My partner says he can’t be with me after 2 years together
My partner (25M) and I (24F) have been together for 2 years, and up until this weekend, I genuinely believed we were endgame. We’ve both expressed that we see each other as soulmates and have talked seriously about our future together.
This past Saturday, he told me he doesn’t think he can be with someone who doesn’t believe in God.
The difficult part is that my beliefs have never been hidden from him. I’ve always identified more as a nonbeliever/agnostic, but it’s more complicated than simply “I reject God.” I actually have a complicated relationship with faith because of traumatic experiences in my past that caused me to distance myself from religion and from God. Even through that, I’ve still prayed throughout my life and have always admired faith deeply especially his faith.
I’ve always supported him in his religious life:
Going to church with him
Participating in church events/fundraisers
Encouraging him to pray
Respecting and valuing his beliefs
What surprised me is that this felt very sudden. He has not consistently attended church (outside of holidays) since February 2025, so this wasn’t something that had recently become a major outward focus in his life.
I know him very well, and part of me wonders if this is tied to deeper struggles he has with self-worth and wanting to feel “good enough” both for himself and for how others perceive him. I worry that maybe he’s looking for certainty, structure, or external validation right now and that religion is becoming tied into that search.
At the same time, I want to respect that this could also be a genuine realization for him that shared faith is important in a long-term partner.
Where I’m struggling is:
I am open to exploring faith honestly
I am not willing to fake belief or perform religiosity to keep someone
I don’t know how to navigate “exploring faith” authentically while also knowing the relationship may depend on the outcome
I also worry because:
He has never seen a successful interfaith relationship
His friends and family are all religious
I’m concerned people around him may be framing this as simply “believer vs nonbeliever” instead of understanding the emotional complexity of the situation
I guess I’m asking:
Has anyone successfully navigated something like this?
How do you explore faith authentically when there’s emotional pressure attached to it?
Is it possible for a Christian and nonbeliever to genuinely make it work long term?
How do I support him without losing myself in the process?
I really love him, and I know he loves me too. I just feel lost trying to determine whether this is a fundamental incompatibility, a season of personal struggle for him, or something in between.
Thank you to anyone who reads this.
TL;DR: My boyfriend of 2 years recently told me he doesn’t think he can be with someone who doesn’t believe in God, despite always knowing I’m agnostic/nonbelieving and supportive of his faith. I’m open to exploring spirituality authentically, but I don’t want to fake belief just to save the relationship. I’m struggling to tell whether this is a true fundamental incompatibility, outside religious pressure, or part of a deeper personal struggle he’s having with identity/self-worth. Looking for advice from people who’ve navigated interfaith relationships or faith transitions in relationships.