Building a strong emotional bond outside of religion is important. A Christian and a non - Christian can have a successful marriage if they focus on their shared hobbies, dreams, and goals. They can travel together, pursue a career together, or build a home together. When they have these non - religious aspects to hold on to, the religious differences become less of a hurdle. They also need to be patient with each other. The non - Christian may need time to understand some of the Christian's practices and the Christian should be patient in explaining and not be pushy.
A big factor is love and acceptance. If a Christian truly loves a non - Christian and accepts them as they are, and vice versa, it can work. For instance, they should not try to convert each other forcefully. They need to respect each other's freedom of belief.
Communication is crucial. They should talk openly about their beliefs, what they expect from the marriage, and how they plan to handle religious differences. For example, they can decide how to celebrate holidays. The Christian might celebrate Christmas in a religious way, while the non - Christian can still participate in the festive part. Also, they need to find common values like loyalty, friendship, and a desire to build a good life together. This shared foundation can help them overcome potential differences in religious views.