So here's a question: has Lent become more of a thing in the larger culture in recent decades than it used to be? I have always heard about it, but I grew up in a Catholic community with a Catholic family. My mother was saying that she was in a pre-Lent session at her (Baptist) church and most of the people in the group were saying they didn't really know what Lent was and/or had never heard about it growing up.

I grew up Catholic in a Catholic neighborhood, so I don't know.

They just burn out and stop working.

Rats, my stick blender is definitely not at that point.

It was totally a Catholic thing when I was growing up. We all commiserated with our Catholic friends for their chocolate or whathaveyou deprivation.

Wait, that's the giving up things for Lent. Other branches of Xtnity certainly recognize it, but not in that sense.

Jesse, I think so. I never remember doing anything with lent, and not being aware of it until college (I had never seen ashes on foreheads), but my Methodist church does ashes now and we have a special Ash Wednesday meal (less food, less meat). The Reformed Church I attended in NY did a whole series on lent each year and also did ashes.

I grew Presbyterian, and I knew about Lent from church, even though we didn't have to give anything up.

Jesse, I feel like a lot more non Catholic people talk about what they are doing for Lent now then they did when I was growing up. But I also grew up in a predominantly Catholic culture.

There were more than enough Catholics (and a parish school) in my home town that it was a Known Thing (and also grew up Presbyterian). But it wasn't until I was in a majority-Catholic state that it hit a critical mass.

nice pun.

I like the idea of developing a good habit or practice during Lent, rather than the focus on giving something up. By adding in a habit, you are often giving something else up anyway, but it is a different mind-set. That was often a lesson from the church in NY. I remember one minister focused on giving compliments each day, specific and mindful compliments. As a result he realized he had given up the mindless "how are you?", "fine" exchange. Another year one of them added a morning walk and as a result found out that they ended up giving up their morning sweets, because their ore active body wanted water and fruit instead of sugary coffee and pastry.

From a life-improvement standpoint I totally get that. But isn't the point supposed to be about a demonstration of sacrifice? As it's become more of a cultural thing than strictly religious it makes sense, but I don't think it's true to the theological origins.

oh no, it is not true to the origins.