Comments on: Giving up Facebook for Lent? Read this first!

By: Godwin A. Delali GADEL

Godwin A. Delali GADEL — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 20:53:06 +0000

I believe it’s a wonderful idea and practice to give up MySpace and Facebook for the Lentern season.

By: Menno van Doorn

Menno van Doorn — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 15:07:11 +0000

I like the idea of giving up some of my internet time for something else, anything else, even for watching TV, since that is more relaxing than doing your Tweets, Facebook stuff, blog discussions and the like. I just think I can’t. Can’t even ‘Fast’ Social Media. The succes of people in the 21st century will depend more heavily on the use of social media. Being informed 24/7 in the information society will be one of the key success factors in business life. Yes we will get more detached from nature, we’ll be in a state of “continuous partial attention” and will have more “continuous partial friends” (see http://www.lindastone.net/)

Maybe that will be the burden we have to take from going from the old capitalistic society, to a new one, the society that exists after the transformational crisis we are in today is over.

By: Josephine

Josephine — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 01:44:21 +0000

When we fast foodwise, we are not giving up on food, are we?

Lindsey’s problem seems to be that of addiction and not the use of FB per se. So, maybe a better idea would be to refrain (fast) and not give up altogether? She could fast from FB on certain days or times.

By: George Leite

George Leite — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 21:47:21 +0000

i too won’t be giving up FB or Twitter. They are too valuable for ministry and building community for me. I do want to focus on how I use them during Lent. When I use them I want to focus on the person at the other end, and not stop my attention at their monitor. I want to make sure I’m building community, and not brand. Drives me crazy when people only ever post and run, if they want to give up FB/Twitter for Lent, I’ll support them. That’s the cool part about the whole SQPN community. They like to virtually “hang out”. I’m swamped at work, but I like having twitter running in a sidebar in FireFox, so I can take a minute or two during the day to chat with someone.

Keep rockin’ for Christ.
-G

By: Roz

Roz — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 01:51:42 +0000

There’s certainly a good argument for my giving up the social networking tools where I tend to spend more time than the value they offer. Anything that helps numb me slows the contrition/repentance cycle, and that’s never a good thing.

However, I think I’ll find some other things to sacrifice that are just pleasurable ways to pass time but don’t have a relationship benefit. Anything that provides opportunities for the exchange of good will, encouragement, etc. in these anomie-heavy times probably is a service even if it’s not explicitly a “ministry”, and I’m reluctant to, in a way, give up my people for Lent.

I suspect that my emotional dependency on online solitaire games would be a good candidate to leave in the dustbin. Sigh. I really don’t want to do that. The flesh is going to take some serious subduing.

By: Lisa Hendey

Lisa Hendey — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 16:24:17 +0000

Just a note to say that you all are stuck with me on Facebook during Lent – It has become an active component of my spiritual support network. Also, Terry – the community did not move on without you. Your absence was noted, my friend, and you were prayed for by those of us who missed you.

This week, I’ve been speaking to my teenagers about selecting Lenten devotions that will ultimately lead them closer to the Lord. Facebook, believe it or not, does this for me in my life as it draws me closer to the Body of Christ present online. I learn so much every day from my Facebook friends and am constantly inspired by them as well. I agree that if it has become an idol or a spiritual distraction it is a good thing to take a break during Lent.

Thanks for raising an important topic!

By: sr_mary

sr_mary — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 15:22:35 +0000

The comments already made are excellent. I would add that in some schools of thought, the 40 days of lent do not include Sundays. Many people make the determination ahead of time that Sundays are “days off” their personal lenten sacrifice. This would be a good comprimise for those who want the time given to SN, to be devoted to more worthy actifvities, but don’t want to go “cold turkey.’

By: Terry H Jones

Terry H Jones — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 14:55:54 +0000

I can tell you from having recently done it, when you drop offline for a while for whatever reason, it can take you a while to get back up to speed. For reasons that don’t matter to this observation, I pulled away from the inter-active elements for about three months, and I feel like the community has moved on without me. That’s not a complaint – just something to keep in mind when contemplating pulling down the online window blinds for Lent.

By: Michael Kuypers

Michael Kuypers — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 14:24:57 +0000

A few days ago I received a Facebook message urging me to give up Facebook for Lent. How ironic is that? My first thought was, “Nice try. I’m still going to write ‘Highlight of My Day’ every day.”

Now, really, I’m all for self-denial. Especially during Lent. But as a housebound individual who only gets out once a week to go to Mass (weather permitting), cutting myself off from my social networks would be the equivalent of locking myself in a cell. Not to mention that most of my online friends are practicing Catholics. I’d be losing more than idle chatter. I’d be shutting myself off from daily reminders of what it means to live one’s faith.

Finally, at the risk of stating the obvious. Lent is about more than giving things up. As Catholics we’re encouraged to also do good works and pray more during this time. If some of us need to spend less time at the computer to do these things, fine. But no one should give things up to just give things up.

Not even “Highlight of My Day.”

By: Lyn F.

Lyn F. — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 14:21:32 +0000

I won’t be giving up Facebook for Lent either – it’s become an important tool in my ministry to the college students, as well as with my work with the fine arts community. There are other things to give up, and to reflect on.

My sister-in-law is planning to give up Facebook for Lent, however, so I will be sure to pass this along to her. Thanks for writing this, and for including the link, Fr Roderick!