I too have been wondering exactly what Peterjh and Laine have been asking.

It seems that we almost have what I would describe as a mental illness type attitude to sex.

On onehand sex is bad then on the other sex is good.

I saw in one of the Dear Mable type abvice column actually suggesting to a woman that what she wears to attract men. DUH! I was actually convinced that women dressed the way they what want to because they felt comfortable.(actually I didn't beleive it, but pretended I did)

So when it comes down to it human behaviour is very complex and much of it covert rather than being open and honest

Being a survivor of rape, and having a good friend who survived incest and peodiphilia, I feel qualified to make a comment here. I am a man who was raped by a woman, my friend is a woman who as a child was repeatedly raped by her grandfather, I have also been molested as a naive teenager by a male peodaphile.

These people [peodaphiles] are not sick, they are pure evil, they ruin an individuals life, the harmony of that family for life. Rape is a power trip, forced on those who these monsters feel are vunerable. Most, not all survivors have later onset of mental illness, such as myself, I don't believe in the death penalty, however these monsters bring me close to approval if it applied strictly to them and mass murderers.

There is no excuse for rape, no reason for rape, however listening to the mufti last night on 60 Minutes I can see how a sensationalist media can interperate his words and turn them into bombs. When I grew up Italians were arriving, and had different ways of expression which took tolerance and understanding to understand exactly what they meant. I am RC and don't subscribe to Islam, neither do I gamble, but don't mind if others do, it's a free country, or should be, for all.

My church is trying to break down the barriers between ourselves and other religions, I wish the broader Australian community would do likewise.

Sex and Love are not always together is very true. It is worth remembering that two dogs under a street light can have sex, but only two people who love each other can "make love" or for the technical term tantric sex.

I have experience both and I know which I'd rather have, unless there is a committment, it's just another bodily function.

I exceeded the word limit so I put it all here: http://andrewelder.blogspot.com/2006/11/on-display-im-tired-of-silly-articles.html

Basically, it's weak to assume men are just slaves to their desires, and shame on the religious "leaders" who have failed to see that. To pander to this weakness does nobody any good. If men's weaknesses are just taken as given, it won't matter what women wear.

Every time this issue is raised it provokes a lot of response and far less animosity than we see on many other topics here. We might not have like what the mufti said, but his statements did give us an opportunity to air our thoughts on something that's obviously important to a lot of people.

Why then, have we not had this debate on the scale we're currently debating global warming?

Kangy..... the comments in the Bible about modesty are simple plain as the nose on your face common sense mate. They are not even 'commdandments' and especially not 'LAWS'...

But there is something quite strong, it is indeed a 'command' from God and here it is

1/ (SECRET MENS BUSINESS)

"this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from unchastity, that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honour , not in the passion of lust like heathens who do not know God" (1 Th 4:3-5). (actually, this applies to both genders)

2/ (SECRET WOMENS BUSINESS) err C.J...its from Peter not Paul. Please don't rob Peter to pay Paul.)

1 Peter 1
3Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. 4Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight.

All this is saying in my view is... don't over apply the lippy.....
You don't need to FAKE beauty or try to emphasize your attraction machinery unduely. I think a man is entitled to know your basic shape, and look, but deep down, (if he is a real man with a sense of love and responsibility) a man wants a reliable, trustworthy, faithful and decent women. He really does WANT a 'nice' girl rather than a naughty one.

The problem comes, when his testosterone is raging, and his brain is caught by the message "I'm naughty" by the clothes and makeup, and he looks for the short term gratification (lawful) of a one night stand.

3/ (Open secret Gods Business)
Is it not far better that as a community, we all seek to promote values of inner worth rather than the shallow external ? We will still be attracted to those we like, but in a more enduring way.