My girl won't have sex

My partner and i are living together as we want to build our relationship and hope to marry one day. But her religious convictions don't allow her to have sexual relations before marriage. I find this difficult. What do i do?

SHRINK RAP

SEX is the glue that binds people in an intimate relationship by creating an exclusive and intimate space, a secret, shared world known only to the two people who create it. It is the one aspect of a relationship that is not shared with others. If you are living together and having no intimate physical contact, then your relationship is doomed. If you have the potential to form a lifelong bond, the attraction should be such that you should not be able to resist physical intimacy at this stage.

It is not clear from your question, however, what you mean by a sexual relationship. There are many sexual acts that can be far more erotic and personal than intercourse. I assume when you refer to a sexual relationship you mean intercourse.

If you do not share the value of not having intercourse before marriage, then you have a few options.

You could, as many people do, coerce your partner into compromising on her religious values. But she will grow to resent you and herself if she complies and it will in time damage or even destroy your relationship. You could do what she wants and feel resentful, which will also hurt your relationship.

The third option would be to come up with a solution that takes into account both her values and your needs, like, for example, getting married. - Leonard Carr

SUPERNANNY

RESPECTING your partner's religious convictions is admirable. But marriage is so much more than just sex. You also need to consider in what ways her convictions will influence your future relationship regarding your home, children and so on - if you do not share the same belief. That you have shared a home for some time gives the impression you are both committed. So what is holding you back from committing to marriage? - Stephanie Dawson-Cosser