Do You Do The Lent Thing?

**cincygreg** · February 25th, 2009, 09:22 AM

Just wondering. It's that time again. Time for people to change their diet at least one day a week. Only certain people, but there's quite a few that do participate. Seems like this whole thing may have been designed with kids in mind. Why? Well, let's look at some of the options for dining during the lenten season, shall we? Ok then. Smacaroni and Cheese, grilled cheese, cheese 'za, mater soup, spaghetti (hold the meat sauce and/or meatballs) fish sticks... Starting to look like a kids menu from a restaurant. HMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!?!?!?! kinda makes you wonder. Or not! But there are plenty of options for adults as well (including some of the ones mentioned above) Fish, shrimp, any seafood, veggie soup, veggie 'za, black bean/veggie burgers, salad... Still have never quite figured out the eggs are ok but chicken isn't thing, but I've heard rulings either way on that one. I guess it depends which you think came first, the chicken or the egg? Breakfast for dinner? Sure, why not. Waffles, pancakes, french toast... they all work just fine just gotta ditch the bacon or sausage on the side. So, do you do the lent thing? And if so, what do you usually go for most often on those days? Hey, how about some cheese ravioli or lasagna? One fish, two fish red fish blue fish... Maybe the fishermen had something to do with this. Check the gordons fisherman to see if he's sporting a new ride these days! If you do the lent thing well, good for you. Get down with your meatless friday self and have at it. Knock yourself out getting as cheesy as you wanna be every friday and remember to have a nice day, unless you're a jerk. Hey, you are one step away from being a vegetarian !

**Sluggo** · February 25th, 2009, 11:07 AM

Yeah. I do.

**gae** · February 25th, 2009, 11:15 AM

Nope. Raised Catholic and had it forced on me.

Does God really care if I don't eat candy during Lent? If I don't eat meat? Surely, if there IS a God, s/he has more on her/his mind than my diet during an arbitrary time of the year.

What most Catholics won't admit is that the whole no meat thing is the direct result of some Pope having family members who were fisherman. It was all economics, and now it's a SIN. I'll have good company in hell, I'm sure.

Balderdash. The entire "religion" is balderdash.

Break all the golden rules? If you're Catholic, just have your family buy indulgences and you'll get to heaven.

**travelinman** · February 25th, 2009, 01:17 PM

Total Bull Shit.

Just like only eating fish on Friday. Has nothing to do with God but some pope's family were fisherman so it was a way to increase his family's finances.

Catholicism was the worst thing to happen to Christianity.

**jumper69** · March 6th, 2009, 01:23 PM

Originally Posted by gae

Nope. Raised Catholic and had it forced on me.

Does God really care if I don't eat candy during Lent? If I don't eat meat? Surely, if there IS a God, s/he has more on her/his mind than my diet during an arbitrary time of the year.

What most Catholics won't admit is that the whole no meat thing is the direct result of some Pope having family members who were fisherman. It was all economics, and now it's a SIN. I'll have good company in hell, I'm sure.

Balderdash. The entire "religion" is balderdash.

Break all the golden rules? If you're Catholic, just have your family buy indulgences and you'll get to heaven.

Wasn't raised Catholic (one of the few things done right in my upbringing) but wholeheartedly agree with Gae, Trav, GL, et al.

Religion in general, and the Catholics in particular, are the biggest scams in existence today.

**Beachcomber** · March 6th, 2009, 06:49 PM

If I may quote Napoleon, he summed it up very well when he stated:

"All things proclaim the existence of a God, it is undeniable; but all our religions are the children of men"

And his position on Christianity is something I myself felt as a child and have held to ever since, specifically relating to the oft preached fire and brimstone that "non believers will go to Hell" And in particular:

"I was scandalized to hear that the most virtuous men of antiquity would burn eternally for not having followed a religion they did not know. From that moment I had no more religion"

And as Gail mentioned, "indulgences" really sums up especially the official Catholic dogma. Do whatever heinous thing you want, pay the CHURCH enough money andf all is forgiven. I have also seen dyed in the wool fundamentalist groups with slogans such as "Good works will not get you into Heaven" and "You will burn in Hell if you do not accept Jesus Christ as your saviour." That made me NON Christian at a very early age. What kind of arrogant, self important message is that for a supposed Divine individual? May as well tote a Koran around with you.It's all about CONTROLLING people. Hence why Bhuddism and Karma and reincarnation make so much sense to me. What goes around comes around, your next life you make in this one.

I kind of envy the Christians who can follow all the rituals and saint days and holy days and such and truly believe they are following the right path. I don't buy it and never did. Every action in this life is a building block for your next life. I am certain of that. I am also certain I have lived before, many times. And whatever I suffer this time around is the direct result of my actions in the past. I'll get it right one of these times, as will we all....

**LAKE** · March 19th, 2009, 06:12 PM

Any excuse for a fish fry, I say!

With all this religion talk, have any of your read The Shack?

**Beachcomber** · February 25th, 2009, 06:59 PM

Without meaning to offend anyone, I must concur with Gae and Trav. But then I think all organized religion is a sham, a means to control people and extract money from them. While organized religion has had a civilizing effect over the years on a basically brutish population I think it has actually done more harm than good. How many wars have been fought in the name of religion? How many people tortured, maimed, killed in the name of religion? I have Faith in a Divine Entity of some sort, but you will never see me following the dictates of any church. Bhuddism comes closest to my own beliefs but even it is off the mark in some respects for me personally.

**cincygreg** · February 26th, 2009, 08:37 AM

Fair enough. I figured I'd get some interesting responses to this one. To me it's like most things. Religion is a personal choice as are the beliefs you associate with whichever religion you happen to be part of.