# It's that time of year again: What are you giving up for Lent? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [February 13, 2013, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-that-time-of-year-again-what-are-you-giving-up-for-lent/650225 "2013-02-13T22:35:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2013, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-that-time-of-year-again-what-are-you-giving-up-for-lent/650225/41 "2013-02-18T22:07:47Z")
> [@Baker](#): > > With all due respect **Clothahump** , it’s important to those of us who do it. For me I don’t intend to permanently give up meat, but I do it, as I said upthread, as a spiritual exercise. When I deny myself something I like so much it reminds me of the sacrifice that Christ made for us all. And I do it now because as a Christian I’m getting ready for Easter. To us it’s not “mythological”. > > So please, try to show the same respect you would like for activities you do that others may find meaningless. Mythology: > [@](#): > > a set of stories, traditions, or beliefs associated with a particular group or the history of an event, arising naturally or deliberately fostered. The term was not used disrespectfully. I was using it in the sense of pertaining to the customs and traditions of the group. And I have heard the “sacrifice” example before. While I understand where it comes from, my response has always been something along the lines of why don’t you sacrifice your time and do something constructive that helps others, like volunteer in a homeless shelter, etc…something you don’t do on a regular basis now? ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2013, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-that-time-of-year-again-what-are-you-giving-up-for-lent/650225/42 "2013-02-18T22:34:50Z")
I’m sorry you are so closed minded **Clothahump**. ---
**Author:** ![Kimmy\_Gibbler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Kimmy\_Gibbler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimmy_Gibbler)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2013, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-that-time-of-year-again-what-are-you-giving-up-for-lent/650225/43 "2013-02-18T22:35:48Z")
> [@Clothahump](#): > > my response has always been something along the lines of why don’t you sacrifice your time and do something constructive that helps others, like volunteer in a homeless shelter, etc…something you don’t do on a regular basis now? Whoopsie-doodle! Holy Mother Church is already way ahead of you! The [three pillars of Lent](http://www.episcopalcafe.com/daily/fasting_101.php) have always been (_semper, ubique, et ab omnibus_) prayer, fasting (_i.e._, giving something up), and almsgiving. In general, resources saved through fasting are recommended to supply the alms to be given. ---
**Author:** ![Ace309](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ace309/32/1050_2.png) [@Ace309](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ace309)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2013, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-that-time-of-year-again-what-are-you-giving-up-for-lent/650225/44 "2013-02-19T02:42:27Z")
> [@Clothahump](#): > > And I have heard the “sacrifice” example before. While I understand where it comes from, my response has always been something along the lines of why don’t you sacrifice your time and do something constructive that helps others, like volunteer in a homeless shelter, etc…something you don’t do on a regular basis now? Why are your standards of sacrifice more applicable than others’? ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2013, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-that-time-of-year-again-what-are-you-giving-up-for-lent/650225/45 "2013-02-20T17:45:21Z")
> [@Baker](#): > > I’m sorry you are so closed minded **Clothahump**. Excuse me? Closed minded in what manner? ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2013, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-that-time-of-year-again-what-are-you-giving-up-for-lent/650225/46 "2013-02-20T17:53:41Z")
> [@Ace309](#): > > Why are your standards of sacrifice more applicable than others’? Why are others standards of sacrifice more applicable than mine? On the one hand, we have someone who says (for example), “I’m gonna give up booze for Lent.” On the other hand, we have someone who says (for example), “I’m gonna go work in a homeless shelter for Lent.” Yes, the first guy is “sacrificing”. But his sacrifice is limited; he’s going to stop doing something that is harmful to his body for a limited period of time, then he’s going to start doing it again. The second guy is sacrificing his time, and even if it’s only for a limited period, what he does will help others and have much more of a wide-spread effect. I’m just wondering why more people don’t choose to do things like the second guy, rather than do things like the first guy. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2013, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-that-time-of-year-again-what-are-you-giving-up-for-lent/650225/47 "2013-02-20T19:57:53Z")
Do you not know what “almsgiving” means? ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2013, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-that-time-of-year-again-what-are-you-giving-up-for-lent/650225/48 "2013-02-20T22:08:27Z")
> [@Clothahump](#): > > Excuse me? Closed minded in what manner? Well, you won’t see that some people have different beliefs and opinions than yours, and hold them just as dear as you do your own. So, how would you feel if someone dissed something you feel is worthwhile and important? Like TKD? I did read that thread in the pit you know. ---
**Author:** ![Idle\_Thoughts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/838e76/32.png) [@Idle\_Thoughts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Idle_Thoughts)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2013, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-that-time-of-year-again-what-are-you-giving-up-for-lent/650225/49 "2013-02-20T23:48:03Z")
Let’s save the debate for what Lent is and whether or not it’s meaningless for Great Debates. End the hijack in here and let’s get back on topic. everyone. ---
**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2013, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-that-time-of-year-again-what-are-you-giving-up-for-lent/650225/50 "2013-02-21T14:17:44Z")
Our parish is doing the rice bowl for Lent — I think it’s a great idea but I don’t think it’s doable for my family this year. Has anyone done it before; if so, what did you think of the experience? ---
**Author:** ![LouisB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@LouisB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LouisB)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2013, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-that-time-of-year-again-what-are-you-giving-up-for-lent/650225/51 "2013-02-21T14:44:13Z")
Buttermilk ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2013, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-that-time-of-year-again-what-are-you-giving-up-for-lent/650225/52 "2013-02-22T23:33:09Z")
Peanut butter. It’s one of my all-time favorite foods, and I just eat way too much of it – PB sandwiches, crackers, etc. Sometimes it’s just too easy to make a peanut butter sandwich for dinner than something actually nutricious. So far so good. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2013, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-that-time-of-year-again-what-are-you-giving-up-for-lent/650225/53 "2013-02-23T05:24:06Z")
I’m trying to give up buying take-out food or eating in a restaurant, which means being more mindful of planning ahead and meeting but not exceeding my needs. I’ve been reading about Dorothy Day and a quote in the intro (not necessarily attributed to her) was “Everything you have you stole from the poor”. So I am trying harder to evaluate whether I really need something, and to be grateful for what I have. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-that-time-of-year-again-what-are-you-giving-up-for-lent/650225.md?page=2)