For many people in today’s society, dating is seen as an enjoyable activity within itself, often with no aims further than to have fun. Many people date a variety of people with no real plans for the future, then, when they get to a certain age where they feel they should settle down, they panic they will be left behind their friends, and in some cases end up marrying whoever they are dating at the time, rather than being on a search for a real partner.

Many Christians have this same outlook as other in society, and may even use a variety of Christian dating websites and other Christian dating services to find people. Profiles are viewed, whoever is geographically close and physically attractive is contacted, and with any luck a relationship begins with nothing really in common beyond physical attraction and the fact both people are Christians – a good start but not basis for a solid relationship.

For Christians, there is also the added pressure of (for many) wanting to remain pure by restraining from sex until marriage. This is a worthy ideal and one we believe should be withheld, however for some it causes others to make further poor choices in the Christian dating they undertake. Namely, rather than thinking marriage is something they will worry about later, they are so keen to have sex they make a poor choice in who they marry and jump into a marriage relationship with the first person they are dating who will agree (often for the same reason!).

So as we have seen, in the cases of both Christian dating and dating in general, many people approach marriage at the wrong time to the wrong person for the wrong reasons – either marrying whoever they are dating at the time once they get to an age where they feel they should settle down, or they marry the first Christian they are dating because of a desire to remain pure combined with a desire for a sexual relationship. This often leads to marriage failure, which has become an equally severe epidemic among both Christians and the general population.

So, what is the best way for someone who is out there on the dating scene to find a suitable marriage partner? The answer we believe is to find a person you are in harmony with. Our own experience has found (for Christians dating as well as anyone in society) that to be in harmony two people must have similar interests, life goals, life outlook, priorities etc, as well as dreams they can achieve together. While much of this similarity will develop through love in the course of a relationship, if the degree of similarity in these areas is too low, the marriage relationship is far less likely to succeed. It is often said that couples should be compatible. We think compatibility helps couples to cope, but similarity leads to a much closer relationship.

A formal study conducted by the University of Iowa, USA, with results published in the February 2005 issue of the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology backs up this theory, with results indicating that people with similar personalities to their spouses have the happiest marriages.

There are many ways for Christians who are dating to find people, however the danger with most is that tests of similarity (of goals, outlook, personality etc) are usually not even considered. Given the importance of this in developing a successful relationship, it is vitally important that these factors be considered when choosing who to date, with websites offering a matching service that is based on these similarity / harmony tests more likely to help you find a suitable marriage partner.

When people go looking for those that they are truly compatible with, they seek out those with the same interests. In some cases, those common interests could be as basic as simple hobbies.

Then, there are those that wish to date someone that shares their lifestyle and values. For many who are deeply devote in their Christian beliefs, the best Christian dating advice one can put forth is the notion that partners are best sought on the internet.

Some may wonder what the internet has to offer that other traditional mode of meeting people does not. The answer to this is that online dating allows people to find their mates in a manner that makes it much easier to assess compatibility.

When you meet a person in passing at a public event, you may end up meeting someone that thoroughly shares your beliefs and values. However, you really cannot get a gauge of this until you learn more about the person. That can take time and in some instances it is worth it. Then, there will be those instances where it turns to not be worth it. How so?

Basically, you end up dating someone that just doesn’t share your religious convictions in as strong a manner as you do. Again, some of the best Christian dating advice that can be offered is to search for a partner through online dating sites that cater to religious members.

Are these sites difficult to find? No, they are not. In fact, these types of dating services are becoming wildly popular. So popular have they become they are competing fiercely for members. This has opened the door to many deals on affiliate with these dating sites.

So what is the best Christian dating advice one could offer? How about finding an excellent dating site that is offering low membership fees?

In all seriousness, these dating sites do deliver a tremendous value because they cut down on meeting people that you may lack compatibility with. When you lack compatibility with someone you are dating, you will not be dating the person for very long.

That means you are back at square one and no one likes to play that merry go round type of dating game. Rather than do that it would be a much wiser option to stick with an online dating service that allows you to meet those that you have the most in common with. Consider this the most important Christian dating advice available: by eliminating those you have the least in common with the greater your chances of dating success will be with those you do go out with.

Online Christian dating services are popular for a reason: they work. That is why they remain highly recommended to those wishing to discover that special someone who shares their lifestyle.

Since many (if not most) singles still plan to enter marriage, they are predisposed to date or go out with people of the same interests, ideas, nationality, affiliations and most especially, religion. Thus, singles are often described by the group or category they belong to such as “Christian singles,” “American singles,” “single parents,” “Jewish singles,” and “LDS Singles.”

Unquestionably, sharing the same faith is very crucial to a successful relationship; moreover, to a successful marriage. Thus, most Christian singles prefer to settle down with fellow Christians.

In United States, Christian singles occupy more than eighty percent of the total number of American singles, based on a 2000 U.S. Census reports. The Christian singles category is further broken down into Catholics (24.5 %), Protestants (52.17 %), Mormons (1.80 %) and Other Christians (4.13%).

With a large portion of the entire American population occupied by single men and women, it is logical to infer that Christian singles occupies a large portion of the American population. This is substantiated by the multifarious sites that provide dating services for a large number of Christian singles.

Finding a Christian partner through these sites, however, has some drawbacks.

Sites that provide dating services for Christian singles, although managed by Christians, are business-like in nature. More often, they overlook the major aspect of dating for Christian singles, which is faith.

It is interesting to note that a majority of Christian singles are significantly interested with finding a “born again or saved” mate and a true Christian mate with a solid understanding of God’s words rather than a mere date. Finding such s partner entails more than just matching of qualifications, interests and other things most online dating services for Christian singles provide.

If you cannot find yet the right partner with whom you can share a Christ-centered marriage, do not worry. Life of a single Christian after all, should not be distinguished by an intense longing to find a mate but rather by happiness and contentment in living a Christian life.

As there is considerable demand for Christian minded people to find a partner, there has been an increase in the number of Christian dating sites that have emerged on the Internet.

There are generally strict guidelines before people can become members of Christian dating sites and for this reason the sites tend to have a lower membership count than many of the general dating sites. The upside of this however is the fact that the clientele is more targeted so you can be assured that you will only be looking in a market where you are sure that the people online will have the background that you are interested in.

There are free and paid Christian dating sites with the free sites earning their income from the advertising that is displayed on the site.

These sites allow you to post a picture of yourself and your profile giving other members the chance to see what your interests are.

When a suitable candidate is found the members can make contact with one another and determine if they would like to interact further after corresponding online.

This offers a safe environment and also makes it a lot easier for those people who are too shy to make contact with others in offline dating situations, such as parties, clubs and so on.

Many Christian dating sites also arrange events where people can meet one another in a safe environment, such as dances, dinners and in some instances holidays or weekend travel.

Christian dating sites cater for all age groups and personal situations, from young singles to elders and those who have lost their partners through bereavement or divorce.

If Christianity is an important aspect of your lifestyle then Christian dating sites might be just what you are looking for.