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| Europe |
| Dutch Catholics to Call their Lentan Fast Ramadan |
| 2008-02-09 |
| The Catholic church is propagating its Lent fast this year as the 'Christian Ramadan.' It is thereby hoping to appeal to young people, De Volkskrant reports. "The image of the Catholic Lent must be burnished. The fact that we use a Muslim term is related to the fact that Ramadan is a better-known concept among young people than Lent," said campaign leader Van der Kuil Het of the Lent fast, which began on Wednesday. In the past, the Catholic church had strict rules for the Lent period of 40 days before Easter. But since 1967, the action has focused on collecting funds for the third world. "Now we also want to bring back spirituality and sobriety," according to Van der Kuil. |
| Posted by:tipper |
| #19 Per Jay: we are having troubles with stupid people |
| Posted by: Icerigger 2008-02-09 22:48 |
| #18 No problem. Unkind Snicker, Frank. :) |
| Posted by: Omung Squank9908 2008-02-09 18:24 |
| #17 It would be unkind for me to snicker at your comment, Frank, so pretend I didn't. ;-) |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2008-02-09 18:07 |
| #16 among St. Pat celebrants, it's commonly thought that the green beer has "magical" powers, allowing the drinker to consume a LOT more without being a drunken ass. Those that are disabused of that notion frequently suffer memory loss as well, and repeat the same again the next year |
| Posted by: Frank G 2008-02-09 18:00 |
| #15 Sorry. That would be losing adherents in Holland of course. |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2008-02-09 17:55 |
| #14 From my perspective, Beavis, the first problem with green beer is that it's beer, although I understand a great many people differ from me on that one (isn't it wonderful -- more for you-all!). The second problem is that it's been adulterated, but so long as it's enjoyed fully in both directions... ;-) Whereas at Hanukkah we play betting games with a little top and eat fried things. So it isn't really like St. Patrick's Day at all. Just like Ramadan and Lent, in fact. It's stupidity like this that's led to Catholicism and Dutch Protestantism (whichever variety that is; I lose track of all the sects, I fear) losing adherents, while American-style Evangelical Christianity in small house churches apparently is growing by leaps and bounds. |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2008-02-09 17:53 |
| #13 As #2 said..."WTF"... When will we cease bowing down to the Islamofacist facilitators and tell them all to grow up and get a life? |
| Posted by: WolfDog 2008-02-09 16:38 |
| #12 Your supposed to give up something for Lent; I'll give up the Dutch and their PC ways--what a waste of time on the part of the Dutch. |
| Posted by: JohnQC 2008-02-09 15:26 |
| #11 Last year, a retiring Dutch Catholic bishop made a one-day headline when he suggested referring to God as "Allah". Multi-Culti as only the Dutch can do it. |
| Posted by: mrp 2008-02-09 13:53 |
| #10 Can a Dutch jizya tax be far behind. |
| Posted by: DMFD 2008-02-09 12:28 |
| #9 Well TW as a person that resided in Savannah for 7 years. Also, traveled down when I wasn't a resident for the St Pats Rugby tournament. Let me tell you green beer is wonderful. It really colorful on it's return as well. |
| Posted by: Beavis 2008-02-09 12:27 |
| #8 I've had the occasion to explain that Hanukkah is kind of like a Jewish St. Patrick's Day, to communicate the fun, nationalism, and essential lack of religious gravitas (minus getting falling-down drunk via green-tinted beer -- ick!). But I've never equated the one with the other. Hopefully we've got a translation error, or an overenthusiastic reporter. If one of our Dutch correspondents would be so good as to check this out, I'd be grateful. |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2008-02-09 12:19 |
| #7 Oh for Christ's sake!! |
| Posted by: GORT 2008-02-09 09:56 |
| #6 Here's an idea. How about Dutch Muslims call Ramadan..."Lent"! Ya know, for the "young people". No? Don't think that would work? How about you ask anyways just to see what happens. I'll bet it would be fun... |
| Posted by: tu3031 2008-02-09 09:27 |
| #5 First, gut your own tradition. Then adopt another because yours no longer has spirituality and rigor. spit |
| Posted by: lotp 2008-02-09 09:19 |
| #4 Frightened little rabbits these Euro-Weenies. I doubt that they have another good genoc...er, fight left in them. |
| Posted by: Gruting Forkbeard6761 2008-02-09 05:57 |
| #3 "Too stupid to live" really should be a valid diagnosis. |
| Posted by: Barbara Skolaut 2008-02-09 01:51 |
| #2 WTF? |
| Posted by: 3dc 2008-02-09 01:27 |
| #1 bad idea. |
| Posted by: twobyfour 2008-02-09 00:47 |