it seems to me that the idea of giving things up for Lent presumes that we can't he;[ been sinfully self indulgent the rest of the year.

as i understand it, at the time the practice was instituted, people like monks were thought to be truly religious because they avoided all the worldly sins.

people in regular life were presumed to be sinful since they had kids, conducted trade, adn so on, which were all somehow taiunted activities.

so once a year people got to imitate monks and practice some harsh self denial, it was good for their sould, and gave them a taste of the holy life.

i don't agree with any of that.


i like to live for the world, not against it, and for Lent i try to serve my community in some extra way rather than purging my soul of criossants or whatever else is supposedly damning me.