Tuesday, 27 July 2010
Chelsea Clinton (Methodist) to marry Marc Mezvinsky (Jewish)
I was absolutely gobsmacked to hear about this item on CBS. I just could not imagine such a piece appearing on Bitish television. Is that because we don't take faith seriously or is it because we are now far more liberal and laid back about this sort of thing? Controversy about mixed faith marriages seems to be something from ancient history, I remember people being very wound up about it in the 1960s in places such as Glasgow and Northern Ireland but have heard nothing in recent years. Which does remind me that I don't think I could have married anyone but an Evangelical Methodist. No one else would understand why I put so much effort into some issues........
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Which does remind me that I don't think I could have married anyone but an Evangelical Methodist.
This just illustrates how far apart we are. Antisemitic me would have been happy to marry a Jewish man if I'd fallen in love with him although I could not have converted. I know from both male and female friends and relatives in both Britain and the US who have converted to Judaism that this is not always welcomed by everyone in either faith community; it can be a very complicated situation.
No one else would understand why I put so much effort into some issues........
You're right. Because I wonder how you can insist that Jewish people need to be converted to Christianity and at the same time insist that those who disagree with you on other issues are Antisemitic. (Although I do intellectually understand the conservative evangelical view, I also know that there are Jewish people who view it as "Antisemitic" as well.)
Why all of this focus on a Protestant-Jewish marriage as if it were some unusual event? My family has been religiously intermarrying since the 1950s and religious intermarriage in the U.S. is quite common. What is more important is that, by all accounts, Ms. Clinton and Mr. Mezvinsky are very devoted to each other, very compatible, and Pres. Clinton is said to adore his prospective son-in-law. That's a far better situation than having a couple of the same religion who don't have these things going for them. A difference in religion is only one factor in a marriage. Couples commonly have major disagreements over money, sex, politics, etc. I am certain that two such intelligent people as this young couple will figure out how to address the religious issue. I am certain that they have discussed it. In any event, it's a private matter. Wish them well, and leave them alone!
Thanks Pam, your comments are always interesting and challeging.
Ellen I agree very much with your final point: these two young people should be left to get on with it - that is why I was so surprised that the media had picked it up as an isssue. God bless them both.
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