General

Many here are observing Christians, and we find the way the church and society approach Lent to be something anti-fat, anti-eating, anti-weight gain.

But it doesn't need to be. As we prepare for Easter, this can still be a time of reflection and joy as well (in eating and gaining)!

I hate that so many people view Lent as something in which you must deny yourself of something pleasurable to the body -- sexual activity, food, smoking, drinking, drugging, etc.

But really, doesn't the Christian God call us to sacrifices that have more to do with our souls and hearts than our bodies.

I think the notion that we need deny our bodies pleasure is one reason so many turn from religion.

It doesn't have to be that way, and really it isn't.

One approach to Lent is to make your sacrifices positive rather than negative -- promoting some soul-enhancing activity instead of denying some "sinful" activity! This could be as simple (and as complicated for some) as random acts of kindness, handing our $20 bills to the homeless, serving others in some reflective way, keeping a "blessing" journal of all your blessings, reflecting upon your personal gifts of grace, hugging your kids more, loving your loved ones more, mending fences with those who you have disagreed with.

How much more in the spirit of Christianity all those "sacrifices" would be than something as mindless and corporal as giving up chocolate or coffee!

I found the following poem/prayer to be most instructive on these notions. Let us fast against our hatred/prejudices, and let us feast upon our joys/loves/heart/soul!

Here is the poem/prayer. I just came across it, and I don't know the author's name and have found it listed as "unknown":

"The Fast Life" or "True Lenten Discipline"

Fast from judging others;
Feast on Christ dwelling in them.
Fast from fear of illness;
Feast on the healing power of God.
Fast from words that pollute;
Feast on speech that purifies.
Fast from discontent;
Feast on gratitude.
Fast from anger;
Feast on patience.
Fast from pessimism;
Feast on hope.
Fast from negatives;
Feast on encouragement.
Fast from bitterness;
Feast on forgiveness.
Fast from self-concern;
Feast on compassion.
Fast from suspicion;
Feast on truth.
Fast from gossip;
Feast on purposeful silence.
Fast from problems that overwhelm;
Feast on prayer that sustains.
Fast from anxiety;
Feast on faith.

May all have a wonderful Lent! Give in to the joys of life! Don't give up your dark chocolate! Give up your dark moods/emotions/behaviors!

Have a great day, all, and keep living life to the fullest!

Zonker

God is a dyslexic's best friend.

Joking aside, I know there are many Christians here who face all kinds of discrmination/hatred for being hedonstic decadent joy-loving fat-growing "sinners"!

Gawd, I wrote so much! Anyway, just trying to put "sin" in perspective for those who suffer through Lent.

It should not be a time of suffering but a time of reflection and change - change for the better, and I don't mean losing weight or giving up donuts!

I'm a Christian and I get what you're talking about. But I don't think your post will float much around here. The internet isn't much of a place for Christians or other religious people. We're always going to be lumped in with the judgmental right wingers who have hijacked our faith.

I did enjoy your post though, so thanks for that =)

I appreciate your saying that, TG! I think one reason Christians have so much to fear here and various places on the internet is that we allow others to stereotype us and categorize us.

We need to show people that yes, there can be such a thing as a Christian FA, feeder, feedee or FFA! Why not? What in the Bible specifically forbids us from enjoying good food and our bodies?

Even Jesus was accused of gluttony by the powers-that-be of his time. Notice how much time is spent on the discussion of food and feasting in the Gospels. There was wine, fish, bread for all! While fasting has a place in many Christian traditions, Jesus was all about overabundance, plenty, feasting, consumption and joy in eating and drinking.

When Jesus changes the water to wine, he makes more than enough for all! When he produces the loaves and fishes to feed the crowd, they fill their bellies, and still there is plenty left over.

And the Song of Solomon and Psalms definitely affirm the notion that our bodies were meant for enjoyment and physical pleasures.

We should not allow others to pigeonhole us as right-wing crazies or fundamentalists simply because those are the Christians who are making the most horrific noises in our society.

Christianity is certainly about much, much more than the narrow definitions some want to cast, and it has nothing to do with the hatred spewed by racists and misogynists who shout into megaphones in the public square.

There are those of us who are quieter and more reflective, as our religion calls upon us to be. We are those who see in Jesus not a call to judge but a call to love. The 10 commandments do not forbid gluttony or self-love or the enjoyment of feasting. Neither does Jesus's great commission to love God and love our neighbors as ourselves. Indeed, this is an acknowledgement that we should love ourselves aplenty, but also love our fellow human beings just as much.

Sorry for getting all preachy here, but people like you and I, TG, need to fight the preconceptions that others have about us -- much like peaceful Muslims who must fight against the prejudiced narrow-minded notion that Islam is inherently violent.

Best to you, and again, sorry for such long posts, but I find myself determined to assert that God -- whatever your religion -- is love, and the Christian God is all about love, love for self, love for others, and the serving others, and allowing others to serve and feed you, etc.

In conclusion, there is really nothing in Christianity which prevents us from enjoying gaining weight, eating good food, enjoying our lovers' bodies, serving our lovers delicious foods, and all the other hallmarks of feederism.