Can someone explain Lent

[Macromaniacal]

I've been seeing people partake in Lent since I moved from South Africa in '98. Now, I've gone to church every Sunday as a kid (Dutch Reformed, and Presbyterian), and occassionally since I got to college, but I am bewildered with this pagan ritual that goes by the name of Lent.

I won't claim to have read through the whole Bible, but I've had seen much of it, and I've never noticed anything regarding a ritual named "Lent". A quick search on BibleGateway.com yields a few results for the word Lent, usually used in either the word lentil or as a verb regarding the act of loaning.

I'm assuming this is a Roman Catholic tradition that was made up to include regional pagan religions and their practices, much like the gift exchange that occurs at Christmas (look into the Roman god 'Sol Invictus', you can also find a nice story told by the pope). This is no surprise since historically, the Roman Catholic Church's actions can be explained by a quote from L. Ron Hubbard, the father of scientology which he said 4 years before starting scientology: "If a man really wants to make a million dollars he should start his own religion". But maybe I am wrong, could someone please enlighten me if the annual celebration/ritual "Lent" has some legitimate support from the bible.

[PhillyKev]

Lent - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This practice was virtually universal in Christendom until the Protestant Reformation.[2] Some Protestant churches do not observe Lent, but many, such as Lutherans, Methodists and Anglicans, do.

The Lenten semi-fast may have originated for practical reasons: during the era of subsistence agriculture in the West as food stored away in the previous autumn was running out or had to be used before it went bad in store, and little or no new food-crop was expected soon (compare the period in Spring which British gardeners call the "hungry gap"). In its earliest Christian form Lent was an intense period of fasting and prayer for catechumens preparing for baptism at the Easter Vigil.

[OldMama]

I grew up Roman Catholic and am now Episcopalian. In my church we have former Lutherans as well. We all observed Lent in our former churches and continue to do so.

Lent is a forty-day penitential period preceding Easter. The Biblical reference would be the forty days that Jesus spent fasting and praying in the desert.

During Lent, one is supposed to prepare oneself spiritually for Easter, the most sacred day of the Christian year. Many people make bodily sacrifices such as giving up a favorite food. Some try to do something extra such as pray daily. Many do nothing-it's not a requirement.

[Macromaniacal]

The Lenten semi-fast may have originated for practical reasons: during the era of subsistence agriculture in the West as food stored away in the previous autumn was running out or had to be used before it went bad in store, and little or no new food-crop was expected soon (compare the period in Spring which British gardeners call the "hungry gap"). In its earliest Christian form Lent was an intense period of fasting and prayer for catechumens preparing for baptism at the Easter Vigil.

And Christ, or the bible comes into play how? Yes lots of people observe Lent, but is there no good reason beyond the extent of the following conversation:

Bob: Hey pope, there is not enough food.
pope: well, lets see, if we tell everyone to fast, the food will last longer.
Bob: But how do we justify it?
pope: We don't need to, I'm the pope, I'll tell them that doing so will bring them closer to God
Bob: Good point! Now lets go conquer the holy land since the bible tells us to cherish property and possesions.

[Litter Box]

And Christ, or the bible comes into play how? Yes lots of people observe Lent, but is there no good reason beyond the extent of the following conversation:

Bob: Hey pope, there is not enough food.
pope: well, lets see, if we tell everyone to fast, the food will last longer.
Bob: But how do we justify it?
pope: We don't need to, I'm the pope, I'll tell them that doing so will bring them closer to God
Bob: Good point! Now lets go conquer the holy land since the bible tells us to cherish property and possesions.

If the churches were smart they would tie it into weight loss, Lent sponsored by Jenny Craig.

[OldMaestro]

If the churches were smart they would tie it into weight loss, Lent sponsored by Jenny Craig.

Or they could take the Philadelphia government "progressive" approach and say: Hey, you don't have to give up anything for lent, just pay us an 8% tithing fee on the cost of the item every time you consume said thing you were going to give up for lent.

[Mondu]

And Christ, or the bible comes into play how?

The older churches, the Catholic and Orthodox, place as much emphasis on tradition as they do the bible. Fasting has long been a part of Christian practice. Learning to control your appetites and focus your mind can help improve your spiritual life.

[Dayman]

Jesus allegedly survived forty days in the "desert" without eating. Lent is meant to emulate this.

Learning to control your appetites and focus your mind can help improve your spiritual life.

So if I don't eat a cheesesteak a day I'll "improve my spiritual life"?!?!?!

[Mondu]

So if I don't eat a cheesesteak a day I'll "improve my spiritual life"?!?!?!

No, but if you are a practicing Christian and wish to spend more time in focused prayer, fasting can help with that.

Here's a nice summary, courtesy of the "For Dummies" folks:
Adding Fasting to Your Prayer Life - For Dummies

[JIDinPhilly]

[Dayman]

No, but if you are a practicing Christian and wish to spend more time in focused prayer, fasting can help with that.

Here's a nice summary, courtesy of the "For Dummies" folks:
Adding Fasting to Your Prayer Life - For Dummies

Something tells me that hunger would distract me from my "prayer focusing power".

[Macromaniacal]

dont worry, only Jesus is expected to fast, as far as i can tell, everyone just gives up starbucks or chocolate for a few weeks. There are however some hungry people in africa, maybe they are closer to God?

[OldMama]

The "fasting" I grew up with was took several forms. Unlike the Jewish fasting on Yom Kippur or Muslim fasting during Ramadan, Christian fasting during Lent does not involve totally abstaining from food. Fasting can take the form of forgoing meat for a day (Ash Wednesday, every Friday when I was a kid Fridays in Lent now). Also during Lent, a person might eat only one full meal a day, along with two smaller meals.

You know, when you asked about Lent in your original post, I thought you were generally interested in knowing about it, especially the Biblical precedent. Since then your posts have been pretty flippant and, frankly, juvenile. I don't get offended easily but this is the Spirituality and Faith forum; some readers and posters take their faith seriously. A little more respect and tolerance might be appropriate, even if you don't believe yourself.

[Dayman]

You seem to let my satire go without comment though :P

[OldMama]

Yes,Dayman, but we have a history on our favorite threads and I have a good idea where you stand on religion, both the positive and the negative aspects. You have the lapsed Catholic thing going on and I can relate to that. So I can take some of your juvenile stuff because I've seen you be serious. Besides I think the OP set us up with a fairly serious post, then sort of made fun of the answers. Not playing fair in my book.

[Dayman]

When anyone analyzes me accurately it makes me happy. I think it's the second or third time on this board. I get what you mean though. Trolls is as trolls does.