Topic 2G6-3: Lent

Damien · Post by **Damien** » Tue Feb 28, 2006 4:59 pm

Okay, spoiler time. I'm in no way religious but I chose to partake in the tradition of Lent each and every year.
Lent, for those not in the know, is the Christian season of repentance and reflection in which we are asked to remember the forty days Jesus Christ withdrew into the wilderness by giving up a peronal vice.

Some churches say this pediod lasts from Ash Wednesday (1st March this year) and ends the day before Easter Sunday (15th April), not including the Sundays (as they are days of celebration). The Roman Catholic Church says that it lasts until Holy Thursday (13th April).
There seems to be much confusion over the exact period and rules of Lent (some say it includes Sundays but ends on Palm Sunday) so many people just partake in the fasting every day from Ash Wednesday to Easter Sunday, just to be sure they're not angering Jesus.

I take part in Lent as I like a personal challenge.
The last few years I've seen it as a bit of a laugh, giving up doughnuts (which I seldom eat) but this year I am giving up a few things, including my favourite food (curry).

This thread is for discussion on religious festivals that we take part in, despite not belonging to that religion, and for others to name what they're giving up this Lent.

The LORD shall watch over your going out and your coming in,
from this time forth for evermore.

Yuka · Post by **Yuka** » Tue Feb 28, 2006 5:04 pm

I've tried in the past, usually things that I eat too much of that are bad for me, like chocolate and such, but I don't think I've ever actually managed to go the whole way. In fact, I think I broke one one year after 2 days.

Not bothered with it for a few years now, because my 100% fail record isn't exactly the best motivation for doing it again.

I don't see what I started it for anyway in the first place, seeing as I'm not religious, and don't really think I ever was.

So this year I'm going to not bother again, and get fat on chocolate and cry when I can't squeeze into tiny dresses in the middle of New Look.

Lord Golbez · Post by **Lord Golbez** » Tue Feb 28, 2006 6:33 pm

I will try to explain the Roman Catholic division of days of Lent as best I can. The first foru days of lent, that is from Ash Wednesday to the end of that week are for some reason (this is the part I'm most vague on and is not part of what I was taught as a child but is apparently the official position on the season) considered prelimimary and those four days don't count toward Lent. The Sundays do count, but fasting is not required on them. The last two weeks of Lent are special. Together they comprise the period of Passiontide, where the focus shifts from the 40 days of fasting to the Passion of Christ, rather obviously. The week beginning with Palm Sunday is known as Holy Week. Lent ends on sundown of Holy Thursday and the Easter Triduum begins. Note that fasting is still required in a special way for Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, even if they fall outside of Lent proper. I'm not really sure about what is required for the three days following Ash Wednesday. They may be considered merely a period of discernment about Lenten fasting.

Of course, I don't exactly qualify for this thread, because even though I take part in Lent, it is part of my religion, and I can't think of any religious festival outside my religion that I take part in. I'll probably give up playing games as part of what I do for Lent. This means no Suikoden V until after Easter, so I'll be toughing it out with Europeans for awhile.

bsd · Post by **bsd** » Tue Feb 28, 2006 6:38 pm

Even though Lent is like, really soon... I haven't decided what I'm going to give up yet. I might go the chocolate route again, though frankly that's pretty difficult.

That's the point though, so oh well.

Also, I pretty much ignore all the crazy Lenten rules and just go the whole way, taking Sundays off. I figure it evens out. Besides which, it's the spirit of the thing, I don't think God will smite me for not properly determining the days of Lent. I hope not at least. If he does, I'd probably rather be in hell, because God's kind of a jerk.

Damien · Post by **Damien** » Tue Feb 28, 2006 6:56 pm

yuka wrote:I've tried in the past, usually things that I eat too much of that are bad for me, like chocolate and such, but I don't think I've ever actually managed to go the whole way. In fact, I think I broke one one year after 2 days.

Not bothered with it for a few years now, because my 100% fail record isn't exactly the best motivation for doing it again.

I don't see what I started it for anyway in the first place, seeing as I'm not religious, and don't really think I ever was.

So this year I'm going to not bother again, and get fat on chocolate and cry when I can't squeeze into tiny dresses in the middle of New Look.

...Surely you go into the changing rooms for that

Seriously, I think you should consider starting Lent, even if you don't consider yourself to have the willpower to make it to the end.

Yuka · Post by **Yuka** » Tue Feb 28, 2006 7:11 pm

Who needs changing rooms?

Calbrena · Post by **Calbrena** » Tue Feb 28, 2006 8:16 pm

I'm giving up curry, alcohol and Jaffa Cakes. Sundays included. Beat that!

DarloJo · Post by **DarloJo** » Tue Feb 28, 2006 9:30 pm

Alcohol?! *bows down*

I'm giving up coke/pepsi and chocolate. Since they're the two bad things that I snack on

But yeah, what yuka said (but I go in the changing rooms

)

Brody · Post by **Brody** » Wed Mar 01, 2006 3:23 am

Im giving up Church.

BlueDragon · Post by **BlueDragon** » Wed Mar 01, 2006 4:09 am

The Lord's a little stale today.

Better check the date on that Lord.

Calbrena · Post by **Calbrena** » Wed Mar 01, 2006 8:42 am

DarloJo wrote:Alcohol?! *bows down*

Yeah,
[spoiler]Much easier than giving up

and biscuits, that would be a real challenge

[/spoiler]

Damien · Post by **Damien** » Wed Mar 01, 2006 4:33 pm

I'm giving up biscuits and I could give up tea.
Next year.
In the time I'm not eating curry and fudge cake, I'll be drinking more alcohol

Lord Golbez · Post by **Lord Golbez** » Wed Mar 01, 2006 6:20 pm

I could give up tea....but it would be a terrible thing to do. I think not drinking any on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday is good enough.

Damien · Post by **Damien** » Wed Mar 01, 2006 6:36 pm

Lord Golbez wrote:I could give up tea....but it would be a terrible thing to do. I think not drinking any on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday is good enough.

I'll join you in that

Last One · Post by **Last One** » Sun Mar 26, 2006 7:13 am

The tradition in Mexico (or at least my part of the country

) is to give up red meat on fridays (also including Ash Wednesday and holy thursdau). Which I have been able to keep so far... and also no masturbation

Have a nice day

Mitsurugi CP · Post by **Mitsurugi CP** » Sun Apr 16, 2006 9:31 am

Last One wrote:The tradition in Mexico (or at least my part of the country ) is to give up red meat on fridays (also including Ash Wednesday and holy thursdau). Which I have been able to keep so far... and also no masturbation

Have a nice day

Since when was it ever ok in the Christian tradition to masturbate?

Damien · Post by **Damien** » Sun Apr 16, 2006 12:42 pm

We tried to give up red meat on Friday but the devil (Joei) halted our angelic plans

dcom · Post by **dcom** » Tue Apr 18, 2006 5:02 pm

he loves meat.

Lord Golbez · Post by **Lord Golbez** » Tue Apr 18, 2006 5:20 pm

You should probably sacrifice him.

Doom · Post by **Doom** » Sat May 06, 2006 7:52 pm

Give up school next time around, kids.

Calbrena · Post by **Calbrena** » Mon May 08, 2006 7:31 am

I wish I could but I would soo run out of money if I stopped working for 40 days...

...Wait, that's what gonna happen in a couple of weeks anyway

Damien · Post by **Damien** » Mon May 08, 2006 9:26 am

Doom wrote:Give up school next time around, kids.

..it's been a long time since I've had a teenage life

Anyhoo. Failed Lent but for some reason still haven't had a single bite of doughnut

Yuka · Post by **Yuka** » Mon May 08, 2006 10:03 am

Damien wrote: ..it's been a long time since I've had a teenage life

Don't you dare mention that infernal song!

Damien · Post by **Damien** » Mon May 08, 2006 12:05 pm

yuka wrote:
Damien wrote: ..it's been a long time since I've had a teenage life

Don't you dare mention that infernal song!

You need to buy it

Yuka · Post by **Yuka** » Mon May 08, 2006 12:10 pm

You can FUCK RIGHT OFF!

Damien · Post by **Damien** » Mon May 08, 2006 12:13 pm

yuka wrote:You can FUCK RIGHT OFF!

But it's Daz