# Non-Catholics: What are you giving up for Lent? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 2, 2009, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-catholics-what-are-you-giving-up-for-lent/488038 "2009-03-02T18:25:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2009, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-catholics-what-are-you-giving-up-for-lent/488038/1 "2009-03-02T18:25:48Z")
I just had a short conversation with a young lady in which she claimed to be giving up diet soda for Lent. She said she would give up meat, but she likes steak too much. Same with chocolate. Now that’s commitment to a god! As an affirmed atheist, I feel it’s my duty to sacrifice something important to me, but the sacrifice should be comensurate with my piety. I, therefore, am abstaining from three bean salad. My abstention may last well beyond Easter. You? ---
**Author:** ![CandidGamera](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/candidgamera/32/2878_2.png) [@CandidGamera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CandidGamera)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2009, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-catholics-what-are-you-giving-up-for-lent/488038/2 "2009-03-02T18:26:41Z")
Self-denial. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2009, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-catholics-what-are-you-giving-up-for-lent/488038/3 "2009-03-02T18:27:55Z")
I’m giving up gardening until at least easter. Depending on the weather, I may have to give it up til Mother’s Day. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2009, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-catholics-what-are-you-giving-up-for-lent/488038/4 "2009-03-02T18:30:51Z")
Employment. Looks like I’m giving that up for a while. ---
**Author:** ![dactylic\_hexameter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d26b3c/32.png) [@dactylic\_hexameter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dactylic_hexameter)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2009, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-catholics-what-are-you-giving-up-for-lent/488038/5 "2009-03-02T18:34:24Z")
I’m a C&E christian. I gave up my salt-shaker. Back in January, I realized that I oversalt my food, and would like to regain some salt sensitivity for my taste-buds. Then lent came along = perfect excuse to finally do it. I’m still allowed to use salt-containing things, like ketchup, hot sauce or soy sauce, but no more salt as an additive to already seasoned food. So far eggs have been the hardest thing not to salt. edit: I realize my answer was more serious then this thread required, so more to the OP: I’ve given up drinking low abv beers. Only the good stuff for me 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Kyla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eada6e/32.png) [@Kyla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyla)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2009, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-catholics-what-are-you-giving-up-for-lent/488038/6 "2009-03-02T18:35:45Z")
I’m giving up eating all meat. It’s a terrible sacrifice, but I got used to ten years ago when I became a vegetarian. ---
**Author:** ![Eureka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/74df32/32.png) [@Eureka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eureka)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2009, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-catholics-what-are-you-giving-up-for-lent/488038/7 "2009-03-02T18:41:01Z")
Reading books which are stupid wastes of time. I’m still fine-tuning the details though–is it ok to read books which are only kinda stupid? How much of the book do I need to read before I can be sure that it is a stupid waste of time which I should not be reading? ---
**Author:** ![chacoguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/50afbb/32.png) [@chacoguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chacoguy)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2009, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-catholics-what-are-you-giving-up-for-lent/488038/8 "2009-03-02T18:47:08Z")
Catholic Guilt ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2009, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-catholics-what-are-you-giving-up-for-lent/488038/9 "2009-03-02T18:51:53Z")
As a matter of empirical observation, it is beginning to look like I am giving up dieting. ---
**Author:** ![cwthree](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9de0a6/32.png) [@cwthree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cwthree)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2009, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-catholics-what-are-you-giving-up-for-lent/488038/10 "2009-03-02T19:53:35Z")
We’ve decided to finalize the adoption of our newest cat, so I’m giving up any pretense of maintaining a really tidy home. Past experience tells me that this sacrifice will extend through the next 10 or 12 Lenten periods. ---
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2009, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-catholics-what-are-you-giving-up-for-lent/488038/11 "2009-03-02T19:55:37Z")
I’m giving up obedience of Catholic customs. ---
**Author:** ![Yodalicious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yodalicious/32/8195_2.png) [@Yodalicious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yodalicious)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2009, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-catholics-what-are-you-giving-up-for-lent/488038/12 "2009-03-02T20:16:52Z")
I’m giving up Judaism for Lent. ---
**Author:** ![lalenin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3da27b/32.png) [@lalenin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lalenin)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2009, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-catholics-what-are-you-giving-up-for-lent/488038/13 "2009-03-02T20:41:06Z")
God help me, I gave up drinking alcohol. ---
**Author:** ![Hi\_Neighbor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hi_neighbor/32/494_2.png) [@Hi\_Neighbor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hi_Neighbor)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2009, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-catholics-what-are-you-giving-up-for-lent/488038/14 "2009-03-02T20:43:10Z")
I’ll give up murdering people, though maiming is still fair game. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2009, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-catholics-what-are-you-giving-up-for-lent/488038/15 "2009-03-02T20:59:02Z")
I’m giving up Catholicism for Lent ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2009, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-catholics-what-are-you-giving-up-for-lent/488038/16 "2009-03-02T21:05:34Z")
I stopped eating red meat (for the most part) a few years ago. I always told myself one of these years I’m going to have an anti-Lent and eat nothing steaks and burgers for 40 days. If I didn’t think that by now it would probably give me the trots for an additional 40 days, I might give it a shot. ---
**Author:** ![Other\_Voices](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/7c8e57/32.png) [@Other\_Voices](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Other_Voices)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2009, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-catholics-what-are-you-giving-up-for-lent/488038/17 "2009-03-02T21:41:20Z")
Showering. ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2009, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-catholics-what-are-you-giving-up-for-lent/488038/18 "2009-03-02T21:46:03Z")
Back in 89’ I gave up going to church for lent. I enjoyed it so much I haven’t been back since. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2009, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-catholics-what-are-you-giving-up-for-lent/488038/19 "2009-03-02T21:51:51Z")
I am giving up guilt. Or die trying. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2009, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-catholics-what-are-you-giving-up-for-lent/488038/20 "2009-03-02T21:54:11Z")
I’m giving up Lent for Lent. Seriously, _why_ would I observe a custom that isn’t part of a religion I belong to? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-catholics-what-are-you-giving-up-for-lent/488038.md?page=2)