BS: Giving up religion for Lent...

Subject: RE: BS: Giving up religion for Lent...
From: GUEST
Date: 12 Feb 05 - 10:45 AM

I agree Guest 9:25. Howard Dean, during his campaign, referred to the "in your face" attitudes of the right wing religionists being the problem too--even referred to the politicians that cherry picked from the Bible to "prove" their self-righteous, anti-Christian message was godly and pious and most of all "right", as "preacher politicians".

This sort of dirty religion is what is being shoved down throats in the US, and as justification for the dismantling of the US social welfare system, the environmental protection system, the infrastructure system--all to direct the US tax dollars away from services that benefit ALL taxpayers, to the bloated bottom lines of the military industrial complex, big energy, banking and credit, and pharmeceutical conglomerates. And they do it by crying "wolf" over terrorism that doesn't actually threaten our freedom one iota.

Phony religion and phony religious values are the charlatans of our day, who direct the diversions.

Unfortunately, ignoring them only makes the situtation worsen, not improve, for the citizens of the world. Everywhere the religious fundamentalists have made inroads in the past twenty years, have been in places where progress was being made to raise the standard of living of ALL citizens of this planet, not just the global wealthy elites, as has been the case throughout human history. That is why this battle is so fierce. We are literally fighting for our lives against the people who willingly snuff us all out without a second thought, to keep what they have got control of right now, which is nearly everything we need to survive.

Subject: RE: BS: Giving up religion for Lent...
From: GUEST
Date: 12 Feb 05 - 09:25 AM

I think one of the main reasons for the anti-religious who post vehemently is because we're fed up with being pressured, pressured by religious lawmakers, religious fanatics, religious broadcasters, etc. I was walking through my market town today and there was a man in the main square waving his Bible and shouting his beliefs at us. They're there regularly and I shouted at him for the first time;"Leave us alone!"
I think that's all we ask...leave us alone. keep your religion in your churches and your houses but respect our lack of belief.I'm sure I'm not the only one who feels this pressure from faiths. Maybe we should start picketing churches!

Subject: RE: BS: Giving up religion for Lent...
From: 42
Date: 12 Feb 05 - 08:57 AM

As a somewhat ingenuous 18 year old university student home for Easter dinner I charmed my entire family...aunts, uncles, grandparents etc with my proclamation that I had given up celibacy for Lent.

Needless to say, it didn't get the response in that situation that it had received at the Absinthe Pub the night before.

The 'man' of the moment was a trifle embarassed as well.

Makes a great story though.
j
or maybe you had to be there

Subject: RE: BS: Giving up religion for Lent...
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 11 Feb 05 - 04:20 PM

How about religious threads? That's what I intend to do..

Subject: RE: BS: Giving up religion for Lent...
From: LilyFestre
Date: 11 Feb 05 - 02:42 PM

Hmmm..you are wondering what people are giving up for Lent? My priest has said that is personal and really nothing to share with others.....

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: Giving up religion for Lent...
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 11 Feb 05 - 02:02 PM

I gave up sermons for lent one year... went and played in the creche instead.. .much more fun and I learnt a lot from the children (like never have more than you can hold down at once in the same room).

Given up staying at home this year.

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Giving up religion for Lent...
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 11 Feb 05 - 01:31 PM

Surely, strictly speaking, Carnival season just lasts one day, anyway - Shrove Tuesday, Mardi Gras, call it what you will.

Subject: RE: BS: Giving up religion for Lent...
From: PoppaGator
Date: 11 Feb 05 - 01:23 PM

I thought the initial post of this thread was pretty witty ~ too bad so many found it offensive.

I understand, however; there has been a distasteful glut of anti-religion proselytizing hereabouts of late. Perhaps I've been guilty of a bit of this myself, and if so, I apologize. I'm more of a believer than an agnostic, but I'm quite skeptical in regard to "organized religion" and, indeed, in regard to establishments of every kind.

I think it would be a better world if the pre-Lenten season of Carnival were observed as widely as Lent itself. People need to let go and enjoy themselves just about as much as they need to discipline and deny themselves, and the ancient wisdom was to observe a period of overindulgence immediately prior to the season of penitence. All in moderation, of course ~ ;^)

This year was a bad deal for those of us who observe Carnival. Thanks to the phases of the moon or whatever, Easter (and therefore Lent, and therefore Mardi Gras) fall on much earlier dates than usual, causing Carnival season to last only 38 days ~ shorter than the 40 days of Lent. What a gyp!

Subject: RE: BS: Giving up religion for Lent...
From: TheBigPinkLad
Date: 11 Feb 05 - 01:04 PM

The net effect is that people are proselytizing for anti-religion-- in a forum where good people who didn't proselytize at all have been intimidated into saying nothing at all about a hugely important part of their personal experiences.

Hmmm. This is exactly the opposite of what I see in this forum. There are many threads (I suspect deliberate) posted by religionists that, like the sentiment expressed above, aim to emasculate those whose views are -- at least -- equally important. 'Good people' implies a collorary 'bad people.' I would suggest such disrespect is a top contender for Lentern surrender.

Subject: RE: BS: Giving up religion for Lent...
From: Mooh
Date: 11 Feb 05 - 12:52 PM

Can't give up trolling 'cause that's my favourite technique for catching trout. Can't give up religion 'cause then I mightn't believe in trolling. Thought maybe I'd give up stupidity, but as you can see, that ain't likely!

One year Ash Wednesday fell on my birthday, and my mother gave me the best present ever, she quit smoking.

Peace, Mooh.

Subject: RE: BS: Giving up religion for Lent...
From: robomatic
Date: 11 Feb 05 - 12:50 PM

I thought it was kinda cute. If you're giving up religion, you might be giving up contentious religious threads as well, but opening the door to those who have NOT.

Subject: RE: BS: Giving up religion for Lent...
From: GUEST,MMario
Date: 11 Feb 05 - 12:46 PM

sorry if I read you wrong Mrzzy.

I usually try to express my penitence not by giving up - but by giving more...

Subject: RE: BS: Giving up religion for Lent...
From: GUEST,Mrrzy
Date: 11 Feb 05 - 12:39 PM

I actually wonder what people are giving up for Lent!

Subject: RE: BS: Giving up religion for Lent...
From: SINSULL
Date: 11 Feb 05 - 11:45 AM

Time for my family Lent story.
Brother John hated mashed potatoes. In fact, he hated everything but hot dogs. So comes Ash Wednesday and Mom serves him a mighty helping of mashed potatoes. He, with reverent smugness announces "I have given up mashed potatoes for Lent." He was only about seven. Nice try.

Subject: RE: BS: Giving up religion for Lent...
From: Joe Offer
Date: 11 Feb 05 - 11:34 AM

I do volunteer work every Friday at a women's center in Sacramento. I suppose it discriminates, because it caters only to women and children of all creeds and no creed. It's run by Catholic nuns, so there must be something wrong with it - even though they never preach.

Then there's the only major soup kitchen in Sacramento - run by Catholics (but staffed by all sorts of Christians and non-Christians).

Or the network that has a monopoly of all the food lockers in Sacramento - founded by Immaculate Conception Parish but staffed by the entire community.

Is this what I'm supposed to give up for Lent?

-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: BS: Giving up religion for Lent...
From: wysiwyg
Date: 11 Feb 05 - 11:12 AM

I do find it a bit disheartening that as two anti-religion threads finally seem about ready to fall off the page as most folks realize there's no point posting what they really feel, here's a new one to renew the uproar.

I would doubt that was Mrrzy's intention-- but I do think if people expect Xians to maintain a fragile peace over religion around here, it's asking too much to have these threads constantly going on, especially during a holy season. I think we see them during those times because the publicity about them renews the old hurts people have suffered at the hands of religion. But the effect is that those who are busy sincerely observing these seasons aren't around Mudcat much to offer any real information in response to the paranoia generated by the threads.

I know that for me, it makes Mudcat a really unpleasant place to be. I contribute less and less as time goes on, musically.

The net effect is that people are proselytizing for anti-religion-- in a forum where good people who didn't proselytize at all have been intimidated into saying nothing at all about a hugely important part of their personal experiences.

Again I don't think that was Mrrzy's intent. But when is enough, enough?

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: Giving up religion for Lent...
From: GUEST,MMario
Date: 11 Feb 05 - 11:06 AM

in the internet sense it can be a verb or a noun. As a noun it can refer to the person doing the posting and/or the post.

Subject: RE: BS: Giving up religion for Lent...
From: gnu
Date: 11 Feb 05 - 11:00 AM

Wait... MMario. Is troll a noun or verb ? Or both ? Or, have you given up grammar for lent?

Subject: RE: BS: Giving up religion for Lent...
From: gnu
Date: 11 Feb 05 - 10:58 AM

I gave up whining and complaining and it's really pissing me off.

Subject: RE: BS: Giving up religion for Lent...
From: GUEST,MMario
Date: 11 Feb 05 - 10:55 AM

Mrrzy - It disappoints me that you would post such an obvious troll

Subject: RE: BS: Giving up religion for Lent...
From: GUEST,Mingulay at work
Date: 11 Feb 05 - 10:53 AM

I've lent mine out anyway. Forgotten who has it now but quite happy without it.

Subject: BS: Giving up religion for Lent...
From: GUEST,Mrrzy
Date: 11 Feb 05 - 10:47 AM

What about you?