<p>I gave up fantasizing about what I would buy with that end of the year bonus I didn’t get.</p>
<p>You?</p>
<p>Dating and sex… then I realized that Med School is the same thing.</p>
<p>I’m giving up tennis. The ankle cast helped me make that choice.</p>
<p>I should give up spending so much time on this site…but that’s not happening.</p>
<p>I’m thinking about giving up cooking. 
(So far, so good!)</p>
<p>I don’t mind the levity, but I DO want to point out that Lent is a serious religious observance to a number of us, so please keep that in mind. It is a time of sacrifice and reflection, and the choices made by those of us who observe Lent are made for reasons other than seeing how long we can do without chocolate or alcohol! Just sayin’ …</p>
<p>I understand your view Mom, but to others it isn’t. You are free to ignore the levity if it bothers you.</p>
<p>Personally, I’m giving up religion.</p>
<p>^^as a catholic, the above post is offensive to me…</p>
<p>As I said, levity is fine, but some people wouldn’t dream of engaging in levity about Jewish holidays or Muslim observances for fear of being slammed for being totally insensitive while not hesitating to treat Lent as a big joke. Just noting that paradox.</p>
<p>fordiscussion- I’ll ignore whatever I want and I think I’ll start with YOU.</p>
<p>I suppose ignoring people whose views are different than yours is one method, and you’re free to choose it. But I find the fact that some people think there’s only one way to think and only one religion that all should observe even more offensive.</p>
<p>Levity about jewish holidays, muslims observances and much more has been enganged in on this board. Many much more offensive than making light of what people are giving up for lent. As I stated before, if it offends you, nobody is making you read this thread.</p>
<p>MomofWildChild - no disrespect intended on my part. </p>
<p>The post I wrote I also sent to my ex-boss, who is a very passionate Christian. He was not insulted and told me so. </p>
<p>As a nice Jewish girl (raised in a modern-dox (modern orthodox) household), I sent a Yom Kippur e-mail to my family & friends this year that read: Let’s embrace our Jewish faith by sleeping until 11:00 a.m. so we can feel hungry for a shorter time span.</p>
<p>No family member took offense at it either. </p>
<p>If my post offended anyone, please accept my olive branch, no offense was intended by me.</p>
<p>
I don’t understand why you would be offended by someone not observing your customs. Fordiscussion is obviously not Catholic so isn’t obligated by either custom or religion to give up anything. I think people need to be a little more tolerant.</p>
<p>If I’m wrong, please explain it to me.</p>
<p>Ah, this brings me back to my Catholic school days. We would all give up giving up things for Lent. We thought it as funny senior year as it had been freshman year.</p>
<p>May we have all the deeply insulted people go to the right side of the room. That’s good, that’s good.</p>
<p>And now, if you would be so kind, all the outraged people on the left side. Thank you. </p>
<p>Lent Quiz:</p>
<p>Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent which lasts for 40 days and ends with Easter. But this year the number of days between Ash Wed. and Easter is 47. Why is that?</p>
<p>And no googling! (Which is what I had to do even though I attended Catholic schools for 16 years)</p>
<p>Sundays don’t count.</p>
<p>Im not Catholic so I am not giving up anything for Lent- but can I celebrate Fat Tuesday anyway?</p>
<p>I am not Catholic, either. My issue is a broad one and goes way beyond this forum. Lent is NOT about giving up coke or chocolate, just as Easter shouldn’t be one of the only two times a year one goes to church and then claim to be a devout Catholic/Episcopalian etc. Lent is important and has been terribly distorted (by our own religions) and the giving up of food/activities is right up there with Easter being all about candy and a big rabbit!</p>
<p>I am giving up rutabaga, a vegtable extremely important to my ethnic group.</p>
<p>Seriously, we are Protestant and we observe Lent.
“It’s not just for Catholics any more” Henry VIII</p>
<p>The timing of Easter and Christmas was the result of early Christians preempting existing Pagan observances.
Mid-Winter=Everyone has time to celebrate and everyone is bored.
Spring=Let’s run around outside because the weaher is nice.</p>
<p>I am Catholic and have taught high school CCD for years. Every year we start the Lent discussion by saying “We know you are all giving up giving things up, going to mass, religion, etc. for Lent, so now lets talk about what Lent really is about.” (Sorry fordiscussion, but that is one of the oldest jokes in the world.) </p>
<p>Actually, every year we encourage kids to give something up in the spirit of sacrifice, but at the same time to take something up make the world better place --even if it is a small change.</p>
<p>I like to think of Lent as a time for both spiritual and physical “housecleaning”. For me, it’s a time each year to take stock of where I am both spiritually and physically. On the physical side, I always give up soft drinks, sweets, and alcohol. Too bad I stick with that the rest of the year!</p>