Q. I’m thinking about getting married to a man who has a different religious faith than me. Do you think this will cause any problems between us?

A. Possibly, but it really depends on the strength of your relationship. Are you able to communicate well? Do you break down when having a disagreement? Are you loving and accepting toward one another? As long as you’re able to work out your differences calmly and rationally, there’s no reason that differing faiths should cause a problem. Just be sure to have a conversation about the role that religion will play in the raising of your children before getting engaged.

Q. How long do I have to date a girl before I can burp and fart in front of her?

A. This is an interesting question, but a very important one. Of course you want to be considerate of your girlfriend’s feelings, but you also can’t live a life of bodily oppression. We recommend that you keep your bodily functions on lockdown until you actually move in together. Until then, you can save your burps and farts until you get home or arrive at the nearest bathroom. But once you live together, it’s a little silly to try to hold everything in. The only exception to this rule is in the bedroom – never pass gas in there if you ever want to make love to her again!

Q. I feel like my girlfriend is drifting away from me. She doesn’t call me as often as she used to, and doesn’t act the same when we’re together. How do I get her to like me again?

A. Unfortunately, there’s no way to make someone like you more. If your girlfriend is acting distant, it’s probably because the two of you are drifting apart. It may be difficult, but you need to accept the way things are. Ask her if there’s anything in particular that’s bothering her, but if the problem is that she’s just not interested in the relationship anymore, there’s nothing you can do. Move on and find someone who will treat you the way you deserve to be treated.

Q. I’ve been dating a great woman for about 2 months now. She’s really beautiful, but she’s always saying that she doesn’t think she looks very good. She doesn’t believe me when I say she’s pretty, and her constant complaints are getting kind of annoying. What should I do?

A. It’s normal for women to feel self-conscious about their appearance, especially with the impossible standards of beauty portrayed in the media these days. Either your girlfriend has very low self-esteem, or she’s just fishing for compliments. We recommend using the “broken record” method. Each time she says that she’s unattractive or asks your opinion on her looks, just say “You look beautiful,” and then change the subject. Her issues are about her, not you, so that’s really all you can do. Eventually, she should get the message and stop bringing it up.

Q. I’ve fallen in love with a married man, and we’ve been having an affair for about a year now. How long should I wait for him to leave his wife before moving on?

A. If you plan on waiting for this man, you’ll be waiting a long time. It’s a well-known fact that married men never leave their wives for their mistresses. Just think about it: he has everything he could dream of right now – a family, great sex, and two women who are both completely devoted to him. Why would he ever want to leave? Save yourself the trouble. Break ties with him and move on.

Q. I was just told by my girlfriend that she wants to take a “break.” I don’t get it – how is this different from a breakup? And what should I do while I wait for her to make up her mind?

A. When a girl says she wants a break, that means she’s looking for a trial separation. She wants to see what her life would be like without you, and if she finds that she likes it, she’ll dump you in the end. So take this time to do the same thing, and think for a while about your relationship. Do you really want to be with someone who isn’t sure they want to be with you?