This time last year I was contemplating whether I would participate in the 40 days fasting that is Lent. I had read lots of blog articles and Facebook posts about what people were going to give up and I was seriously considering whether I would do the same.
In the end I didn't take part as I thought, being an atheist, it would be hypocritical to do so. I wouldn't be forgoing something to bring myself closer to god, using it to pray, or as a penance for my sins throughout the year. If I participated it would be just to see if I could and that seemed a bit shallow.
Then I heard Alain de Button talk about his book Religion for Atheists and he raised the point that perhaps those of us non-religious-types can co-opt religious traditions simply for bettering ourselves. This wasn't a new perspective to me as I'd argued this point myself while I was trying to make my to-Lent or not-to-Lent decision. As I listened to the points he made I found myself nodding my head and regretting the decision not to take part in Lent.
While the tradition of Lent in Catholicism focuses on prayer & penance why could I not take these 40 days that were already marked in the calendar and use them to make myself a better person. For me Lent would be about discipline, bringing myself closer to the values I hold (even questioning those values), living, and ultimately appreciating, my life in the present moment.
This year I am taking part. I am going to give up the internet for 40 days. This is going to be hard, but I wanted to find something that would be hard, would challenge me and hopefully have me coming out the other side as a different person (even if it is only that I spend my nights reading instead of on Youtube).
I do have to build in some strict rules as I currently work in web design so the Internet is my job. I'm also about to go back to uni in two weeks so I will have to use the internet to access my course information. But aside from my paying work and essential university internet I will be turning it off.
At all. Not for work, not to check my news feeds. Not at all.
2. No Pinterest, Instagram, Blogging or other social media.
This means I can't view it (on any computer or mobile device) and I can't post to it.
3. Essential Internet Only
Work internet will be restricted to the hours when I am working and will be limited to only websites I am working on. I cannot access the internet in my breaks or sneak a look at non-work internet while at the computer.
Uni internet will be restricted to UQ websites only - Our course listings and library database. The only exception is sites that have been given to us in class that we must access for assessment.
4. Restricted Email hours + Internet Banking
Emails can only be accessed for 1 hour a day for essential correspondence (bills, university notices, online shop orders). All internet banking must be done in this hour.
5. No Online TV
Iview, Youtube and all on-demand TV is banned.
6. No Podcasts
This is going to be the hardest. My Podcast playlist on itunes will not be accessed. I will not listen to them at work or on my ipod. No streaming of them on Stitcher either.
Reading back this sounds like it is going to be a very difficult 40 days - It's only when I started to catalogue what I won't be able to do under the 'No Internet' heading that I realised just how much time I invest in this thing. But I am determined to get through it, and honestly, I can't see how spending a few weeks without the internet could leave me worse off.
I haven't yet read Religion for Atheists - perhaps I'll read it over the next 40 days, I'm pretty confident that I will get a lot of reading done.
If you haven't come across Alain de Button before I recommend watching this talk... he's an interesting man with interesting ideas.
In the end I didn't take part as I thought, being an atheist, it would be hypocritical to do so. I wouldn't be forgoing something to bring myself closer to god, using it to pray, or as a penance for my sins throughout the year. If I participated it would be just to see if I could and that seemed a bit shallow.
Then I heard Alain de Button talk about his book Religion for Atheists and he raised the point that perhaps those of us non-religious-types can co-opt religious traditions simply for bettering ourselves. This wasn't a new perspective to me as I'd argued this point myself while I was trying to make my to-Lent or not-to-Lent decision. As I listened to the points he made I found myself nodding my head and regretting the decision not to take part in Lent.
While the tradition of Lent in Catholicism focuses on prayer & penance why could I not take these 40 days that were already marked in the calendar and use them to make myself a better person. For me Lent would be about discipline, bringing myself closer to the values I hold (even questioning those values), living, and ultimately appreciating, my life in the present moment.
This year I am taking part. I am going to give up the internet for 40 days. This is going to be hard, but I wanted to find something that would be hard, would challenge me and hopefully have me coming out the other side as a different person (even if it is only that I spend my nights reading instead of on Youtube).
I do have to build in some strict rules as I currently work in web design so the Internet is my job. I'm also about to go back to uni in two weeks so I will have to use the internet to access my course information. But aside from my paying work and essential university internet I will be turning it off.
The Rules
1. No FacebookAt all. Not for work, not to check my news feeds. Not at all.
2. No Pinterest, Instagram, Blogging or other social media.
This means I can't view it (on any computer or mobile device) and I can't post to it.
3. Essential Internet Only
Work internet will be restricted to the hours when I am working and will be limited to only websites I am working on. I cannot access the internet in my breaks or sneak a look at non-work internet while at the computer.
Uni internet will be restricted to UQ websites only - Our course listings and library database. The only exception is sites that have been given to us in class that we must access for assessment.
4. Restricted Email hours + Internet Banking
Emails can only be accessed for 1 hour a day for essential correspondence (bills, university notices, online shop orders). All internet banking must be done in this hour.
5. No Online TV
Iview, Youtube and all on-demand TV is banned.
6. No Podcasts
This is going to be the hardest. My Podcast playlist on itunes will not be accessed. I will not listen to them at work or on my ipod. No streaming of them on Stitcher either.
Reading back this sounds like it is going to be a very difficult 40 days - It's only when I started to catalogue what I won't be able to do under the 'No Internet' heading that I realised just how much time I invest in this thing. But I am determined to get through it, and honestly, I can't see how spending a few weeks without the internet could leave me worse off.
I haven't yet read Religion for Atheists - perhaps I'll read it over the next 40 days, I'm pretty confident that I will get a lot of reading done.
If you haven't come across Alain de Button before I recommend watching this talk... he's an interesting man with interesting ideas.
Is anyone else planning to give up something for Lent (for whatever reason, religious or reasons similar to mine)?
Let me know in the comments... I still have a few days to read them :)
Edit - completely forgot to add Lent is from 13 February - 30 March this year
Oh Lord good luck. Skye
ReplyDeleteI listened to Alain De Botton's talk on religion for Atheists and he brings up some valid points. In our culture we embrace the teachings of the the Old Testerment when we except the Ten Commandments for the basis for our laws regardless if we are Atheists or Christians or Jews. There is no doubt Christian fellowship is a way of socializing. But on the other hand it can be very devisive. I'll have a dollar each way on religion. I don't believe there is a God who who has any effect on the evil going to hell and the good going to heaven. Our genes and environment dictates that outcome. But I wonder if there is another diamention where our soul goes, if you like, when we leave this earthly plane. On lent: I will not swear for forty days.
ReplyDeleteRegarding what I wrote on Christian fellowship and socializing. And that fellowship can be very devisive. I should have thought about what I was writing and how I expressed myself and if I have offended anyone I apologise. What I was trying to say is there are divisions between various religious groups for instance Christian, Muslem religions and non believers. Socializing in groups can bring people together to talk about how they feel and can be a way of resolving conflict.
ReplyDelete