Well, you should decide what you want to do.
Oh yeah, and ask, why?
It seems that for your boyfriend he's made some decision about, as of right now, how he views you in his life. It must be kind of a shot in the hindparts to knowing that somebody has decided to knock you down a peg in the "what you are to me" category.
Interestingly, I think you really need to bring that one up with him. As the fiancée, you two were planning a life together. He's effectively decided that he's not thinking along those lines anymore. And what is a promise ring anyway? Technically, a promise ring is supposed to be the filler until the engagement ring comes, but you had that already.
If I were in your position, I'd be evaluating where you see yourself in his life and what you think this means for the two of you. He's saying something, even if he's not explicitly saying what it is.
(Though to be honest it sounds like he's saying he doesn't want to marry you anymore.)
So yeah, this one comes down to your desires and really how hurt you are by this. I can't tell by your question if you're hurt or not but I could see that being a possibility. The man you intended to marry has decided to hit you with the reverse-Beyonce and downgrade you.
So confront him and find out why, and then YOU decide what you really want out of your relationship.
Assuming that there wasn't a difference in feelings/opinions about marriage in the first place, and he attempted to compromise (and there was no cheating or other deal breakers in there, but he doesn't want to lose you entirely so he just broke off the engagement not the relationship), you need to talk to him...you need to talk to him regardless.
It sounds like he wants to step backward (possibly towards the door) and is trying to make your relationship more casual.
As hard as it might be, you need to seriously consider ending this relationship. You wanted to go forward and have a life with him, he wants to take a step backward and stay in place. Can you be happy with that? Can you be happy going backward, and at best staying in place, and not moving forward?
Even if it's not marriage, you have to be able to move forward and grow together as a couple if any relationship is to last.
Agreed. I may be old fashion, but to me, engagement means: "Hey, lets get married!", meaning actually making some kind of wedding plans. As in, "summer or autumn 2011?". If they have been engaged for 2 years and they haven't already planned a ceremony to the point of wondering if elopping isn't healthier, then something is fishy. It seems he got engage because he tough that's what he was supposed to do, not because he was thinking about spending the rest of his life with her.
It's a bit sad, really, and kind of idiotic in a nonchalent way.
Have to agree with Panama on this one...he's inching towards the door. As someone who was "engaged" for two years to a guy, and also received the downgrade to the "let's just be boyfriend and girlfriend", it's easy to see. The writing is on the wall on this one.
I'd say drop him like a hot potato, but again, I've been there and know how hard that is. My guess is that you two got engaged at a young age, and as he is getting older he's becoming less afraid of the world, and therefore he's wanting to get out of his comfort zone. Unfortunately you are that comfort zone.
Sorry dear...