Lent - what to give up?

[giggirl]

Ash Wednesday is 25th Feb. Anybody giving anything up? I don't mean to start another Alpha thread here; I'm just curious to know if there's anyone out there making a sacrifice.

Previously I've given up all the obvious things (chocolate, alcohol). The problem is that I don't actually eat enough chocolate or drink enough alcohol to make it meaningful. It's got to hurt a bit. I'm not a morning person, to say the least, so I was thinking of giving up the 10 minute lie-in between the first alarm and the second one.

Anyone else?

[HonaloochieB]

Tell you what Giggi, you never know, it might just tip the balance for you on the day of judgement.

And you'll be after-living proof that no snooze is good news.

[bigbadwolf]

Eating shite junk food at lunchtime.

[woofmarkthedog]

Yeah I'm giving up lent itself.........Ironically

Grr woooooof

[TillieTrotter]

Men

[????]

Heard that one before Tillie...er, not from you, just your gender

[TillieTrotter]

Well when I say something Quids I mean it......(until after Lent obviously)

[woofmarkthedog]

Woof grr

Nothing I enjoy more than getting into bed for a good long hard bone after lent...........or a few drinks

Grr sngrzzz

[PeckhamRose]

Trying to get any work done.

Wait, I'm not waiting till Lent to do that.

I'm giving that up already!

[bigbadwolf]

I knew it.

[dulwichmum]

woofmarkthedog Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Woof grr

>

> Nothing I enjoy more than getting into bed for a

> good long hard bone after lent...........or a few

> drinks

>

>

> Grr sngrzzz

Mr Wolf,

Really now dear. Was that entirely necessary? You are lowering the tone.

The big knickered ladies of the locality will leap on you from a great height and clobber you with their Orla Kiely vinyl handbags...

[woofmarkthedog]

Yummy mummy...........should av gone t' spec savers....

WOOF not Wolf...........are you ok dear.......he said bone....not tone

Wogrrrrrrrffff

[KalamityKel]

What to give up... hmmm... work!

Oh sorry that's just wishful thinking :( *sighs and goes off to cry*

[Cassius]

I gave up meat for Lent 22 years ago and never ate it again - so be careful!

[Keef]

I don't mean to start another Alpha thread here; I'm just curious to know if there's anyone out there making a sacrifice.

Not trying to do that either, but I really don't see why people give up anything for Lent if they are not religious. I can understand everybody enjoying Christmas, which these days is as much to do with a fat bloke in red as anything else, but giving stuff up for Lent just seems an empty thing without the religious beliefs behind it.

Just my opinion anyway...

If I was going to do it, I'd say fast food, and my spliff in the evening would make a big difference.

I'd love to say drink, but just don't think I could do it (and that is an admission I'm not proud of, it's not a brag!).

[Brendan]

The idea of fasting seems to be deeply ingrained in us and manifests itself in almost all religions which makes me thing it is probably older than those religions themselves. It?s an exercise of self control that I see as being not entirely without merit whether the benefits you are looking for are physical, psychological or spiritual. I do think it has to be something you want to do rather than something you feel obliged to do though.

[Keef]

Agree, but surely then it's a personal thing, and there is no need to do it at Lent specifically, and then stuff yourself with chocolate eggs at the end in order to congratulate yourself.

[Huggers]

I'm going to give up the internet. I think.

[giggirl]

Keef Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

>

> Not trying to do that either, but I really don't

> see why people give up anything for Lent if they

> are not religious. I can understand everybody

> enjoying Christmas, which these days is as much to

> do with a fat bloke in red as anything else, but

> giving stuff up for Lent just seems an empty thing

> without the religious beliefs behind it.

>

Habit I guess. I was raised Catholic with a big C and although I don't practice any more there are certain things that are deeply ingrained. I stopped being catholic years ago but I only stopped being a practicing Christian a few years ago. I just can't imagine not giving something up for lent because I always have. Anyway, making small sacrifices is character building.

[SeanMacGabhann]

There was the other side of this which was rather than giving something up, try doing something extra (for someone else)

datewise I agree with keef, it's arbitrary. But then so is New Year's Eve really

[Jah Lush]

My dad was an atheist but every year he would give up the booze for lent just to prove to himself that he could do it.

[Brendan]

Quick point is, that?s entirely up to you. If you find benefit in participating in a certain shared, social ritual and accept to stick the normal dates and practices (regardless of what sort of institution is the guardian of these) go ahead. If not, don?t.

The interesting point is asking how shared behaviour developed in human society and how it became entrenched in things like religion, culture and even law and government. It's not going to lead you to any answers about whether or not to give something up for lent but it is an interesting line of enquiry.

[Keef]

I guess at least doing it for lent means you could have a ready made support network.

Fair play to you GG. Wasn't having a dig, just an opinion.

I stopped being catholic years ago but I only stopped being a practicing Christian a few years ago. I just can't imagine not giving something up for lent because I always have.

This made me smile, having to give up in stages, like cutting down smoking before giving up completely! >:D<

[Keef]

My dad was an atheist but every year he would give up the booze for lent just to prove to himself that he could do it.

Fair play to your dad, 40 whole days, seems an awful lot man! :-$

[Ted Max]

The interesting point is asking how shared behaviour developed in human society and how it became entrenched in things like religion, culture and even law and government. It's not going to lead you to any answers about whether or not to give something up for lent but it is an interesting line of enquiry.

I think there's a view that fasting at this time of year was a necessity because the supplies from the previous year's harvest had run out and it was an edgy wait till you could get your hands on some spring lamb from Wm Rose.

How that gets codified into religious observance/ significance isn't that much of a leap.