REALLY penitent? Some Twin Cities faithful give up Facebook for...

This is funny - I gave up facebook for Lent and I know of at least three other people who did the same thing. I am really enjoying the facebook fast, so I decided that I should probably give up something else as well......pizza.

Wouldn't the world be a better place if people gave up religion for Reason and Logic for lent?

Bill Hicks wrote:

Wouldn't the world be a better place if people gave up religion for Reason and Logic for lent?

Yeah, the Cult of Gorebull Warming wuld be a good one to give up.

Question: "What is the meaning of Lent?"

Answer: Lent is a period of fasting and repentance traditionally observed by Catholics and some Protestant denominations in preparation for Easter. The length of the Lenten fast was established in the 4th century as 40 days. During this time, participants eat sparingly or simply give up a particular food or habit. Ash Wednesday and Lent began as a way for Catholics to remind themselves to repent of their sins in a manner similar to how people in the Old Testament repented in sackcloth, ashes, and fasting (Esther 4:1-3; Jeremiah 6:26; Daniel 9:3; Matthew 11:21).

However, over the centuries it has developed a much more "sacramental" value. Many Catholics understand giving something up for Lent as a way to gain blessing from God. The Bible does not teach that such acts have any merit with God (Isaiah 64:6). In fact, the New Testament teaches us that our acts of fasting and repentance should be done in a manner that does not attract attention to ourselves:“When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you”(Matthew 6:16-18).

Fasting is a good thing when it is done with a biblical perspective. It is good and pleasing to God when we give up sinful habits and practices. There is absolutely nothing wrong with setting aside a time when we focus on Jesus' death and resurrection. However, these practices are things we should be doing every day of the year, not just for 40 days between Ash Wednesday and Easter. If a Christian wishes to observe Lent, we are free to do so. The key is to focus the time on repenting from our sins and consecrating ourselves to God, not on trying to earn God's favor or increase His love for us.

Bill Hicks wrote:

Wouldn't the world be a better place if people gave up religion for Reason and Logic for lent?

Short answer: No. If you need additional solace I have something or other by Art Linkletter in my office.

James Kasal wrote:

<quoted text>
Short answer: No. If you need additional solace I have something or other by Art Linkletter in my office.

Say what?

Gomer Pyle wrote:

Question: "What is the meaning of Lent?"
Answer: Lent is a period of fasting and repentance traditionally observed by Catholics and some Protestant denominations in preparation for Easter.

If god is omnipotent, why did he need to give his only begotten son in the first place?

Take the religion 101 exam here:
http://www.ebonmusings.org/atheism/guestessay...

This makes no sense to me. People are giving up communicating with their friends for Lent? So they think God wants them to give up their friends in order to be closer to Him? Why stop at Facebook, then? Why not give up all technology and become a hermit?

Confused wrote:

This makes no sense to me. People are giving up communicating with their friends for Lent? So they think God wants them to give up their friends in order to be closer to Him? Why stop at Facebook, then? Why not give up all technology and become a hermit?

Confused - let me try and clear it up for you. First, do you use facebook? If you don't then you might not know that it is much more than just keeping in touch with your friends - there are tons of games and random applications that a person can use to waste time.

I gave up facebook because I am undisciplined, and on a daily basis I spend huge amounts of time on the internet. By my estimate more than half of my internet time is spent on facebook. I haven't given up talking on the phone, email or hanging out with friends in person - I am just giving up facebook because I found myself wasting far too much time on that particular website.

Bill Hicks wrote:

<quoted text>
Say what?

Bill,

It was a joke...

I don't mean this in a combative or mean way, it is an honest question. Are you an "evangelist" for atheism?

Bill Hicks wrote:

<quoted text>
If god is omnipotent, why did he need to give his only begotten son in the first place?
Take the religion 101 exam here:
http://www.ebonmusings.org/atheism/guestessay...

Very funny stuff.

If someone's faith is shaken by this type of thing then I suggest that they ask more questions and stop being afraid of doubt. I personally think the only bad question about God and the Bible are the questions that people withhold because they are afraid of asking them. After you ask a question the problem is this, are you actually looking for an answer or did you already make up your mind?

I read the test, now my suggested reading for you is Letters From a Skeptic by Greg Boyd. Greg tries to answer some very tough questions without fear or judgment. If you are an atheist this book will probably not change your mind, but it will force you to update some of your arguments.

Oh and Bill,

When I suggested a book I did not mean to imply that you agreed to read something that I suggested...sorry if I came across as rude.

Peace.

I remember being forced to eat liver as a child, so for lent I would take one for Jesus and give up liver!!

So it's like a New Year resolution? Cuz I'm doing so well on those. Why not add another. But this time make it a promise to God. Then I will keep it right? When I was little I got the spanking of my life for swearing. I promised God I would never swear again in my life. How do you think I'm doing on that one? Am i going to Hell? The idea of Lent is ridiculous. Religion in general is rediculous. Have a book written by God knows who, retranslated God knows how many times. And call everything written in it the word of God. Give me a break. God went to the strip club and drank beer just like the rest of us. Where do you think he met Magdalina? Religion was created to keep people in control.

wow to each his own smoke homegrown
LOVE PEACE AND TACO GREASE to all

I'm giving obamanomics for lent

James Kasal wrote:

<quoted text>
Very funny stuff.

That is what I call a bad choice of words. I should have said, "Thought provoking stuff."

It was not funny - sorry to be so light-hearted about serious stuff.

James Kasal wrote:

<quoted text>
Very funny stuff.
If someone's faith is shaken by this type of thing then I suggest that they ask more questions and stop being afraid of doubt. I personally think the only bad question about God and the Bible are the questions that people withhold because they are afraid of asking them. After you ask a question the problem is this, are you actually looking for an answer or did you already make up your mind?
I read the test, now my suggested reading for you is Letters From a Skeptic by Greg Boyd. Greg tries to answer some very tough questions without fear or judgment. If you are an atheist this book will probably not change your mind, but it will force you to update some of your arguments.

Your right about one thing - I have up my mind. There is no way I can believe in mythology. Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence. There is NO EVIDENCE for a biblical Jesus. A historical Jesus, maybe!? Most scholars biblical scholars would say the same thing

Letter to a Skeptic huh? Well, I started to read it.
The book is was well written and a great book for someone who seeks confirmation of Christian doctrine. Whoever, the further I got into the book the more it came apparent to me that having a well-credentialed (multi-degreed, culminating in a P.H.D from Princeton Theological Seminary) Christian apologist (minister and college professor) son trying to match wits with his father, who's educational background is (oddly) never discussed in the book. Being a sales manager for a tire manufacturer for 30 years hardly gives one the intellectual fire power to refute any of the son's non-sense.

Might I suggest some reading for you.

Sam Harris - Letter to a Christian Nation

Also

"Misquoting Jesus: Scribes Who Altered Scripture and Readers Who May Never Know," a textual criticism of Biblical manuscript tampering by Bart Ehrman, Professor or Religious Studies of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

http://www.youtube.com/watch...
(1 of 10)

Bill Hicks wrote:

<quoted text>
Your right about one thing - I have up my mind. There is no way I can believe in mythology. Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence. There is NO EVIDENCE for a biblical Jesus. A historical Jesus, maybe!? Most scholars biblical scholars would say the same thing
Letter to a Skeptic huh? Well, I started to read it.
The book is was well written and a great book for someone who seeks confirmation of Christian doctrine. Whoever, the further I got into the book the more it came apparent to me that having a well-credentialed (multi-degreed, culminating in a P.H.D from Princeton Theological Seminary) Christian apologist (minister and college professor) son trying to match wits with his father, who's educational background is (oddly) never discussed in the book. Being a sales manager for a tire manufacturer for 30 years hardly gives one the intellectual fire power to refute any of the son's non-sense.
Might I suggest some reading for you.
Sam Harris - Letter to a Christian Nation
Also
"Misquoting Jesus: Scribes Who Altered Scripture and Readers Who May Never Know," a textual criticism of Biblical manuscript tampering by Bart Ehrman, Professor or Religious Studies of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
http://www.youtube.com/watch...
(1 of 10)

Bill,

I will check out the book you have recommended.

Regarding Letters From a Skeptic, I never looked at it as a book of two people trying to match wits, but then again I read it as someone who was already a Christian, so point taken. I still think it is a great book that answers many of the questions that were brought up in that Christianity 101 test. Just because it gives an answer does not mean that anyone will automatically believe them, but someone asked the question and there are people that are trying to give the answers. Why ask the questions if you are just going to act as though you already know all the answers? I may be a Christian, and you may think that makes me a fool, but I do not claim to have all of the answers - that would take me from being a fool to being crazy.

Thanks for what I think is good conversation.

Sorry for rambling and the poor writing in this post...

Peace.

Just to add to my point, currently I am questioning and looking into the doctrine of hell. One of my main questions: Why would a loving God make people who don't believe in him suffer eternal torture? Let me take a step back......Does he make them suffer eternal torture?

Anywho, just showing that I still have questions too.

Peace.