Age Difference

Can you date someone significantly( let's say at least 10 years) older or younger ?

You can date people of any (legal) age. Is it always a good idea to go to the extreme with it? Probably not. But 10 years is fully reasonable. My own personal limit is no younger than 10 years below me. And, when younger I dated women 10 years above me.
Of course some age differences may be less advisable than others. 20 and 30 may be a bigger maturity/experience gap than 30 and 40, for example.
But technically there is no official rule that limits age. Other than legal limits.

Yes, my dad’s wife is 10 years younger than him and they have been married for nearly two decades, along with two children who are now in college.

i’m currently dating someone who is 8 years older than me and we seem to work out just fine but I would wait until God shows you who that person is. He has a way of ninjistuing someone into your life that is perfect for you…as long as you wait patiently for it to happen.

Some people just choose the first person that walks in front of them or is in close proximity. Last thing you want is a relationship of convenience. That’s how future husbands and wives end up becoming roommates, instead of partners.

This topic comes up a lot in this forum, and every time it comes up I drop this cartoon in. So here's my customary cartoon for this topic.




The actual analysis is of course more complex, but I can't stay to discuss it right now because I have a date. =^.^=

The rule is half plus 7.

Meaning if I was 50....(I'd love to go back)
Then the youngest woman I could date/marry is 25 + 7 which is 32 years old.

60 years old can date a 37 year old woman....granted he will retire in 2 years....but whatever.

What about the lead singer of the Red Hot Chili Peppers? I think he is 60 and she is 18.

Quote from a movie, where an elderly man was dating a young woman:

"Just be glad she's not as young as she says she is."

"If she was as young as she says she is, those (her breasts) would be school books she's carrying."

Most of the secular entertainment industry has issues with pedophiles.

From Elvis Presley to Tom Hanks. Puff Diddy is just the latest. Ask Dolly Parton....

The movie Blue Lagoon starring Brooke Shields was actually illegal to make as she was underage (14)....nobody seemed to care. Very popular movie in its day....everyone watched it. Even shown on television.

Rock stars get different rules.

I thought you've mentioned that your own wife is 17 years younger than you are?

Of course, when you meet in life is key.

The guys who ask me out now are often 15 years younger.

I'm glad it's now that I'm older and not borderline inappropriate.

I was once asked out by a 21-year-old several years ago... But I don't want to turn into Madonna! 🤣

There are many Christians who believe you cannot even date. In other words, they make a distinction between casual dating and courtship which is purposely only dating people you see a potential future with (marriage material).

If we read the Bible carefully, then I think that we can pretty safely conclude that God is okay with marriages where the couple are more than 10 years apart in age, but we need to practically consider some potentially negative affects of such a union.

For example, although none of us know the time of our death, if the husband is substantially older than the wife, then he might wind up dying first. If he is the sole or main provider for the family, then that could be an issue. Also, if there are any children that come out of that marriage, then they might lose their father at an early age if he is substantially older than their mother.

On the other hand, if the wife is substantially older, then she might lose her ability to bear children when her younger husband might desire some or more.

Also, if the marriage is based a lot on how your spouse looks, if he or she age quicker, then the eye of the younger person might start to roam.

I know that you mentioned dating and not marriage, but if you are dating with the hope of marriage, then these are some practical things to consider, and the examples that I gave are by no means exhaustive.