to wonder why Lent fasting has become so diluted?

[Wonderingwhyyy]

I was talking to a Christian who told me she fasts the traditional way in Lent. No food or water from sunrise to sunset. She was the first I had met who actually abstains from food and drink for a significant period of time.

Other Christians I know choose to give up one food e.g. chocolate, wine, tea, coffee. One Christian told me she gave up Facebook for Lent.

The Christian who said she fasted the traditional way told me she gained many benefits such as spiritual closeness to God, self discipline, greater self control.

It did make sense. Giving up Facebook doesn't seem likely to bring many benefits although may it did for that one person.

I wonder why it became diluted and whether Christianity has lost its followers by allowing most things it did not used to.

It's an expectation. Jesus said, "when you fast", not "if you fast". How that fast transpires is between you and God.

She didn’t. Her friend told her that’s what she did.

I've never heard of that level of fasting for Lent. No water? That's ridiculous. Methinks she is having you on. The idea is that you go without some things that you normally like very much and have often, ie you are more frugal than at other times, and give what you save to a worthy cause. You're not supposed to starve yourself! If you did you'd be no use to anyone.

Even those Muslims who observe Ramadan eat jolly well after sunset, it's quite nice actually because they get together with others, preferably family, pray, share and talk about things they care about.

With both, the health of the person is relevant, not everyone has to fast at all. Diabetics, pregnant women, other things, children of course and hydration is important.

I have just gone down a rabbit hole online and there is a passage in the bible Matthew 6 which suggests that fasting is expected ‘ Matthew 6 talks about ‘ when’ you fast not ‘if’ you fast
Fasting does seem to prevalent in the Pentecostal / Baptist denominations
I think that they adhere more to the teachings of the bible than those who practise Catholicism

Because the concept of Lent was probably dreamt up as a way of winter food stores lasting longer/ making the masses feel better about their winter hunger as they waited for food to become more plentiful again in spring, and that’s not really relevant now?

Cross post.😊

Lent is the creation of men, not God. God has nothing to say on the subject of Lent.

Why is it ridiculous for no water? Mormons, Muslims and Jews have fasted from food and water for thousands of years as do some Christians.

Fasting is not starving. There is a difference.

Well, it wasn't very Christian of her to laugh at that, was it?

Anyway, I didn't realise anyone fasted for Lent. I thought you just gave up a specific thing you enjoy?

The Bible has been entirely debunked nowadays. We now know that the Earth is a globe, not a flat circle. The Earth revolves around the sun, not the other way around. The Earth is not six thousand years old. I could go on. Of course people aren't following the Bible's bizarre rituals anymore.

When I was a kid it seemed quite commonplace, almost more of a social thing than religious, to give up something for Lent. Smoking, or alcohol, or something. With Islam, the Muslims I knew back then were all Moroccans, and enthusiastic drinkers and hash-smokers, but even they mostly adhered to Ramadan.

It’s very very odd the way you keep mentioning other faiths when this about Christianity. As though you consider other faiths to be better than Christianity on the basis of fasting.

What’s your faith?

I was brought up in a traditional Baptist church like you would find in any town here in the UK (not to be confused with "Southern Baptists"!) I always understood that fasting of any sort, especially during Lent, was High Anglican or Catholic and not at all the "done thing". The Bible teaches that we need to discipline ourselves, including our appetites for food and drink, but doesn't mention entertainment or hobbies. I've never known anyone to fast like that for Lent (bear in mind Lent is never mentioned in the Bible) but I have on occasions fasted when praying for someone who was in particular need so that could be a day without food or if it was longer term, maybe just eating fruit/nuts/veg of a couple of days.

But the sort of fast I have found that most changes me is fasting from social media for a set hour every day and praying for that hour instead of scrolling.

Also the Bible tells us that when we fast it should be invisible - we shouldn't be looking miserable or weak, telling everyone we are fasting. Matthew 6 v16-18

"And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that you may not be seen by others to be fasting, but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you."

In other words "Wash your hair, put on your makeup and carry on as normal!"

Methodist URC here some people have given up chocolate or other things always remember a sermon when the minister said don’t always think about what you can give up but what can you give ie helping others or giving etc.

Yes, fasting has historically been a core practice during Lent for many Christians, particularly in the Catholic and Orthodox traditions, though the specific rules and practices have evolved over time.

Here's a more detailed look:

Early Christian Practices:
In the early centuries, Lent involved strict fasting, often including only one meal a day, with meat, fish, eggs, and butter being forbidden.

Evolution of Fasting:
Over time, the strictness of these rules gradually relaxed in some Christian traditions, particularly in the West.

Catholic Church:
In the Catholic Church, fasting on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday is obligatory, and Fridays during Lent are days of abstinence from meat.

Other Christian Traditions:
While not as rigidly enforced as in Catholicism, fasting during Lent is still practiced in other Christian denominations, with varying degrees of strictness.

Biblical Foundation:
The 40-day period of Lent is often linked to Jesus' 40-day fast in the desert before beginning his ministry.

Mormons haven’t done anything at all for thousands of years, they haven’t even done anything for much longer than 200 years.

Didn't think I'd be spending my Saturday night browsing Catholic mantillas on Amazon but that's the rabbit hole I've fallen down.

Must say, I think most of them look a bit like doilies - don't see myself wearing one of these for my presence at online Sunday mass.

Catholics in Poland, they giving up meat every Friday during Lent, and they attend more masses during that time.

I wouldn't consider no food or water at all to be the traditional way to fast for lent. Maybe Ramadan but lent isn't observed that strictly.
Not by any Christians of any denomination I've ever met. I'm thinking your friend is pretty unusual in choosing to do that. Not that I'm an expert.
Nothing wrong or right with it really. I'd imagine to some people it could make them feel a bit unwell and wouldn't suit anyone with certain health problems.
Each to their own of course. You should do what you think feels right.

There are many other things mentioned in the bible (especially the old testament) that one would not call "tradtional" anywhere in the world now (crucifixion anyone?) additionally its accepted the the long "proper" total abstention fasts can only have happened by miraculous means. I wouldn't call Darius' fast a fast at all. Additionally of course there can't be lenten fasts in the bible because lent didn't exist.

but none of those is the sunrise to sunset ingest nothing model that is mentioned by the OP.

okay..........

@godmum56 yes if we go down that road we'll be 'dashing the children of our enemies on the rocks' (psalm 137) for a start. They tend to miss that bit out these days thank goodness.

Anyway, you do get every Sunday off in Lent so maybe OP's 'Christian' friend eats lots once a week. Or maybe OP is a bit naive.

why do you say "jesus called the christ?"
never heard that before?

My family never ate meat on a Friday all year round but I’ve never heard of the small meals on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.
I wonder if my parents did that without us noticing as kids