May I just say to you, as someone who is quite a bit older than you are, that there's a big red flag here that I see, even independent of the faith issue? 

@Livia_is_Strudles@xanga - @Pickwick12@xanga - @ToastersNMilkshakes@xanga - Thank you all, for being so kind and caring. And thank you for keeping me in your prayers. I will definitely try to be strong in breaking it off :)

@Pickwick12@xanga - Oh, thank you for your generous gesture! I will be sure to reach to you for consolation if ever needed!

@Luv_is_infinite@xanga - You're very welcome, and the same goes for me: if you ever need more encouragement or just want to talk, feel free to message me.

I spent two years of my life in a relationship with someone with different religious views than mine. Even though we were very respectful of each other's beliefs, we learned after a while that it wasn't ideal for a couple to feel like they couldn't connect on a spiritual level and that we had to censor ourselves when it came to discussing our spiritual lives and beliefs. A couple should feel open to share everything about themselves, and although that doesn't mean that you need to agree on absolutely everything, you need at least enough common ground for the conversation to be able to happen.

Also, waiting for someone to change dramatically (thinking one of you needs to convert for it to work out) will likely only continue to be a source of stress and tension. There is nothing wrong with wanting someone to change, especially when it involves coming to know Christ, but I think being in a romantic relationship makes that change and those conversations so much harder because both people are worried about saying the wrong things and there are so many emotions wrapped up in the relationship already.

I don't look at these things legalistically, so I wouldn't say the difference in beliefs would always mean you should break up. But it is a big caution to consider. However, from what you say, there's even more to it. It sounds like he not only doesn't share your beliefs, but perhaps he is not even respectful of them. A good relationship requires mutual respect. And furthermore, it sounds like he attempts to be controlling, which is a huge red flag. This is what it sounds like to me. Whether this actually captures the relationship I obviously can not tell from a brief post by one of the parties.

Do pray about it, and try your best to do with your mind and heart opened up to what God has to say. And if there are those around you who are sympathetic with your faith and can be open-minded in helping you hear God in this situation, I would encourage you to get together with them for the purpose of praying together about it and hearing their questions and reflections. In Quaker terminology, this is called a clearness process, and can be very helpful with the right persons and done in the right spirit. Their function would not be to tell you what you need to do, but to help you discern God's will in the situation. There can be a very delicate balance here, but it could really help you get beyond your own feelings to look at it from God's perspective.

A couple more thoughts.

1. You say it would be beneficial to be a vegetarian, but you just can't do it. If this is about more than pleasing this guy, it's possible the purpose for him coming into your life isn't romantic but to help you think more deeply about your diet. Don't do it for him, but if it is the right thing to do, you should take steps toward a vegetarian diet because it is right. This indeed may be very difficult (I don't have actual experience in making the change since I am a lifelong vegetarian, but I can understand it being very difficult), but if it is part of being faithful Christ will help you along the way. Check out the Christian Vegetarian Association at christianveg.com.

2. I hope you aren't sleeping with this guy, but if you are the first thing to do is to stop. Sex is too powerful to engage in with someone other than a lifetime partner. Don't work too hard to persuade him to accept that change. If he is not interested in you without sex, just say goodbye and thank God for getting out of the relationship. If he is not willing to respect you on that, good riddance.

@Got_Claws@xanga - How in the world did you go from Taoism to Christianity? You had it right, and you wanted to start believing in an imaginary friend?

Really?

Interfaith relationships can definitely work, so can a relationship in which one person has faith and the other is an atheist. That's what I have; I'm Pagan and my husband is an atheist and we don't have any religious issues whatsoever.

In your case, however, I have serious concerns and doubt that this will end well for you. As much as you love him, you see (which is excellent, so many people shrug off warning signs) that he is actively attempting to control and change you. This is an extremely serious issue and a strong indicator that he doesn't have your best interests at heart and doesn't respect who you are as an individual. Rest assured that eventually he will insist that you change your religious beliefs and since they really mean something to you, you will be faced with an even tougher choice than you are now. Generally I don't advise people to throw away a good relationship over faith differences, but there is far more than that going on here. This relationship is going to not only challenge what you believe (which would be fine, since you are obviously spiritually centered and secure), it could potentially hurt you in ways that have nothing to do with religion.

I'M IN THE SAME SITUATION!!! Well almost... I'm a born and raised practicing Catholic and he's a non practicing Methodist, who's very philosophical and into Buddhism.  I too feel like I am supposed to be with him, BUT he drives me absolutely insane because of our drastic differences (in more ways than just faith) and yes sometimes I wish he were Catholic too, but at the same time, I'm not too worried about it. 

However, here's the big difference, when I pray about it, I sometimes feel like God wants me to be with him too, and most times, that's the only thing keeping me with him (because he drives me crazy, oh Lord give me strength).  Several other things that encourage me to stay with him are even though we have deep contrasting faith... we peacefully talk about religion ALL THE TIME!!!  Because it's so important to both of us and because it IS a big aspect of life we differ on, we are always trying to better understand it.  If you can't do that.  In my opinion... there is no reason to continue because there will just be an elephant in the corner of the room.  Another reason I'm encouraged to be with him is because we have such similar morals and values for the most part, and the same vision for the future.  This is extremely important because it will help determine how the rest of our lives will be lived out.  The only "ultimatum" I had to give him was that if we got married, it would have to be in a Catholic Church, and that my kids would have to be raised Catholic as well.  There is NO flexibility with those 2 things.  I would rather not marry a guy than raise my children without a Catholic faith.  He (however not too thrilled about it) whole heartedly agreed with me for the sake of love I guess?

My suggestion to you?  If you have a very direct "MUST COMPLY WITH" like what I said for my future children, stick with it!!  I am fine with my boyfriend never converting even after we get married (that is something you must be fine with too).  Sure it would make things easier, but when did God intend to make everything easy for us?  Besides, as marriage, the wife sanctifies her husband, just as the husband sanctifies his wife.  The only real issue, is your future children, and the morals and values you plan on living out together, and giving them.

Another suggestion for my own experience?  Know your faith.  Know it very well, read up on it, I can even offer you books I read.  This is very important so that you are able to properly defend and explain your religion and WHY you follow certain teachings of the Church.  Simply by explaining the Church, the Pope, Mother Mary, the Saints... etc to my boyfriend, he's gained a better respect for the Catholic Church when 2 years ago he used to be strictly ANTI-CATHOLIC.  And of course pray, for the gift of understanding for the both of you.  Good luck!!

its not going to work out. sorry if that was blunt, but let me tell you a little personal expierence.... EVERYTIME i find a guy that i think is "the one" that i am just head over heels in love with, i start to think long term, would they be a good husband, would we have a strong relationship built around God? or as my mother always likes to put it"are we equally yoked?" ive only felt this way about 2 guys really that had tottally opposite views, one of the guys just gave up on God because of a tramatic childhood, the other guy said he wanted to have that kind of relationship but never showed any effort(wouldnt want to pray with me or read our bibles or go to church and he didnt like it too much when i would flip on the christian radio station in the car.) anyways i thought if i could just change how they see God then it will all be ok and we would live happily ever after, but the truth is they arent going to change for anyone but themselfs, they will turn to God when they are ready not by me "pressuring" them. which i dont see it as pressuring i just want them to know the Amazing God that i know i want them to feel the love that i feel, i want them to stop walking around life in the dark. 

If your beliefs are really the most important thing to you, and this man doesn't share them, you'll never be happy if you marry him. If you stay true to your beliefs and go through the pain of losing him, you will be happy again someday. Once the newness and excitement and "I can't have him but I sure want him" wears off and you're married, it becomes all too clear what was more important than the romantic feelings: and that's the meeting and oneness of the soul.
Save yourself real grief. Find someone who shares your beliefs and values. Life and marriage are hard enough as it is, even when you do share core values.