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 don't actually like parsnips, but this might convert me. I'm a huge fan of soup in general.

I'd be interested in the flavour difference between roasted Vs fresh parsnips, myristicin is more noticeable to me in uncaramelised cooked parsnips but the spicing might balance it.

Well, if you don't commit then people are going to extrapolate. So commit to the bit: Do you think that change, or dilution as you call it, in religious tradition is always a bad thing? Do you think none of the changes that have happened and which have given us our current diverse range of faiths and practices have been for the better?