I'm cohabitating... would appreciate any advice.

[jAZ]

Originally Posted by KCJohnny

This is only the tip of the ice burg. It's not just religious people who say marriage is better, the actual facts speak for themselves. In truth, most women who live with a man before marriage really believe they will marry him. It is supposed to be a kind of "trial marriage". It seems like a good idea at first but it doesn't really work out that way.[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]
Only one couple in five who lives together before marriage actually ends up getting married.

Not to mention its a mortal sin (6th commandment) which leads to damnation.

Success of cohabitation and marriage is a reflection of personal emotional maturity. If you are an emotional adult, who's entering the search for a partner with open eyes, and a desire to make healthy, selfless sacrifices, then you will be far more likely to find someone who has a similar world view.

Those two people will work hard to learn how to have a healthy relationship, no matter what religion dictates, or scholars study. Picking the right person for you is critical and it takes time and a personal willingness to be open and honest about who you are, where you are in your life and what your expectations in a relationship are. And most importantly, it requires a willingness to be alone as you take a pass on one wrong person after another. Neediness and desperation, even if only a little, cause so many people to jump into this or that relationship, and hoping it will work out this time.

For me, the right person, seperated herself from everyone else I had dated in such a completely obvious way that it was easy.

I can't speak for all relationships and all people, but my experience tells me that if you have doubts, it's probably not the right situation at the right time.