Boyfriend and family...

Hi everyone. I need some advice and frankly I don't have anyone to talk to very comfortably and it has been on my mind for a while now so... here goes nothing!

I have a boyfriend of a different race and religion for a few years and when we first started frankly he wasn't very good to me. He was very unwelcoming when I came over to his place, every cent counts when it comes to bills whether it's for food etc, always wanted me to shut my mouth around his parents. But for some reason I stuck around like glue, which I admit is very stupid of me.

I confronted him and he started acknowledging and started to change until recently he thought it was fine to go out with his friends constantly, who nearly always talks bad of me. They always say things like 'oh why is she so clingy' or 'don't you want to find some other girl?' But they pretend to be nice towards me. I was super offended and confronted him, but the first thing he did was argue and tried to convince me that I was just overreacting and that he just wanted to go out and have fun with his buddies. It took 2 nights of my anger for him to realize.

Now, he seems really regretful of all the things he has done and really is keen to change. But my family is also rather conservative thus the differing race and religion is a real issue as well. Needless to say, my family is quite discouraging. I've talked to him about religion and he said he's willing to convert for my sake once marriage rolls around, though I'm so afraid that he would change his mind when we're too far into our relationship.

I'm so afraid that after marriage, he would change. Or if he can't live up to his words. Yet, there's something in me that keeps on coming back to him. Like the way we are able to share everything to each other, which nobody else has that sort of relationship with me. So I'm just walking in the dark, and in fear.

Please, I need advice. What should I do? Should I break up with him for my family's sake? Should I continue this relationship even if I keep on losing faith and trust? I'm so confused.

Thank you for helping.

Basic principles.

If a relationship is to much work, just to get along, it is not the life long union.

If you are talked down to now [verbal abuse]
What will you be willing to put up with after the marriage?

If GF/BF is not standing up for one another when "friends" berate mate, there is no trust.

When you marry, how do want your relationship to serve you?

Peace
Trina