ejay.hjay

I will preface this by saying I was brought up Anglican (bible camps, youth group, Sunday school, regular church and a christian school) but ended up being revolted with religion and I would now describe myself as a secular humanist.

Anyway, I have been speaking to friends about the theory of sex before marriage and we're not sure where the line is drawn. I mean, what constitutes sex in a religious context? At what point do you find yourself in damnation?

I don't want to be too graphic(and I'd prefer it if your responses weren't either!) but I AM curious about what the religious folk out there perceive as sex before marriage. Is oral classified as sex? There again - where is the line drawn? If it's okay to kiss other parts of the body (say, upper thigh) are we talking centimetres before damnation occurs? Is penetration sex, regardless of whether it is intercourse? (i.e. finger). On an even less intense level, is touching each other classified as sex? Or do you perceive it was a state of mind, regardless of the act being committed?

If oral is not classified as sex, then are lesbians technically virgins? And if using toys IS classified as sex, is masturbating with one classified as sex before marriage, even if you've never had sexual contact with another person?

Or is virginity hinged upon the physicality of an intact hymen?

Any views greatly appreciated.

Do you have to start a course of contraceptive pills at a specific time of month to get the contraceptive effects? If you don't start taking them on the first day of the time of the month, does it take longer for them to become effective?

Personally, I am really opposed to it. Yeah, it's sweet to show your devotion to somebody else's ideas by writing spin-offs. But, for me, it seems like fanficfans (hehe) can't be bothered coming up with their own ideas or showing originality. Sometimes FanFics work to undermine the original concepts of a story using the author's own characters and settings - now THAT really bothers me.

If people are willing to invest that much time in a work, why not work on something of their own? Why not put time and energy into something that actually has the potential to become something unique and special? Why not work on creating their own world rather than moving into somebody else's?

I really don't understand why anyone bothers writing it (or reading it... I tried for a little while but it just annoyed me too much).

(nb: I'm doing an english major at uni, have won and placed in numerous writing prizes up to a national level and am currently trying to publish one of my novels).

I'm stumped. 300 words to describe the nature of my writing project and what I hope to achieve through the program.

Any hints/ideas on how I should structure it??

Just curious! What are turn ons and what are total deal breakers?

My shoulders are visibly uneven and it's in the family. It wouldn't bother me except I'm a competitive horse rider and it makes higher level movements difficult.

I'm seeing an osteopath who has given me very helpful exercises but I'm just wondering if anyone has any hints/tips on how to deal with it or help it?

Thank you :)

Howdy! Just had my birthday and I scored some book vouchers. There's nothing I've been hanging out for (went crazy at Borders with Christmas time book vouchers) so I'm wondering if there's anything amazing out there that I should have read?

My favourite books are:

Wally Lamb - I know this much is true

Melina Marchetta - On the Jellicoe Road

A walk to Remember - Nicholas Sparks

The Horse Whisperer - Nicholas Evans

The Green Mile - Stephen King

Catcher in the Rye - J.D. Salinger

Obernewtyn Chronicles - Isobelle Carmody

Thank yooooou!

P.S. Please don't recommend Twilight.

WOW. I'm just wondering how other people feel about them. For those of you who may not have yet invested time on this fantastic author, his fictional books are:

-She's come undone

-I know this much is true

-The hour I first believed

I've read all of them, just finished the latter. His books aren't easy going but - God - can't put them down. Despite dealing with very dramatic circumstances, I find that he doesn't give answers, he just poses questions. There is no black or white in his books, just grey.

I know this much is true is perhaps the best book I've ever read. Just wondering if anybody else feels as strongly about his work?

SPOILER!!!!

When he decided to leave and encouraged his wife to find somebody else, was he doing the right thing? I think he did do the right thingbut one of my friends disagrees and i'm curious to see what the general take on it is.

I see the benefits... but what are the dangers??

I'll preface this by saying I'm doing an English major at university and have read pretty widely :)

I don't understand why people are so opposed to the twilight series. I'll admit it's not written particularly well but it's a nicely put together story and I found it hard to put down. It's trashy - pure entertainment but what's wrong with that? Why are people so utterly opposed to a book that does what so many books fail to do? Twilight is captivating.

People are complaining about the protagonists being unrealistic role models, but what's the big deal? Unrealistic role models seem to form the basis of most inductions into the world of fiction. Look at the disney princess collection, for starters.

I'd really like someone to articulately explain to me why they're opposed to twilight because I honestly don't get what the big deal is.

I'm just wondering what song plays during the scenes of 'twilight' where edward doesn't show up to school for a few days following his and bella's initial meeting.

thanks!

I've noticed a pain/tenderness just below my ribs on the left side of my abdomen. It seems to be radiating from under the ribs but if i touch the ribs, even quite lightly, they're tender too.

it doesn't feel muscular and i haven't had any blows/knocks in that area that would indicate a break/bruising of the ribcage itself (i've broken ribs in the past and this is quite a different type of discomfort).

Any thoughts as to what it could be?

It's driving me insane! I read the poem and know I've heard the following lines in a movie somewhere:

this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart

i carry your heart(i carry it in my heart)

I'm just wondering if anyone knows which movie it's in? I can't work it out and it's seriously bugging me.

Thanks!! :)

I've got a 3yo mare who is progressing nicely under saddle. she's normally shod on all four feet but has lost one of her back shoes. my farrier can't come until thursday (today is monday and she lost it last thursday).

I'm concerned the missing shoe may disrupt her balance. Should I be riding her (in a sand arena) with a missing back shoe?

I'm writing a book where one of the protagonists wants to bury the body of a loved in the backyard.

I've only been able to find European laws relating to the subject (it's okay in the UK) and am wondering if anyone is aware of current Australian laws? Or, perhaps, has an idea of where I should look?

Thank you :)