Ash Wednesday Idea: Beat Guilt This Lent -- Literally

Pain is inflicted upon us all the time. In one way or another we do not need to look for it. Just to use the computer all day and for many years can cause lots of pain. The changes in weather and disease cause lots of anguish and pain. Just go through the stages of life can be painful and frightening. What one needs is to keep the mind occupied on beautiful creative activities such as walking, sewing, knitting, writing, gardening, preparing a wholesome nutrious meal, cleaning the apartment or house, washing the clothes, taking the kids to their daily events, visiting relatives and friends and sharing celebrations together as much as possible. Do not focus on the pain focus on being creative in a beautiful world created for us to keep good, fresh and thriving. Keep smiling because we are greatly loved. When you are dying you will be happy you lived a good life. Pain is not going to make your life better. Iti is the way you live your life.

Just when people think they're an advanced and enlightened culture/civilization, millions of clear thinking rational people put ashes on their foreheads. As Karl Marx said, "religion is the opiat of the People and Christopher Hutchins writes of how religion, "poisons everything".

We feel guilt because we have consciences. Normal people "feel bad" when they do something wrong, normally! In ancient times they would sacrifice the lives of animals as an expiation, a making up for their wrong doings. Hence the term "scape goat". The Jews in biblical times would tear their clothes, pour ashes on their heads - not eat food for a time as a penance, a payment for their sins. Doing something difficult and not pleasant as a sign to God of our sorrow and shame for the evil we have done,( or for not having done a necessary good act) are healthy and not at all sick or medieval. What is mentally, emotionally and morally sick is to deny that there is sin and wrongs have must be righted. We live in the most dangerous era of history because in our society because we reject out of hand the very notion of Moral or Natural Law, the inherent proper sexual roles in society and the right to life of the unborn. And there you have it; take it or leave it.

Very good article!!! You covered the bases, from secular to religious, and several flavors of that. While I am a believer, I also recognize the need for medical help, at times. I suffer from OCD and have since childhood. Medicine, psychiatric in this case, can complement one's overall mental (and physical) health. If Jesus didn't trust doctors, Luke would never have made the cut, since he was a physician. Today, we know that mind and body are both intertwined. I can testify that I am a far better Christian, when I'm not on all fours picking lint out of the carpet, for hours! The Hoover works far better, and gives me time to socialize! May God comfort the hurting minds and emotions of His people.

Why is the forehead chosen for ashes? Because it has the third eye chakra of the Hindus. Surely you have seen Hindu women/swami/sadhu marked between their eyes. "Tilaka" or "Bindi" is the mark of auspiciousness of Hindus, which may be done by marking the forehead with sacred ashes.
Ash Wednesday did not come from the Bible, and it appears by similarity to have come from Hinduism.
After all, christianity is Krishna-nity; Krishna is Lord Krishna; nity means...way of life.
As He says in holy Gita.
All religions came from Hinduism. It's the oldst religion is the world.

We are set free from guilt by faith in Jesus Christ and the suffering which was inflicted upon Him. Still, that's not an easy thing (faith), for many of us. Most of us have more than ample suffering in our own lives, without adding more. The boundary between a healthy penance and self-flagilation can become quite narrow. I believe that this is something best shared with a trusted elder, before one starts driving nails into their flesh. Penance is but a symbolic reminder of what Jesus accomplised, on the cross. We cannot punish ourselves into being good, but God can come into you, freeing you from guilt. Seek advice and accountability from someone else, lest you hurt yourself and some else that loves you. Giving up an unhealthy habit, can be great! When Lent is over, you might just discover that you don't really like it so much as you once thought. Freedom should be the goal, not imprisonment!

To inflict pain on one's self or another to expiate guilt of the soul, is indeed, nothing new. Examples range from parents inflicting corpral punishment on an errant child, to being sentenced and tortured by the Inquisition.
However, people react differently to being hurt physically. Some may repent whereas, others become more entrenched and vengeful. Today, when existence of the soul has been called into question, pain itself has become THE means to an end. Many inflict pain because they love to see others suffer. I seriously doubt the throngs who cheerfully witnessed other humans and animals slaughtered at Roman Collesium cared about one whit about purification of the victims or themselves

I am absolutely shocked by this article. This encourages self stimulative behaviors that can escalate, especially if encouraged! What is going on today????

The thought of self punishment for the forgiveness of wrong doing to apease a person's guilt is rediculous. What is the biblical basis for this action. Where in the Bible can anyone find doctrine that teaches this? This article is just more secular psycho bable. It has no Christian foundation or truth to it.

Grace To You

Talk about "Tales from the Crypt!" This is pretty much the lowest I've ever seen the Psycology community sink. I suppose this justifies teenagers 'cutting' themselves, or masochism, or most any other means to punish oneself. Praise our Lord and Savior that I don't need or desire such a state of mind. I have been redeemed from such nonsense. I tell you, this is a tool of Satan, who has convinced those who believe only in the worldly, and not in the spritual. I would ask only that those who haven't to honestly ask Jesus to clarify things, to believe in Him, and to ask Him into your life as Lord and Savior. It takes a simple one minute prayer, and then take it for what it's worth. THAT is how you are free of your failings, guilt, depression, and anxieties. Not this claptrap being spouted by wanna be Freuds.