It was much simpler in the past. You gave up eggs, batter, and pancakes (right?) for lent, and that way God was happy with you and let you into heaven, where pancakes abound. Or something like that.

But now, what with iPhones, laptops, iPancakes, Twitter, and electronic egg whisks, there's more than ever to see Sneak stray from the righteous path during the 40 days and 40 nights of fasting.

The church though is on a mission to change this. The Bishops of London and Liverpool have, in a coordinated pincer movement, called on the Godless and the heathen to give up carbon emitting technologies and repent - Ye sinners, repent - in order to save, not just Sneak, but the planet too.

Their words came as backing for a larger "Carbon Fast" initiative being promoted by religious charity TearFund which wrote on its website that people should "fast from carbon, pray and cry out for climate justice".

Of course, while an admirable aim, some might say that using technology to look for ways to reduce carbon emissions or to even find viable alternatives to fossil fuels was a more worthwhile way to spend 40 days, rather than merely sticking two hands together and shouting at the sky. Just a thought.

Amen.

18 Feb 2010