Ash Wednesday/Lent

Valigarmander · 02-06-2008, 07:14 PM

Today is Ash Wednesday, the date on the Christian calendar that marks the beginning of Lent. This period of time is set aside to recognize the time Jesus spent in the desert, resisting the Devil's temptations. As such, many Christians take it upon themselves to resist temptations of their own during this time. This could be giving up snack foods, smoking, sex, video games (my uncle did that last year), or something else that is generally considered a temptation, or at least time you could replace with doing something productive.

I'm not particularly religious, but today I've decided that for Lent I'll be giving up my bad eating habits. Seriously, I'm a glutton. I may be skinny as a sapling but that doesn't hide the fact that I eat more than anyone else in the house. So, I'll be honoring Lent along with my family (which is Christian), and spending the next 40 days or so until Easter trying to resist the temptations of bad dieting. Hopefully, I won't stop at Easter.

I see this as an opportunity to respect and celebrate a religious tradition with my family (though I myself am not a Christian), and also to motivate myself to do something good for me. In this topic, feel free to discuss what you plan to do for Lent this year, if anything. Good luck, and wish me some.

***Saria Dragon of the Rain Wilds*** · 02-06-2008, 07:16 PM

I personally disapprove of Lent, but I respect that other people want to do it for theirselves or their religion.

FALCON PAUNCH · 02-06-2008, 07:19 PM

I'd rather motivate myself by force of will, but I understand a lot of people aren't as capable of that.

Valigarmander · 02-06-2008, 07:20 PM

I'm not a big fan of the fasting thing, but there are parts of it I can understand and respect.

SephirothKirby · 02-06-2008, 07:23 PM

Oh, so that's why we do this? I've always wondered.

=\ Panfan told me it was Ash Wednesday, and I had no idea what he was talking about. I'm only familiar with "Lent"

So. Yeah. Now I know. I don't think I'll do it this year either, as I don't personally see the point.

**Booyakasha** · 02-06-2008, 07:48 PM

Well, we're snowed in here in Milwaukee, so we couldn't really go to Mass. I never really give things up for Lent, or for New Year's resolutionery. I'd like to think I make up for it by trying to be a good person in general, but I guess that probably sounds like kind of a cop-out. (Never claimed to be a particularly good Christian...)

ZeldaGirl · 02-06-2008, 08:49 PM

Val, you're still a teenager. It's possible you're not a glutton, but just growing up. Just something to keep in mind. But, hey, if you feel the need to eat better, more power to you.

Wyborn · 02-06-2008, 11:19 PM

I....I don't think it's gluttony if you can't gain weight. I mean, you eat because you're hungry, not for the pleasure of eating, right?

Regardless, if you wanna cut back on food for Lent as a form of religious fasting, more power to you.

Valigarmander · 02-06-2008, 11:28 PM

^ Not really, I'm eating when I'm not even hungry. I've been eating just to have something to do.

Seriously, I have some sort of hypermetabolism or something. It runs in the family, at least from my dad. And I don't want that catching up to me someday.

ZeldaGirl · 02-06-2008, 11:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZeldaGirl

Val, you're still a teenager. It's possible you're not a glutton, but just growing up. Just something to keep in mind. But, hey, if you feel the need to eat better, more power to you.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wyborn

I....I don't think it's gluttony if you can't gain weight. I mean, you eat because you're hungry, not for the pleasure of eating, right?

Regardless, if you wanna cut back on food for Lent as a form of religious fasting, more power to you.

...so, it's amazing how you like, said the same exact things as me...

**#bowbow** · 02-07-2008, 12:10 AM

^Wyborn is on repeat.

My suitemate observed lent today, he gave up meat for the day. I've never done it, because I was never taught that actually.

Benito Mussolini · 02-07-2008, 12:10 AM

if you're not gaining weight then you are probably not eating as much as you think

**Deku Trii** · 02-07-2008, 12:12 AM

Hopefully your body doesn't adapt to your fasting by slowing down your metabolism.

betasoldier · 02-07-2008, 12:18 AM

I observe lent as well. I too have the same problem and can and do eat much much more than people realize. Strange really, part of it may be because you could be very active, I know that's part of the reason for me. Naturally I'm giving up meat, yesterday now, and every Friday. However, I'm also giving up pop as well, and I practically run on caffeine, and no, I don't drink coffee. Too bad I don't drink or I could give up alcohol instead. I already miss mountain dew *cry*. Oh well, I've been through caffeine withdrawals before.

***CaptHayfever*** · 02-07-2008, 01:21 AM

As I've done for the last few years, I'm giving up root beer for Lent. And just like the last few years, it is highly likely that I will be a raving lunatic by Palm Sunday.

And remember, "I'm-a Luigi, number one!"

Metal Man · 02-07-2008, 02:58 AM

Trivia: I have the exact same metabolism thing as Val. Despite powering down ice cream, cheese burgers, fries, and other things, I weigh 120 lbs. Probably less thanks to this hideous cold. Ugh. Trying to eat what I can to undo that.

Er, anyway.

As an athiest, Lent doesn't mean much to me, although I respect the fact it exists. I will however get off my arse and get some nice work done in that time, so even though I probably won't be doing it on purpose, I will probably be fulfilling part of the idea of it.

...That and I more than abstained on food between that horrible norovirus and this cold I just had which screwed me up good too.

So anyway, all the more power to the people who do celebrate it. Meanwhile I will be building more PHP machines.

User Name · 02-07-2008, 06:32 AM

I believe in Lent and and repenting during this time because of what Christ did for us, but I've never given up anything for Lent. I would like to believe that I don't need a church season to give up something that is addicting in my life. Plus, I also believe that I should repenting every day no matter what. I think of Lent as a church season just like Advent or Epiphany. *shrug*

Demonicus Prime · 02-07-2008, 07:17 AM

I guess it's an odd way to look at it, but I've always thought that if we're honoring the sacrifice that Jesus/God made for us by giving up something addicting like Root Beer, since He made the Earth in 7 days, how much of a sacrifice is it really to Him? If we're resisting temptations, doesn't it seem kinda backwards that we're doing something insignificant for something so big?

Take it or leave it, that's my standpoint.

***CaptHayfever*** · 02-07-2008, 11:09 AM

It's a parallelism thing. Obviously we can't all spend 40 days in a desert, but we can spend 40 days without something that we're used to.

Root beer is non-addictive, by the way; most brands don't even use caffeine.

And remember, "I'm-a Luigi, number one!"

Joker · 02-07-2008, 12:05 PM

I gave up drinking on New Years so I'm already doing something for lent.

02-06-2008, 07:14 PM	#1
Valigarmander More humble than you. Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: The land of rain and trees (Oregon) Gender: Posts: 23,211 Thanks: 1,372 Thanked 4,001 Times in 1,796 Posts Points: 2,705.79 Bank: 90,828,208.54 Total Points: 90,830,914.33 Donate	Ash Wednesday/Lent Today is Ash Wednesday, the date on the Christian calendar that marks the beginning of Lent. This period of time is set aside to recognize the time Jesus spent in the desert, resisting the Devil's temptations. As such, many Christians take it upon themselves to resist temptations of their own during this time. This could be giving up snack foods, smoking, sex, video games (my uncle did that last year), or something else that is generally considered a temptation, or at least time you could replace with doing something productive. I'm not particularly religious, but today I've decided that for Lent I'll be giving up my bad eating habits. Seriously, I'm a glutton. I may be skinny as a sapling but that doesn't hide the fact that I eat more than anyone else in the house. So, I'll be honoring Lent along with my family (which is Christian), and spending the next 40 days or so until Easter trying to resist the temptations of bad dieting. Hopefully, I won't stop at Easter. I see this as an opportunity to respect and celebrate a religious tradition with my family (though I myself am not a Christian), and also to motivate myself to do something good for me. In this topic, feel free to discuss what you plan to do for Lent this year, if anything. Good luck, and wish me some.

02-06-2008, 07:48 PM	#6
Booyakasha Mod of War Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Wisconsinland Gender: Posts: 8,536 Thanks: 131 Thanked 1,083 Times in 529 Posts Points: 21,391.87 Bank: 6,310,993.66 Total Points: 6,332,385.53 Donate	Well, we're snowed in here in Milwaukee, so we couldn't really go to Mass. I never really give things up for Lent, or for New Year's resolutionery. I'd like to think I make up for it by trying to be a good person in general, but I guess that probably sounds like kind of a cop-out. (Never claimed to be a particularly good Christian...) __________________ Boo---his face is beaming

02-06-2008, 07:16 PM	#2
*Saria Dragon of the Rain Wilds* Admin "mine.. not yours. NO. MINE." Epic Ladynerd Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Forteresse de Valois Gender: Posts: 26,809 Thanks: 953 Thanked 1,233 Times in 772 Posts Points: 9,391.72 Bank: 87,607,718.76 Total Points: 87,617,110.48 Donate	I personally disapprove of Lent, but I respect that other people want to do it for theirselves or their religion.

02-06-2008, 07:19 PM	#3
FALCON PAUNCH THE PRESIDENT OF FUN Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: I rub my tilde all over your asterisk Gender: Posts: 23,196 Thanks: 1,237 Thanked 3,954 Times in 1,776 Posts Points: 77,124.90 Bank: 1,062,672,602.00 Total Points: 1,062,749,726.90 Donate	I'd rather motivate myself by force of will, but I understand a lot of people aren't as capable of that.

02-06-2008, 07:20 PM	#4
Valigarmander More humble than you. Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: The land of rain and trees (Oregon) Gender: Posts: 23,211 Thanks: 1,372 Thanked 4,001 Times in 1,796 Posts Points: 2,705.79 Bank: 90,828,208.54 Total Points: 90,830,914.33 Donate	I'm not a big fan of the fasting thing, but there are parts of it I can understand and respect.

02-06-2008, 07:23 PM	#5
SephirothKirby Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Well then, let's begin the scoring. Gender: Posts: 6,387 Thanks: 315 Thanked 678 Times in 393 Posts Points: 11,256.02 Bank: 45,528,564.97 Total Points: 45,539,820.99 Donate	Oh, so that's why we do this? I've always wondered. =\ Panfan told me it was Ash Wednesday, and I had no idea what he was talking about. I'm only familiar with "Lent" So. Yeah. Now I know. I don't think I'll do it this year either, as I don't personally see the point.

02-06-2008, 08:49 PM	#7
ZeldaGirl Venting SuperMod Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Why do YOU want to know...? Gender: Posts: 14,982 Thanks: 852 Thanked 1,528 Times in 918 Posts Points: 71,820.90 Bank: 256,917,538.95 Total Points: 256,989,359.85 Donate	Val, you're still a teenager. It's possible you're not a glutton, but just growing up. Just something to keep in mind. But, hey, if you feel the need to eat better, more power to you.

02-06-2008, 11:19 PM	#8
Wyborn Zelda Mod Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: All over the place Gender: Posts: 12,386 Thanks: 87 Thanked 466 Times in 280 Posts Points: 41,608.47 Bank: 92,520.45 Total Points: 134,128.92 Donate	I....I don't think it's gluttony if you can't gain weight. I mean, you eat because you're hungry, not for the pleasure of eating, right? Regardless, if you wanna cut back on food for Lent as a form of religious fasting, more power to you.

02-06-2008, 11:28 PM	#9
Valigarmander More humble than you. Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: The land of rain and trees (Oregon) Gender: Posts: 23,211 Thanks: 1,372 Thanked 4,001 Times in 1,796 Posts Points: 2,705.79 Bank: 90,828,208.54 Total Points: 90,830,914.33 Donate	^ Not really, I'm eating when I'm not even hungry. I've been eating just to have something to do. Seriously, I have some sort of hypermetabolism or something. It runs in the family, at least from my dad. And I don't want that catching up to me someday.

02-07-2008, 12:10 AM	#11
#bowbow The Rubber Band Man Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Birmingham, AL Gender: Posts: 14,891 Thanks: 1,581 Thanked 1,057 Times in 587 Posts Points: 9,023,592.63 Bank: 24,303,562.07 Total Points: 33,327,154.70 Donate	^Wyborn is on repeat. My suitemate observed lent today, he gave up meat for the day. I've never done it, because I was never taught that actually.

02-07-2008, 12:10 AM	#12
Benito Mussolini Banned Join Date: Feb 2006 Gender: Posts: 65 Thanks: 0 Thanked 5 Times in 5 Posts Points: 2,502.01 Bank: 530.60 Total Points: 3,032.62 Donate	if you're not gaining weight then you are probably not eating as much as you think

02-07-2008, 12:12 AM	#13
Deku Trii PP&R Mod Current Events Mod Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: More important than where is when.... Gender: Posts: 8,082 Thanks: 320 Thanked 895 Times in 472 Posts Points: 9,536.83 Bank: 1,649,676,956.43 Total Points: 1,649,686,493.26 Donate	Hopefully your body doesn't adapt to your fasting by slowing down your metabolism.

02-07-2008, 12:18 AM	#14
betasoldier Junior Member Join Date: May 2007 Gender: Posts: 106 Thanks: 10 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts Points: 4,192.66 Bank: 0.00 Total Points: 4,192.66 Donate	I observe lent as well. I too have the same problem and can and do eat much much more than people realize. Strange really, part of it may be because you could be very active, I know that's part of the reason for me. Naturally I'm giving up meat, yesterday now, and every Friday. However, I'm also giving up pop as well, and I practically run on caffeine, and no, I don't drink coffee. Too bad I don't drink or I could give up alcohol instead. I already miss mountain dew cry. Oh well, I've been through caffeine withdrawals before.

02-07-2008, 01:21 AM	#15
*CaptHayfever* Smash SuperMod Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: (n) - the place where I am Gender: Posts: 23,754 Thanks: 900 Thanked 1,836 Times in 1,064 Posts Points: 213,298.33 Bank: 688,704.12 Total Points: 902,002.45 Donate	As I've done for the last few years, I'm giving up root beer for Lent. And just like the last few years, it is highly likely that I will be a raving lunatic by Palm Sunday. And remember, "I'm-a Luigi, number one!"

02-07-2008, 02:58 AM	#16
Metal Man Cheapskate Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: Land of Confusion Gender: Posts: 14,295 Thanks: 129 Thanked 630 Times in 448 Posts Points: 24,451.80 Bank: 487,735.11 Total Points: 512,186.91 Donate	Trivia: I have the exact same metabolism thing as Val. Despite powering down ice cream, cheese burgers, fries, and other things, I weigh 120 lbs. Probably less thanks to this hideous cold. Ugh. Trying to eat what I can to undo that. Er, anyway. As an athiest, Lent doesn't mean much to me, although I respect the fact it exists. I will however get off my arse and get some nice work done in that time, so even though I probably won't be doing it on purpose, I will probably be fulfilling part of the idea of it. ...That and I more than abstained on food between that horrible norovirus and this cold I just had which screwed me up good too. So anyway, all the more power to the people who do celebrate it. Meanwhile I will be building more PHP machines.

02-07-2008, 06:32 AM	#17
User Name Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Gotham City Gender: Posts: 6,751 Thanks: 413 Thanked 390 Times in 264 Posts Points: 10,340.36 Bank: 8,091,056.85 Total Points: 8,101,397.21 Donate	I believe in Lent and and repenting during this time because of what Christ did for us, but I've never given up anything for Lent. I would like to believe that I don't need a church season to give up something that is addicting in my life. Plus, I also believe that I should repenting every day no matter what. I think of Lent as a church season just like Advent or Epiphany. shrug

02-07-2008, 07:17 AM	#18
Demonicus Prime Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: I Pity The Fool Who Confuses Me With Someone Other Than YoshiFreak. Gender: Posts: 3,108 Thanks: 648 Thanked 129 Times in 87 Posts Points: 30,794.81 Bank: 287,354.84 Total Points: 318,149.65 Donate	I guess it's an odd way to look at it, but I've always thought that if we're honoring the sacrifice that Jesus/God made for us by giving up something addicting like Root Beer, since He made the Earth in 7 days, how much of a sacrifice is it really to Him? If we're resisting temptations, doesn't it seem kinda backwards that we're doing something insignificant for something so big? Take it or leave it, that's my standpoint.

02-07-2008, 11:09 AM	#19
*CaptHayfever* Smash SuperMod Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: (n) - the place where I am Gender: Posts: 23,754 Thanks: 900 Thanked 1,836 Times in 1,064 Posts Points: 213,298.33 Bank: 688,704.12 Total Points: 902,002.45 Donate	It's a parallelism thing. Obviously we can't all spend 40 days in a desert, but we can spend 40 days without something that we're used to. Root beer is non-addictive, by the way; most brands don't even use caffeine. And remember, "I'm-a Luigi, number one!"

02-07-2008, 12:05 PM	#20
Joker Lord of Vampires / God of Vengeance Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: The Planet of Eternal Darkness Gender: Posts: 10,973 Thanks: 3,168 Thanked 549 Times in 343 Posts Blog Entries: 6 Points: 1,000.47 Bank: 1,968,385.59 Total Points: 1,969,386.06 Donate	I gave up drinking on New Years so I'm already doing something for lent.