DR. WALLACE: I am a Christian. My boyfriend is a wonderful fellow, but he happens to be an atheist and says he will remain an atheist until the day he leaves this earth.

I love Jake and he loves me, and we plan to get married in a year. My parents are also Christians and are against me marrying an atheist. They are horrified at the thought. I keep telling them that once we are married, I feel I can help him to become a Christian, but my parents do not see it as a possibility.

What do you think? I will never become a non-believing atheist. —Nameless, Lake Charles, La.

NAMELESS: I think it would be a big mistake to enter into marriage with the idea that you can encourage your husband to convert from an atheist to a Christian, since you will never become an atheist. If you believe this is possible, this conversion should take place before the marriage.

I can understand why your parents are horrified. Their Christian daughter is about to marry an atheist. If you do your very best to convince Jake to become a Christian and he refuses, forget about marriage. It would also be difficult for Jake to be married to a non-atheist. You both need to find more compatible future mates.

WHAT AGE SHOULD DATING BEGIN?

DR. WALLACE: How old do you think a girl should be before she starts dating? When I ask my parents, they ask me why I always ask such a silly question. — Nameless, Vicksburg, Miss.

NAMELESS: Your question is not silly. To every non-dating teen, it is of utmost importance, and smart parents will not belittle it.

Teens should be allowed to start dating when they have the maturity to obey and respect the rules set by their parents and make intelligent choices. The age varies, but most teens are mature enough to date somewhere between ages 15 and 17.

MY FIANCE'S EX-GIRLFRIEND IS PREGNANT WITH HIS CHILD

DR. WALLACE: I'm really confused and need your advice, even though I might not take it. I'm 19 and engaged to Richard, who is 22. We set the wedding date for July 21, his 23rd birthday. Before we met, Richard was going with a girl named Karen.

Last week, Richard told me that Karen was six months pregnant and admitted that he was the father. I went to Karen's work to see for myself if she was pregnant, and it was obvious that she is.

Richard wants to go ahead with our marriage, but now I'm not so sure I want to go through with the ceremony at this time. What is your suggestion? — Nameless, Rock Island, Ill.

NAMELESS: Cancel the wedding. Richard has a legal obligation to his baby, and it may be more than a marriage with him could endure.

Dr. Robert Wallace welcomes questions from readers. Although he is unable to reply to all of them individually, he will answer as many as possible in this column. E-mail him at [email protected]. To find out more about Dr. Robert Wallace and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.