Why Lent is Really Stupid (A personal story)

[cleanhippie]

This is a good read, and a few paragraphs posted here would be a disservice to the writer and the reader. Here is just the first paragraph, read the entire story at the link.

Why Lent Is Really Stupid

I used to be a Catholic. As I mentioned a while back, my mother sang in the choir at INSERT LOCAL CATHOLIC CHURCH HERE, and still does to this day. While my father has since converted to the broader realm of the “vague Christian” since beginning his second marriage, during the halcyon days of youth he, my mother, my brother and I would drag ass out of bed Sunday mornings to hear Mom sing the same four or five variations on the same weathered liturgical dirges, interspersed with plenty of kneeling down and standing up, nodding heads and shaking hands, eating wafers and (not) drinking (disgusting) wine (from a cup which has been passed around the entire congregation for decades).

http://blog.theproudatheist.com/why-lent-is-really-stupid/

[ProgressiveProfessor]

1. I have to wonder if a post titled "Kwanza is really stupid" would be allowed here

[cleanhippie]

2. Did you read his story or just jump on the headline?

[ProgressiveProfessor]

3. A little of both

The headline was done by the author (not you) to be salacious...

[cleanhippie]

4. You can leave a comment on his blog.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

5. I already have

[cleanhippie]

6. Awesome. Care to discuss the story now?

[catnhatnh]

8. Sure...

Insulting and insipid denigration of a major religion which has little redeeming social value I can see. And yes, I read the entire worthless rant.

[hrmjustin]

9. I felt sad reading that blog.

[catnhatnh]

10. The give away....

...is taking the time to write that piece to tell people how little he cares about the Catholic Church. "You want to read another piece about stuff I find so stupid and unimportant that I researched and wrote about it???".

[hrmjustin]

11. loosing your faith can make some people bitter. Not for everyone but at times it can.

[goldent]

17. That was my reaction

The time and effort he took to write about lent, and in the end he really didn't make much of a point. My feeling is that his goal is winding people up, and so he doesn't necessarily need to make much sense, just try to be insulting.

[trotsky]

18. Sometimes it's just to put the thoughts out there.

Growing up a believer myself and having these same kinds of thoughts (though I wasn't raised Catholic), I thought I was alone. I would have really appreciated reading something like this.

[gcomeau]

19. Hey Captain Perceptive?

He didn't "research and write about it" because he cares so little about it. He was raised Catholic. His family is Catholic. He already knew about all of it. He's writing about HIS OWN LIFE EXPERIENCES. He didn't just wake up one morning and think "Hey, you know what I don't give a crap about? Some random religion! I'm going to go pick one out of a book and write an article about it!"

[kestrel91316]

12. Go bitch to the blogger who wrote it.

Or perhaps you think that bloggers are not entitled to speak their minds freely, unlike churches?

[ProgressiveProfessor]

16. I did...do you think the title and content was appropriate for DU?

What if it was about Kwanza or making a pilgrimage to Mecca?

[gcomeau]

20. Are you suggesting...

...that the only thing that should be permitted in the religion discussion forum is content uncritical of religion? That critical commentary should be censored? And you would be of the opinion that *that* is appropriate for DU?

If so, you may want to take some time to reflect on your understanding of what it means to be a liberal.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

21. My point is that critical content is already censored

Last edited Mon Mar 18, 2013, 03:53 PM - Edit history (1)

and my opinion is that is sucks

[hrmjustin]

7. Interesting read!

I feel for people who feel like they are just going through the motions. I have been their at times. Lent is lent and I just take it as it is. This lent i have had so much going on that I have not really decided to give up or do something special.

[TrogL]

14. You do not give stuff up for Lent

Lent is a time if prayer study and contemplation. If something is interfering with that then it needs to go on the back burner

[hrmjustin]

15. The stuff I have on my plate right now can not go on a back burner.

But you are correct that it is a time for study and contemplation in many denominations including mine.

[TrogL]

13. Pity he didn't pay attention during catechism

He has no idea what he's talking about

[Warpy]

22. My problem drinker dad gave up alcohol for Lent every year

and my mother said it was like spending 40 days and nights with a bear with a toothache. She was always greatly relieved when Easter dinner would hit the table and he'd pour himself a very large straight bourbon.

While I can see the origins as very practical: dedicating the early spring to fasting and meditation (when food was scarce, anyway), we no longer live in the deprivation northern Europe had to withstand every spring, nothing left to eat but wilted cabbage and weevily grains, maybe some salt pork or fish that was just starting to go off. Might as well feel pious about privation.

I also see people doing some pretty positive things, like quitting smoking for the 40 days and having that turn into a permanent thing because they feel so much better. Or avoiding a favorite problem food and dropping some pounds they need to drop. I know just as many non Catholics who do the Lent thing in the hope of improving something about themselves.

But yes, when parents nag their kids about giving something up, it's not right. That sort of thing has to come from within and can't be forced by nagging or guilt. Parents are only incurring resentment from the kid. Add enough resentments up and you end up with a hostile ex Catholic when the kid turns 18.

[truegrit44]

23. Being raised strict Catholic but now an atheist I got a real chuckle out of it,

actually even when in the church I kinda thought the same way. Wasn't very devout even then I guess.