From friends to MU to friends because of religion

Hi. My friend and I met last year. He started off as friends, and then we ‘get’ each other. A few months later, he’s being romantic. He said he saw me as a life partner. But because of different religion, he said he couldn’t pursue me. His sweetness fade over time, but we still talk like friends.

Also, I always initiate the chats, but he rarely starts the chat. We’ve been chatting since the start of our friendship until February 20. I stopped chatting for two days, then chatted him again. He’s the same as before.

I’m also confused. If I’m just a friend, why would he say that “he’s okay with not talking for months to a year as long as I tell him”? He’d also tell me why he’d been busy or tell me if we won’t be able to talk for a while because of work. Or he wanted to let him know if something’s up that’s why I couldn’t talk to him.

Will there be a chance that we’ll be together in the future?