1. Do you observe Lent?
I do, after a fashion, but am currently sort of . . . displaced.
2. Why (not)?
Because it is good for the soul and spirit: self-examination, the mystery of Christ's passion, death, and ultimately His glorious resurrection.
3. What does your observance of Lent typically entail? Giving things up, taking things on, or something else?
"giving things up" is a peculiar and somewhat new practice among Western Christians. Originally, even in the West, Lenten observance was much more like that of the Eastern Orthodox Churches, right up until the 20th century (Lenten fasting, or fasting at all for that matter, changed even more significantly after Vatican II).
4. What's the hardest thing you've ever given up/taken on/something else?
Several years ago I went completely vegetarian for Lent. That was very difficult for me, but I survived!
5. What, if anything, are you planning to do for observing Lent this year?
Last year I read St Augustine's Confessions. This year . . . well, I am a lapsed Roman Catholic, generically (traditional) Anglican with Orthodox sympathies; it is complicated. But I do observe Morning and Evening prayer (1662/1928 Book of Common Prayer) daily, so the seasonal elements of the offices add something to my Lenten experience.
6. Do you observe Sundays as feast days (and as such, exempt from fasting/abstinence), considering that the 40 days between Ash Wednesday and Holy Saturday don't include Sundays?
I've grown rather lax in following dietary restrictions of any sort.
Six is a good number. I'll stop here.
I suppose it is, but five is much nicer number in the grand scheme of things
/Survey: Lent approaches! Anyone giving up anything?
16/02/2010 04:28:08 AM
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I'm giving up christianity. Challenging but worthwhile. *NM*
16/02/2010 04:53:11 AM
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I have a friend who used to pledge to be a better Buddhist for Lent.
16/02/2010 05:02:03 PM
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Non-essential internet sounds like a haaard one.
16/02/2010 05:38:25 AM
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I'm actually looking forward to it. I'm quite good at not doing something if I have a reason.
16/02/2010 05:48:34 AM
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Great Lent already began on Monday.
16/02/2010 01:45:16 PM
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the orthodox lent sounds similar to what Catholic Lent was >.>
16/02/2010 05:21:10 PM
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Pretty much.
16/02/2010 09:38:48 PM
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That's still on the books for Episcopalians, if I recall correctly, but as an option.
16/02/2010 11:48:24 PM
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I'm not a Christian, but I've given things up in the name of Lent.
16/02/2010 02:20:14 PM
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Is it weird that I really like Lent?
16/02/2010 05:21:54 PM
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Perhaps it is. But, less so than lint, I'm thinking.
16/02/2010 05:25:28 PM
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I actually do enjoy cleaning lint traps in the dryer. It's fun! *NM*
16/02/2010 05:34:08 PM
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I don't think anyone here does I guess it's not our tradition (though I'm not even Christian) *NM*
16/02/2010 08:04:55 PM
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Sort of.
17/02/2010 04:22:03 PM
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The question that comes to my mind is....
17/02/2010 06:19:46 PM
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And there's another huge difference between abstinence and self-denial.
21/02/2010 08:18:15 PM
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