# What are you giving up for Lent? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 27, 2006, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-giving-up-for-lent/346247 "2006-02-27T01:26:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![bouv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@bouv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bouv)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2006, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-giving-up-for-lent/346247/21 "2006-02-27T21:03:55Z")
> [@MacTech](#): > > What about giving up Lent for Lent? or would that cause a logical paradox and cause the universe to implode? Damn you, stop stealnig my ideas! Although I have pretty much been giving up Lent for Lent since I was old enough to realzie that I don’t beleive in the religion anymore (sometime in high school.) How does one give up Lent for Lent? Easy, just do the opposite. Make sure not to fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, eat meat on all Fridays, and add a vice. I’m thinknig of taking up heroin…seems it could be good for a larth. This goes perfectly with that New Year’s resolution I made several years ago to never make another new year’s resolution…using the system against itself is my specialty. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![6\_6\_6](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/6/e0b2c6/32.png) [@6\_6\_6](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/6_6_6)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2006, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-giving-up-for-lent/346247/22 "2006-02-27T22:20:11Z")
> [@Lissla Lissar](#): > > I thought about giving up the internet, but that would be less practical, because I do all my **baking** and bill-paying online. (My bold) I can’t believe I’m the first to spot this. Mmmm. Broadband bread! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2006, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-giving-up-for-lent/346247/23 "2006-02-27T23:18:28Z")
The whole family is giving up sweets/desserts/snacks for Lent. You’ll be able to read about us going collectively over the edge somewhere around March 3rd. ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2006, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-giving-up-for-lent/346247/24 "2006-02-28T00:05:07Z")
> [@dalej42](#): > > Ash Wednesday is this Wednesday. What are you giving up for Lent? Lent. ---
**Author:** ![Rysdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7cd45c/32.png) [@Rysdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysdad)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2006, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-giving-up-for-lent/346247/25 "2006-02-28T02:09:50Z")
Lint. It’s easy to remember not to collect it. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2006, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-giving-up-for-lent/346247/26 "2006-02-28T02:49:51Z")
> [@StGermain](#): > > I’d also like a good lenten book to read. Does anyone have a suggestion? Anything from a daily devotional to the life of a saint. I strongly recommend **The Autobiography of St. Teresa of Avila** , available at Amazon. ---
**Author:** ![Queen\_Bruin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Queen\_Bruin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Queen_Bruin)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2006, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-giving-up-for-lent/346247/27 "2006-02-28T03:06:27Z")
I’m giving up the friday night argument over where to go for dinner. Sushi all the way, baby! ---
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2006, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-giving-up-for-lent/346247/28 "2006-02-28T03:39:12Z")
**Bricker** - I’ve already read St. Theresa’s Autobiography. Any other suggestions? StG ---
**Author:** ![Wile\_E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c37758/32.png) [@Wile\_E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wile_E)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2006, 5:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-giving-up-for-lent/346247/29 "2006-02-28T05:39:28Z")
I gave up Catholicism for Lent many years ago. ---
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2006, 7:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-giving-up-for-lent/346247/30 "2006-02-28T07:10:25Z")
You know, it never ceases to amaze me how, whenever there’s a thread that’s about a religious topic, folks feel free to come in bashing that religion or its observances. But if the religious folks were to mention to the atheists and agnostics that their Sundays might be better spent in church than sleeping late and God looks kindly on those who attend a church service, we’d be trounced up one side and down the other. Tolerence works both ways. And I’m here to say that I’m tired of feeling like a second-class citizen because I have a faith that I practice. I don’t witness. I don’t demand that anyone else practice my faith. I only ask for a little respect. If you can’t say something germane to the OP, then stay the hell out. StG ---
**Author:** ![Fortean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/96bed5/32.png) [@Fortean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fortean)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2006, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-giving-up-for-lent/346247/31 "2006-02-28T12:29:38Z")
> [@](#): > > I’d also like a good lenten book to read. Does anyone have a suggestion? I dare say you’ve read Surprised By Joy and The Screwtape Letters by CS Lewis. Both of them seem quite Lenten to me, but then I am a very lacklustre Christian. Someone on [ship-of-fools.com](http://ship-of-fools.com) recommended this site: [http://www.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/Lent/index.html](http://www.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/Lent/index.html) And the site itself has a ‘do a good deed a day’ type calendar: [http://www.ship-of-fools.com/lent/index.html](http://www.ship-of-fools.com/lent/index.html) Personally I am going to give up booze. Also tentatively. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2006, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-giving-up-for-lent/346247/32 "2006-02-28T13:31:14Z")
I’m assuming you’ve already read Therese’s **Story of a Soul**. There are two others that are very readable and relevant for everyday life, both by St. Francis de Sales: **Finding God’s Will for You Introduction to the Devout Life** \<\< I don’t witness. I don’t demand that anyone else practice my faith. I only ask for a little respect. \>\> That’s exactly how I feel too. –gigi, enjoying a chocolate, French vanilla coffee with plenty of sugar and cream, for tomorrow we die 😉 ---
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2006, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-giving-up-for-lent/346247/33 "2006-02-28T16:01:06Z")
I haven’t read C.S. Lewis, except for the _Chronicles of Narnia_. I could try him. I’ve read St. Francis de Sales’ _Introduction to the Devout Life_, which I liked quite a lot. I could try _Finding God’s Will for you_. I’m presently trying to read a Chesterton autobiography of St. Thomas Aquinas, but Chesterton was so busy trying to make him accessible to his readers that he used a great deal of cultural references from 1930’s Britain, which I don’t understand at all. StG ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2006, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-giving-up-for-lent/346247/34 "2006-02-28T16:17:35Z")
As usual, I am giving up Hope for Lent. ---
**Author:** ![Lissla\_Lissar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8491ac/32.png) [@Lissla\_Lissar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissla_Lissar)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2006, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-giving-up-for-lent/346247/35 "2006-02-28T16:38:40Z")
Have you read _Orthodoxy_, **StGermain**? It’s my favourite Chesterton book, and I think it would be good Lent reading.It’s quite accesible. It’s short, though. C. S. Lewis is always good, too. I just sent _Swimming With Scapulars_ (by Matthew Lickona) and a book of novenas to my best friend and her husband. I’m hoping they’ll use them for Lent reading. I’m thinking of taking another stab at _The Dark Night of the Soul_ or _The Imitation of Christ_. I feel like running around frantically eating fast food today. It’s a good thing I’m broke. Giving the money to charity is a good idea. I’m thinking of making and distributing muffins and sandwiches to all the local homeless once a week. I usually chat with them and give them granola bars if they want them, but I’ve been thinking about doing baked goods. ---
**Author:** ![HPL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3da27b/32.png) [@HPL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HPL)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2006, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-giving-up-for-lent/346247/36 "2006-02-28T16:40:14Z")
> [@MacTech](#): > > What about giving up Lent for Lent? or would that cause a logical paradox and cause the universe to implode? I like those odds! Personally, I’m giving up nothing, because I’m not Catholic. ---
**Author:** ![Lissla\_Lissar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8491ac/32.png) [@Lissla\_Lissar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissla_Lissar)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2006, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-giving-up-for-lent/346247/37 "2006-02-28T16:40:23Z")
And **6 6 6** , at the mad rate I’ve been running around baking, it wouldn’t be surprising if I found a way to bake online. I’ve gotten through 30 pounds of flour in a month and a half. ---
**Author:** ![MsRobyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90ced4/32.png) [@MsRobyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsRobyn)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2006, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-giving-up-for-lent/346247/38 "2006-02-28T16:44:43Z")
> [@Bosda Di'Chi of Tricor](#): > > As usual, I am giving up Hope for Lent. I bet she’ll miss you, too. 😃 Robin ---
**Author:** ![Who\_me\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/958977/32.png) [@Who\_me\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Who_me_1)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2006, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-giving-up-for-lent/346247/39 "2006-02-28T17:16:30Z")
> [@StGermain](#): > > You know, it never ceases to amaze me how, whenever there’s a thread that’s about a religious topic, folks feel free to come in bashing that religion or its observances. But if the religious folks were to mention to the atheists and agnostics that their Sundays might be better spent in church than sleeping late and God looks kindly on those who attend a church service, we’d be trounced up one side and down the other. > > Tolerence works both ways. And I’m here to say that I’m tired of feeling like a second-class citizen because I have a faith that I practice. I don’t witness. I don’t demand that anyone else practice my faith. I only ask for a little respect. If you can’t say something germane to the OP, then stay the hell out. > > StG Who bashed? I do see some people who think they’re comedians and don’t realize that the joke gets old the 10,000th time it’s told. Luckily, although I’m of the No Faith contingent at present, when I was a young Methodist… we didn’t observe Lent. ---
**Author:** ![An\_Arky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/87869e/32.png) [@An\_Arky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Arky)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2006, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-giving-up-for-lent/346247/40 "2006-02-28T17:48:47Z")
Sorry for the hijack, but I have a question. Did giving up something you like for Lent ever have any practical basis? Or is it just another Catholic symbolic suffering for Jesus type thing? Some of the Jewish dietary rules had a practical basis originally, IIRC. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-giving-up-for-lent/346247.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-giving-up-for-lent/346247.md?page=3)