Courting vs. dating

[CHELZ1995]

With regard to nearly all of the comments posted before me, I politely disagree. Courting is not "an old person word for dating." In fact, courting and dating are nearly opposites in their values and goals. I am in a courting relationship and here is what we truly believe. Courting should be chosen by two Christian young people who want to pursue a close friendship in order to determine if the other person is who they are supposed to marry. In a courtship, the couple spends a lot of time with the other person's family and friends and watch how each other interacts with people around them. The couple does not normally go on unchaperoned dates because this takes away the safety net of accountability on which courting is based. On the other hand, dating is just a "new-fangled" idea that young people use to have as much fun as they can with minimal commitment and short-term thinking. I hope that this makes sense and if you have any questions I would love to answer them!

 

[LinkH]

One definition I've heard of involves the father of the girl being very much involved. He gives permission for the man to court his daughter. In the old days, courtship often took place at the father's home, where the young woman lived. The couple would sit in a certain room or on the porch and talk. A woman might have more than one suitor, or so I've read.

The goal is to find a marriage partner, not to find a 'boyfriend' or 'girlfriend' to satisfy emotional needs that should be met by a spouse or to fornicate with.

 

[LinkH]

Ahhh, gotcha gotcha gotcha. Yeah, I've heard the "no praying together before marriage" from a friend and I went ballistic.

What's the rationale behind not praying together before marriage?

I can see a restriction on certain types of 'laying on of hands' but not prayer.

 

[Inkachu]

Since there's no set-in-stone definitions for these two terms (courting vs dating), you're going to get a slew of varied answers when you ask this question. In the end, you're going to have to define them for yourself, based on what you believe and what you've heard and learned.

For me, personally, the difference is mainly intention. Someone who courts intends to pursue marriage. Someone who dates intends to have fun and nothing more.

 

[OGM]

I know many people that married after first dating.