Religious Chat Rooms. Soulful Matches: Discovering Love in Religious Chat Rooms

     Are you devout in your religion and looking to meet like-minded people with the same principles and beliefs as you? Maybe you have made the choice to turn to a religion but do not know of anyone around you who shares your newfound belief system. Either way, our Religious chat rooms are for you. Here you can choose to chat with people who have the same religious beliefs as you to avoid the possible pressure that comes with explaining to someone new that you follow a religion they may or may not relate to or follow. It is now much easier to meet people with the same religious beliefs as you without leaving your own home.

It is possible that there are some of you reading this that do not fully understand what we mean by the term ‘chat rooms’. You need to think of chat rooms as the same as Facebook Messenger or WhatsApp. They act as a tool for immediate conversation online rather than face-to-face which means you can chat with people from all over the world at any time as long as you have a device that connects to the internet. When you are both online you type your message/question, they see it and respond and this pattern continues. It is written, real-time, live conversation! 

Here we will outline a little more about our religious chat rooms while giving you some tips and advice to make your use of these successful. If you read this and still require more information please do not hesitate to contact us!

Starting a Conversation in our Religious Chat Rooms

     It is very true that first impressions count for everything. It is said that it takes less than a second for a person to make a judgment about someone else. In the online world, it probably takes a little longer but your first message could make or break your chances of establishing a meaningful connection. Just because you are entering into our religious-based chat rooms does not mean your first message has to be religious-based. Starting with a simple “Hi, how are you?” or “Hello…” is not very creative and could cause the other person to leave the conversation before it begins! Here we will look at some ways you could start your conversation(s) with new people.

• You could be specific with your opening message. It is a good idea to mention their profile if you are going to be specific using phrases such as “I can see in your profile that you like…” or “In your profile you mention….could you tell me more about it?”. Showing that you have taken the time to read their profile demonstrates that you are genuinely interested in them and want to make a connection. If you have similar interests this is the time to mention them but do it in a fun, engaging, or creative manner.
• Would you rather questions are a fantastic, and often fun, way of starting a conversation? However, you must make sure you keep them clean and clear of offensive content. If you are in our religious chat rooms to find out more about a religion you could easily offend someone with the wrong comment. You could be serious with questions such as “Would you rather cure diseases or solve world hunger?” or you could be a bit more jovial by asking “Would you rather have pink hair or blue skin?”. You are very likely to get a response as these are either fun or thought-provoking. Just make sure that you listen carefully to their answer and respond accordingly. 
• Deep questioning is okay but you must tread carefully. You cannot ask “How/ when did you find your faith?”, at least not in the beginning. This is like asking someone why they are not married or what they earn in a year. You can, however, ask things like “What has been your greatest success in life so far?”. The other person can give as much or as little information as they like. DO NOT pressure them into more!
• Asking open-ended questions can also be a good idea. These allow the other person to give you as much or as little information as they wish while providing them with the opportunity to return the question. You could ask “How is your life going right now?” as your first message. They could answer by telling you everything about their life at this present time or just with a simple, one-sentence answer. Either way, you get a response and can start a conversation from here. 

These are just a couple of ideas for your first message. You could also use their profile picture(s) to inspire your first message. Whether you comment on their appearance (cleanly) or on what you see in the background. Making relevant comments like this also demonstrates that you have taken the time to find out more about them before talking with them. If you comment on the activity or background rather than on their appearance it shows you are not just focusing on how they look. While the aforementioned tips relate to your first message they are also apt for all messages. Here are a few more tips to consider when talking in our religious chat rooms.

• Be respectful at all times. Treat the other person in the same way you wish to be treated. Make sure you are polite, listen carefully and respond accordingly. Respect is the number one factor in achieving a meaningful connection in any of our chat rooms. 
• No rude jokes. We imagine that these are very rare among the many religious communities. Think carefully about the jokes you make so that you do not offend the other person. 
• You must keep the conversation interesting. If someone is bored they are likely to disconnect from the conversation. Make sure to ask insightful, open questions while listening and responding to their answers. You then need to demonstrate that you have listened by making relevant comments.
• Relevance is key! Try to avoid discussing the past or commenting on something completely irrelevant. They need to know that you are interested (and interesting!) and not clutching at straws of conversation!

These are just our thoughts and ideas but we strongly feel that if you follow these you will make strong, meaningful connections. 

Your Profile Picture Could be the Difference-maker

     Your profile picture will probably be the first thing the other people online will look at. They will possibly make the decision as to whether to chat with you based on your photo. By this, we do not mean that they will judge your physical appearance but more how you present yourself. Here are some of the do's and don’ts of profile photos. Let’s start with the things you should focus on!

• The first thing you should focus on is that your photos are of high quality and very clear. You also need to make sure that at least one photo is a full-length portrait of you, smiling. It must also be recent!! No photos of you from 10 years ago!
• Having a profile photo of you doing something you love is always a winner. They gave a fantastic insight into who you are as a person and what makes you tick. If you love going to the theatre, visiting village fetes, or watching sporting events then show this so that the other person sees what you like to do. They give your profile credibility and also provide potential topics of conversation. Someone may use your picture to inform their questioning. Just make sure your photo shows you doing something that you actually like to do, not just something you think looks good!
• Show your faith. Now, we do not mean that you need to be draped in the symbols of your particular religion but demonstrate your faith in other ways. You could possibly show yourself entering your particular religious building, reading a religious text, or taking part in a religious activity. This will not only demonstrate your faith but also provide potential questions or topics of conversation. 
• If you enjoy an active lifestyle then show this. Those using the religious chat rooms will not be enticed by pictures of beautiful bodies. They will be more interested in seeing you enjoy the sport you love, embarking on a hike in some beautiful mountains or surfing some big waves. These could also spark questions as if you show yourself at a football match they may ask you your favourite team etc. 
• Pictures with family, friends, and animals are always a good idea. They give your profile credibility while also inviting questions. They may also demonstrate your principles and ideals. Everyone loves animals so a photo of you with your faithful companion will show the other person your caring side but also which animals you appear to prefer. 

Just as with questions, there are some approaches to photography that definitely need to be avoided. Here are just a few of these and we are sure that most of our religious chat room users would not do these anyway!

• Selfies are the ‘in thing’ these days and are always growing in popularity. However, there can be some forms of selfies that are definitely inappropriate to use. If you show yourself doing something that your faith would predominantly frown upon you are likely to find our chat rooms a very lonely place. 
• We would like to think that people of faith would most definitely avoid this next one but we will mention it anyway. Superficiality and materialism are big problems these days. This is where you only appear to care about appearance or wealth/ objects. If you post photos of yourself surrounded by money, draped in Versace or visiting expensive restaurants you are likely to deter others from talking with you or you will attract the wrong sort of person. If you are a person of faith who is also fortunate enough to have great wealth, for example, then be humble and do not show it off in your photos. 
• You should not post photos of you in the nude or semi-naked. These will only give the impression that you care only for looks and will probably either attract the wrong sort of people or deter your other religious followers. For those who follow a particular faith, they will be more interested in you as a person rather than the way your body looks. You should only show your body when you are in a loving, trusting relationship. 
• Try not to hide in your pictures. By this we mean don’t post photos of your kneeling or squatting. Don’t post photos of beautiful landscapes, objects, or pets. These will only give the impression that you have something to hide. Make sure your photos include you and show you!

These are just a few tips we think you should follow so that your profile photos cause people to want to find out more, not disconnect or move on!

Those are All Important Questions!

     It is said that adults ask somewhere between 25-30 questions a day which makes questioning a fundamental aspect of all our lives. This means that we should make sure that as many of these questions as possible are relevant and count. We should ensure that they always provide us with information while giving the other person the opportunity to return the question, or at least one that is similar. Here we look at questions that are a good way to go and those that should probably be avoided. Let’s start with the good ones first. 

• Asking how your new religious friend is doing is completely fine (as long as it is not your very first message). This question allows the other person to give as much information as they wish while showing them that you genuinely care about their wellbeing. Just make sure you don’t ask this too many times in one conversation!
• Asking about their family and friends is good as long as you do not push too hard for information. Ask if they have siblings, what their friend dynamic is like etc as this shows you care about their whole situation. Make sure you do not dig too deep as some people will not want to answer very personal questions. 
• Ask about their faith. It is likely that you have found each other because of a shared faith. You could ask about their place of worship, religious groups they attend etc. You may not want to ask how they found their faith until a more established foundation of trust is in place. This could be a very personal question that some people will not want to discuss until they feel secure in the relationship. 
• Ask your new friend about their job and place of work. We do not mean you should ask them how much they earn but ask them what their job entails, how they came about working there etc etc. This will give you a good insight into their life and who they are as a person. You may find you have similar roles in your respective workplaces or that you want to find out more about a career you know nothing about. 

Sometimes it is what you do not ask that is more important than what you do. Here are some possible questions that you should avoid, at least for now!

• You should not ask intrusive questions such as “How much money do you earn each month?” or “Why aren’t you married yet?”. These are asking for information that is extremely personal and/or that the other person will not want to share with you until you are in a more established relationship (probably in the real world). Many more intrusive questions are generally answered before they are asked, once two people are in a more serious relationship (whether as friends or in a romantic sense).
• As people of faith, we are sure this next one will not occur. Questions of a sexual nature should be avoided at all costs. You should not ask the other person about their experiences or their preferences. 
• Boring questions should also be avoided! If you constantly ask the other person what the weather is like, where they are, or what they had for lunch they will soon get very bored of talking with you! Avoid using these sorts of questions too often, or at all, if you want to establish a meaningful relationship in our religious chat rooms. 

These are just a few questions to bear in mind. Always remember, if it feels wrong to ask something then it is best not to!

Which Topics Should I Discuss and Which Should be Avoided?

     When talking with our friends and family it is safe to say that most topics are safe to discuss, even if both parties disagree on the subject at hand. If you and a friend/ family member disagree you will still talk to each other tomorrow and carry on with your relationship. However, in the online world, one wrong word or comment could lead to the other person disconnecting and losing a potential friend. You must also know your audience very well before discussing certain things. Make sure the conversation flows and that the other person doesn’t feel like they are in an interview. Here are a few topics that are acceptable to discuss in our religious chat rooms

• Discussing the events of their, and your, day/ week is always a good idea. They are open-ended topics that can be responded to in a similar way. This topic also feels like normal, everyday conversation and therefore takes the pressure off. Try and make the topic interesting. Rather than asking “How was work today?” you could ask “What was one of your successes at work today?”. You could also discuss successes or issues you are having at work and see if they can give you advice.
• You could discuss your, and their, plans for the upcoming weekend. Ask for recommendations, discuss ideas, and explain what you are up to. The hope here is that, eventually, you could make joint plans together in the real world. Do not bring this up too soon though or you could scare them away. 
• Discussing your past is okay but make sure you do not focus on the negative aspects. Funny stories from your past are excellent as the other person will enjoy hearing them while asking you more about your life. They may reciprocate with stories of their own which will lead to a back-and-forth conversation. 
• If you have read their profile and discovered you have similar interests then discuss these. This information is perfect for you to ask questions and find out more about each other. Share experiences, ask for advice and recommendations, and let the conversation flow!
• Your faith. It is safe to say you are both talking with each other because of a common belief. You could discuss your beliefs, and religious events you have been to or ask questions about the other person’s introduction to the faith. Just make sure you are not too personal or try to dig too deep. 

Here are a few topics to avoid if you want to make a meaningful connection with another person.

• Avoid anything rude. Rude comments or jokes are a definite no-go in our religious chat rooms. All they will achieve is you making no connections and finding yourself no one to talk to!
• Don’t be overly direct! If you start probing around subjects such as how much money they make a month or if they had the COVID-19 jabs. It is highly likely that these topics can be discussed when a more meaningful connection has been made and you become close friends or maybe even more. 
• Politics is probably a topic you should avoid, especially in the beginning. It can be a divisive topic which could cause you and a potential friend to disconnect. It is wise to wait until you have an established friendship based on trust. This way if you do disagree you will have a strong enough connection to be okay with it!
• Discussing boring topics should be avoided at all costs! Always asking about the weather or “what did you do today?” will bore your religious friend into disconnecting. The same can be said for asking closed questions such as “Do you like films?” or “Do you like listening to music?”. All you will get from this is a yes or no answer. If you then rely on these topics or questions all the time you will lose a potential friend!

Your Safety is the Sey

     Some people enter the online world and suddenly feel the same rules in the real world no longer apply. This is certainly not the case. When using our religious chat rooms your first priority should be to make sure you are safe. You also want to make sure that the other person feels safe as well. Now, at chatandmatch.com we do everything within our power to make sure all of our users not only feel safe but are safe at all times. We have a contact service for any issues that arise and monitor our users, making sure they have not had any prior instances of abusing others. Here are some things to consider to make sure you are safe.

• Bank details - You would not walk up to a complete stranger in the street and give them your sort code, account number, and the four-digit PIN for your bank card. The same rules apply when using our online chat rooms. In all honesty, if someone is genuinely interested in making a connection with you they will not be asking you for financial assistance in any way. People who do this can sometimes be very clever. They will make you feel sorry for them and create a desire to help them. If you notice this happening you have three options. 1. Give them the money, this is a massive risk that could cause you financial and/ or mental health issues. 2. Call them out on it and ask what their intentions are etc but be warned, if they want to scam you for your money they will lie convincingly or 3. Stop the chat immediately and contact us!
• Photos - this is becoming an ever-growing issue in the online world. People share inappropriate photos of themselves with others. They do this because they think the other person is genuinely interested/ in love with them or to get positive attention. More often than not all that happens is the sender feels bad or dirty for sending such a photo and ends up regretting it a great deal. These photos could be used for any number of inappropriate purposes that could ruin your career and your mental health. 
• Meeting offline - be careful and make sure you have established a long-term relationship and are happy that they are who they say they are. We check our members thoroughly but we do not know them as a person. If the time comes that you both agree to meet offline you should also agree to have chaperones, and meet during the day and in a public place. Please do not be scared by this part. We hope that 100% of matches can lead to meeting offline and establishing long-term, successful relationships. If someone asks to meet offline after only a few days, this could be a red flag.

We hope that you have found this article regarding our religious chat rooms interesting and informative. We want all of our members to have the best experience possible while using our services. Just remember to always chat in a respectful, kind manner and in a way that you would like to be treated. Good luck in our religious chat rooms and we hope you find someone you can make a long-lasting connection with!