Lent

So do giant South-American rats, if by any chance I happen to find them around.

Perhaps I should schedule a trip to the zoo?

edited 26th Feb '12 12:13:25 PM by Carciofus

But they seem to know where they are going, the ones who walk away from Omelas.

On why religions have rituals where you give up shit: This depends from religion to religion. In the case of some it's a sort "I'm thanking you for dying for me so here I gave up something I normally think is bomb as shit thank you dude who died!" In others it's because it's believed to STRENGTHEN YOU MENTALLY AND SPIRITUALLY. In others it's because it's the bloody point of the whole religion. Why it's the point can vary as well. Like "Because want and attachment leads to pain and we're trying to solve that" could be your reason as to why it's the point.

Or, for more super fun times, it can be a mix of all these reasons and more!

I don't celebrate Lent, but a number of holidays I do celebrate involve similar ideas. And the Uposatha which is a day of every week given to religious observance in Buddhism. I guess you could compare it to Sabbath in its importance?

The holiday we have that is called Buddhist Lent is Vassa. It takes place over three months and involves the Sangha taking to the monasteries and not leaving until Vassa ends. The laity often times chooses this time to take on more aesthetic practices. Giving something up is one of the common ways of doing that hence the nickname. This doesn't start till July though. I'll likely try giving up meat for it.

Or music.

Though really it isn't the best nickname since that's pretty much how we react to all holidays if we feel like TAKING ON A CHALLENGE.

edited 26th Feb '12 1:03:37 PM by Aondeug

If someone wants to accuse us of eating coconut shells, then that's their business. We know what we're doing. - Achaan Chah

As Aon said but shorter:

Catholics aren't the most hedonistic of people. Consider this like endurance training, where you build up a resistance as well as willpower to remove yourself from something sinful and/or materialistic.

Even shorter version:

What suffer doesn't kill you makes you stronger.

---

Anyway, what am I giving up? Eh, a bit more personal and something I don't feel like announcing to the world.

edited 26th Feb '12 1:44:24 PM by Ramus

The emotions of others can seem like such well guarded mysteries, people 8egin to 8elieve that's how their own emotions should 8e treated.

Actually, I think that we are plenty hedonistic. Perhaps the most hedonistic, in a way

Lent is what gives us Carnival.

Would Carnival's mad revelry, or even Easter's serene joy, be the same if there was not a period of (actually quite moderate) penance between them? Of course, Easter's lunch is not the most important aspect of this celebration, not by far; but still, I think that it's a happier occasion if people get there a little hungry.

Material pleasures, in themselves, are good. What is not good is being enslaved to them — and not for some lofty spiritual reason, or not only for that, but because getting used to a pleasure is the best way of losing it.

If you have an ice cream every day, that won't give you all that much pleasure: if anything, you'll end up getting annoyed the one time that for some reason you aren't able to get it. But if you skipped ice creams for 40 days, and then finally allowed yourself to have one, then, I assure you, that will be the greatest damn ice cream that you have ever had.

edited 26th Feb '12 2:04:28 PM by Carciofus

But they seem to know where they are going, the ones who walk away from Omelas.

I'll give up on chocolate...

Sweet sweet chocolate... I'll regret it in about one day.

I knew Catholics were really evil and that goody two shoes thing was just a front! TRYING TO MAKE ICE CREAM EVEN BETTER?! YOU EVIL PEOPLE.

If someone wants to accuse us of eating coconut shells, then that's their business. We know what we're doing. - Achaan Chah

Hah! You haven't seen nothing yet!

Cardinal Fang! Fetch...THE COMFY CHAIR!

But they seem to know where they are going, the ones who walk away from Omelas.

You...you monsters sit on high and luxurious chairs?! WHILE I SIT ON THE DIRT FLOOR?!

If someone wants to accuse us of eating coconut shells, then that's their business. We know what we're doing. - Achaan Chah

My chair's not that luxurious. It's more like a screaming metal wooden deathtrap.

Anyhoo, I gave up late-night snacking. Fingers crossed that I won't be so damn overweight by the time Easter comes 'round.

Insert witty and clever quip here. My page, as the database hates my handle.

A friend of mine gave up anime, Vocaloid, and Fanfiction.

This is gonna be a LONGGGGGG 40 days for her.

Bet you didn't see that coming

Man, I'm an ex-Lutheran and I don't even know what the ELCA stance on it is.

Charlie Tunoku is a lover and a fighter.

Well, I gotta give you all props for doing this, and I wish you all luck with your endeavors.

One thing that was fun was explaining to people without a religious background why everybody had black stuff on their foreheads last Wednesday.

Charlie Tunoku is a lover and a fighter.

Ramadan is harder than Lent in my opinion. In Lent, there is normally only one activity or item given up. Though the more the merrier.

Ramadan you give up all food and drink during sunrise and sunset. (As well as other special rituals depending on your sect.)

I am not Muslim or Christian. But I follow Ramadan as a show of solidarity with my Muslim friends. My own religion, Hinduism, has many fasting days or days of separation I can follow on my own. But Lent in America at least, is moving into the realm of Easter and Christmas in that it may have once been a Church holiday, but the secular tidings are pulling at it to where many people not Catholic try it for the challenge, the chance to build character, and re-prioritize.

"Psssh. Even if you could catch a miracle on a picture any person would probably delete it to make space for more porn." - Aszur

Well, if you're Catholic, you have dietary restrictions and stuff too, like not being allowed to eat meat.

"I don't know how I do it. I'm like the Mr. Bean of sex." -Drunkscriblerian

You can have fish on Fridays. There are also special Masses and most families have traditions of certain Bible readings or other special activities if they are Catholic or Protestant.

"Psssh. Even if you could catch a miracle on a picture any person would probably delete it to make space for more porn." - Aszur

Um, I don't think Catholics are known for their vegetarianism.

Also, I'm fasting from masturbation for Lent.

edited 26th Feb '12 8:56:37 PM by KCK

There's no justice in the world and there never was~

I'm a Christian and I'm interested.

From when to when is this? I will...hmm...drop TV Tropes, because that's my biggest luxury.

I'm a (socialist) professional writer serializing a WWII alternate history webnovel.

Considering that it is only asked of them during the period of Lent, most aren't full time vegetarians.

"Psssh. Even if you could catch a miracle on a picture any person would probably delete it to make space for more porn." - Aszur

dRoy, Lent started this past Wednesday, the 22nd, (Ash Wednesday), and it runs until Easter (April 7th, this year). Despite it being referred to as 40 days, it's actually 46 calendar days, since Sundays aren't considered to be part of Lent.

...if you don’t love you’re dead, and if you do, they’ll kill you for it.

@Madrugada - So it's until 40 days from today?

edited 26th Feb '12 9:35:22 PM by dRoy

I'm a (socialist) professional writer serializing a WWII alternate history webnovel.

It's until Sunday, April 7th. There are only 36 days of Lent left — it started on Wednesday.

...if you don’t love you’re dead, and if you do, they’ll kill you for it.

All righty. Well, I won't be visiting this site for a while, then.

I'm a (socialist) professional writer serializing a WWII alternate history webnovel.

Than the Catholic version of Lent, definitely. The Orthodox version is far harsher, though — basically, they have to go vegan, and avoid wine and oil too.

But they seem to know where they are going, the ones who walk away from Omelas.

Still, during daylight vegan < no food in terms of diffuclty.

Charlie Tunoku is a lover and a fighter.