[ SECRET POST #2618 ]

[case]

⌈ Secret Post #2618 ⌋

Warning: Some secrets are NOT worksafe and may contain SPOILERS.

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Notes:

Secrets Left to Post: 02 pages, 039 secrets from Secret Submission Post #374.
Secrets Not Posted: [ 0 - broken links ], [ 0 - not!secrets ], [ 0 - not!fandom ], [ 0 - too big ], [ 0 - repeat ].
Current Secret Submissions Post: here.
Suggestions, comments, and concerns should go here.

Comments

Re: Do you observe Lent? if so, what are you giving up this year?

[(Anonymous)]

It's nice to think of Lent as a period of transformation, but framing it as a time where deprivation isn't the point is... well, not understanding what Lent is. Lent is traditionally about atonement and self-denial. You're transformed, yes... by your voluntary self-deprivation of something you would ordinarily not go without.

That sounds kind of harsh, but hey, welcome to religion.

Re: Do you observe Lent? if so, what are you giving up this year?

[lunabee34]

I am not trying to be snarky in reply because I'm sure your comment is 100% well-intentioned but apologies if I do not succeed.

I am well aware of the traditions surrounding Lent. Because I was commenting to a thread specifically about Lent, I assumed most of the people reading and commenting to the thread would be familiar with Lenten disciplines, with the associated scriptures, and with related traditions. I didn't think I needed to demonstrate my knowledge in my comment.

I have huge huge huge issues with Christians in America framing themselves as martyrs (because of the way I was raised; see comment upthread; the kind of Christianity I grew up with continually frames American Christians as persecuted, as soldiers in some sort of battle they're fighting, etc.). I realize that Christianity in general has a storied history of meditation upon the suffering of Christ and saints and of framing earthly suffering in that context. I also realize that Christianity (and other religions too!) has a long history of valuing mortification of the flesh as an avenue to godliness. For me, those two traditions are inextricably bound up in what I see as abuses of those practices and make me deeply uncomfortable.

I also think that for many people Lent has become what many others have commented about here--a time to diet, a chance to try to give up that nasty nail biting habit, a moment to perfunctorily "give up" something you don't really give a shit about anyway because it's easy--rather than any form of prayer, penitence, or atonement.

I've also always heard Lent framed as an opportunity for transformation in the three parishes (across two states) where I've attended Mass.

While I still struggle with belief, I think a formal time of reflection, meditation, and transformation is a useful one. As I am pretty cool with ladies and gay people, it's always been clear to me that my stance on any particular issue is never going to jive completely with the church, at least not for now anyway, so if my understanding of Lent is grossly incorrect, I think I can live with that too.