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.

i should imagine so, yes

but you don't know?

Fasting takes many forms. For some Christians, it is giving up Facebook which can easily be done for 24 hours 40 days in a row (although the person I know who did this didn't manage 40 days).

yeah, that would be quite some fast!
You'd have to do some serious bulking up first

sorry, I'm not sure why you're being argumentative or have i got the wrong end of the stick in which case apologies

Sorry, seriously not intending to be argumentative. I am just trying to get to the facts. The OP seems to think that there is a lost tradition in the Christian Church to fast, by which she means, total abstinence from food and drink sunrise to sunset, for Lent. I am in no doubt that its physiologically possible for most healthy adults. I also accept that there are innumerable offshoot sects and associations, some of whom may do this. There may also be individuals who do this for religious reasons. What i do question and am trying to get to the root of, is whether this has EVER been a Christian tradition that has become "diluted" As the OP has now switched their focus from food to other things including social media, I suspect that they are shifting position because we aren't buying the original assertion or the reasearch done in antique books. Got to say that I do find the implication that a fast from social media can be considered to be traditional is a little strange......or maybe the OP is a time traveller?

I don’t think your Christian is catholic, I’ve never heard of anyone doing fasting like that. The usual for catholics is giving up something, praying and giving alms.

ok, my interest level is at about 2 out of 10 unfortunately , I just know people fast in all sorts of ways ncluding full days etc.

So now this ancient tradition of Christian Lenten fasting which has been tragically ‘diluted’ originally included abstention from social media? I bet the early Christians were all over that.

More seriously, do you struggle with the concept of research, generalising from a sample size of one, getting the wrong end of the stick, and grandstanding on the internet about some nonsense you’ve invented?

It's interesting that the OP's friend is an African Christian - I wonder is the dawn to sunset thing derived from a Coptic monastic rule? I further wonder whether when Islam expanded over the heartland of early Christian monasticism in North Africa did it adopt the fasting customs of those monasteries (established in the 4th century and developed over the ca 300 years until the Islamic conquest).

In any case, the day length for a dawn to sunset fast is more predictable the nearer the equator you get. here in the chilly north the short days associated with an early Easter would make it easier, but oh the weather.

The last time I gave up anything for Lent was at the age of 11: it was sugar in my tea (cue the usual suspects saying "OMG! You were allowed to drink TEA at that age!) and I only did it to keep my mother company. At the end of Lent, whenever that is, she gleefully sugared both hers and mine. It tasted revolting to me and I have never taken sugar in tea (or coffee) since.

Because I can look for something to back up what I believe and find it online. Anti vax, pro Trump, aliens exist, hollow earth, Bermuda Triangle etc.
There is a website that claims my home town had London Underground stops.

Had the op said initially that she had found it via properly researched books or writing then that’s different.

I see from Wikipedia (I know) that Pachomius encouraged members of the community to make their own decisions about times and durations of fasts - so fasting was there in the earliest cenobitic monasteries

Ever heard of lent fasting.

Exactly the same, but I was six — it was the year I made my first communion. (And yes, WC children of my generation were pretty weaned onto sweet milky tea. I’ve never been able to stomach sugared tea or coffee since.)

Yes, Jews have Yom Kippur, which is a complete fast day, but it's one day, not 40.

Me three with giving up sugar in my tea for Lent aged ca 7 - following my daddy's example. Never took sugar in tea again. Lots of milk though.

When you say first communion is that including the wine&wafers or just a blessing?
In the Anglican church we only took wine&wafer (bread in my day) after confirmation at 11.

I never knew Christians were meant to fast like that for lentils. That's the same way Muslims fast for Ramadan. I've only heard of them fasting

Lent is a Christian tradition, not a Biblical commandment. It's become diluted because people are able to read the Bible for themselves in their own language and have realised that fasting from food during Lent is not mandated by scripture.

Are you a Christian? I can't understand why you're so defensive when people point out that this type of fasting is not traditional Christianity.
Yes there are some types of fasting that's done for lent and I do agree that these have become diluted but so to has Christianity and indeed all religions. Our societies are becoming more secular, it's also very hard to follow rules with the pace of life and demands many face.
Your friend is entitled to observe lent in the way she chooses but we shouldn't pretend that this is something specific to Christianity.

Catholics (usually) make their first confessions and start taking communion (wafers, not wine) at ca 7 and are confirmed at ca 12.

It's still part of the historic Catholic tradition and observed by many today.

Many faiths do stick to their rules despite the pace of life and demands that many face be it Christianity or others.

Which other religions have become diluted? The rituals of Judaism and Islam have not changed. The requirement to fast and pray is exactly the same as it was thousands of years ago despite the pace of life and demands that many face.

I would argue the split from Catholicism was a pretty big dilution of the faith. Many customs were torn out of the rule book and the Bible changed slightly to suit a narrative.