to Islam was conducted just prior to the wedding itself, and if one didn’t understand one could easily have thought that process was just a part of the wedding ceremony itself. Good luck to you both!

Originally Posted by mimpimanis

Hi Anshu

You might like to join OIM (Our Indonesian Men) a forum for women married to or in relationships with Indonesian men. The topic of conversion is one that frequently comes up there.

http://groups.msn.com/ourindonesianmen

I have been trying to join this organisation for months but when I click on the link I have a blank pages. Any help would be appreciated.

I am marrying in March and will convert to Muslim and I have been told that my finance will take me to hisMosque and I have to repeat what the Imam says.

Thank you Mimpi Manis... Great name!

I tried as well to get into the page and it is blank....Any other ways in... :D

Thank you!

Tina where is your wedding going to be?

Anshu

I am getting married in Makassar in a tradionanl Buginese wedding. :D