Talk:40 (number)

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40 also symbolized "a great but indeterminate number" This is the reason the number appears so often in the bible. I don't have the scholarly background to do a proper wiki page on this. There have been some suggestions that the number was sacred to a Babylonian diety, though it was used by Egyptian, Hebrew, and even Druidic peoples as well. Perhaps someone with the proper scholarly background could expound more on this.

1 Lent
2 The word
3 in religion
4 Please Verify and Cite

[edit] Lent

"In modern Western Christian practice, Lent consists of the 40 days preceding Easter" I don't understand why Catholic traditions are ascribed to ALL Christians. As far as I know, Lent is primarily Catholic. I am not aware of any Protestant religions that observe it, certainly none of the Evangelical religions.

The Church of England for a start. Rich Farmbrough 15:56 23 May 2006 (UTC).

I have modified this point to clarify the numbering (this article is not the place to hash out Lenten practice). There is in fact a renewed interest in Lent in a great number of protestant, or evangelical churches. Also, Eastern Orthodox believers would take offense at the suggestion that only Catholics practice something they have practiced as long as anyone. I have written an online devotional for Lent (http://www.imby.net/easter), for my evangelical church (vcfp.org), that has been welcomed by believers of all creeds. Carpentis 16:10, 5 December 2006 (UTC)

[edit] The word

Forty seems to be a fairly generic name for a field. Potentially "the Top Forty"... It's certainly the name f the village green in Cholsey. Rich Farmbrough 15:56 23 May 2006 (UTC).

[edit] in religion

"Adam is believed to be 40 feet tall" -removed. If the belief existed, it is not widespread/consistent enough to have survived, in Christianity, Islam, or Judaism. A quick search reveals some fringe beliefs in early peoples of giant size (a 90 foot tall Adam, etc), but again, no consistency. Carpentis 16:19, 5 December 2006 (UTC)