Lent through atheists’ eyes

Lenten Season is a period of prayer, fasting, almsgiving, and preparation for Easter. As Lent becomes secularized, two atheists, JE Peregrina and Kenzo Salao, share in an interview what Lenten Season looks like in their perspectives.

As palm leaves are burned into ashes for the forthcoming Ash Wednesday on Feb. 22, the first day of the 40-day Lenten Season commences – a period of prayer, fasting, almsgiving, and preparation for Easter.

To some, the secularization of Lent has shifted this period into individual practices that even non-Christians can participate in. The idea of Lent is now often manifested in the form of breaking away from negative habits, even likened to making a New Year’s resolution.

While to others, Lent is just another typical day.

Such is the case with JE Peregrina, 21, an atheist or someone who does not believe in the existence of gods.

“I do not participate in practices such as fasting and such. I live with my parents so I just get dragged to whatever they see fitting to do. Otherwise, I just act like it's any other day,” he said in an interview.

Yet although he doesn’t partake in the practice and “disregard” himself as a Christian, he said that he respects believers who devote time and effort to uphold Lenten Season traditions.

Kenzo Salao, 21, is also indifferent when it comes to practicing religious celebrations however, he recognizes the importance of Lent in self-development.

“Lent is an enlightening activity. It makes people "go back to their roots" by having them rethink what a religious life entails. On the idea of "breaking away," it is a good practice for self-improvement and that is always good,” he said in an interview.

He added that an “atheist lent” wouldn’t have any difference to a Christian one, except they call it “resolutions.”

To Salao, these resolutions are not restricted to a 40-day period like how Lent is celebrated. Breaking away from bad habits happen all year round.

“You do not necessarily have to practice Lent to change bad habits. This year, I promised that I will stop smoking. So far, it’s going pretty good. As a non-believer, I do not feel obliged to act based on religious traditions, but rather it was a personal choice I made,” Salao added.

To atheists, Lent is simply a religious view on self-development as it holds Christians accountable to their beliefs; and self-development does not really have to be entwined with religion for a person to do away from old, negative routines and ways of life.

Non-believers are able to prove that people can break away from bad habits at any given day.

Lent is perhaps just another day for these people wherein they can choose what to do, what to enjoy and most importantly what to believe in. Paulina Icban and Ayanna Zoleta