to admire religious fasting for its discipline and commitment?

[catchingup1]

I’ve been thinking about this lately, especially with Ramadan just gone and the dry fasting of 24 hours by Jews and Mormons.

I can't help feeling impressed. Not in a gushy way, just genuinely. Going without food and water for long periods, while still getting on with normal life, work, family etc takes a level of willpower and discipline that I don’t think most people have.

It’s not even just the physical side. It’s the restraint, the routine, the intention behind it. The fact that people are doing it for something bigger than themselves, not just for a diet or health trend.

It's not just people who’ve grown up with it. There are converts every year across different religions who are doing these fasts for the first time as adults. They haven’t had years to “get used to it” and are choosing to take it on anyway. It’s a conscious decision, not just habit.

Even for people who have done it since childhood, plenty still find it challenging every year. It’s not like it becomes effortless, they’re still choosing to stick to it day after day.

Then you read so much now about people struggling with “food noise”, constantly thinking about what to eat next, cravings, snacking, not being able to switch off from it. So the idea of deliberately stepping away from all of that, even for a set period and managing your impulses like that. It does make me respect it.

I’m not saying it makes anyone better than anyone else, just that I admire the self control, discipline and commitment involved.

I came across this about the benefits of dry fasting:

www.bcm.edu/news/dawn-to-dusk-dry-fasting-leads-to-health-benefits-in-the-study-of-immune-cells

Have you looked at the research? It is not buying into something dangerous. I think it is dumb when people make assumptions.

I hate that inclusivity thing of trying to fast at Ramadan. Jews fast, some Christians do, Hindus fast. Some faiths have different food rules at different times of the year.

It also 'outs' anyone who can't fast for medical reasons, because they are on their period or are pregnant. And recovering anorexics? Nott a good idea.

Almost every time I have been in hospital I have been 'nil by mouth' no one offered to fast with me.

Although I did get 50p for having a naso gastric tube.

I had heard that fasting whilst beneficial for me. wasn’t good for menopausal women. I tried it years ago - it didn’t suit me. I have no admiration for religious folk and their practices - surely the point of their faith is not to bring on admiration.

Well yes you would if you were exercising and not following the guidelines as to how to do a healthy fast.

But that aside never in 50 years I have seen that happening either.

Yes there’s a whole lot of exemptions and if for any reason a person feels they can’t fast and it’s not covered in the exemptions they can actually get someone to do the fast for them under certain conditions, and if they dont want to do that they can make up their fast before the next Ramadan. Just as women make up their missed days of fasting due to their period. And of course they can chose to do this in the much cooler weather if they so wish.

So the woman had heatstroke and was dehydrated? I’m pretty sure fasting doesn’t cause heatstroke. So that’s one of the several women you originally mentioned. Now what about the rest? You know the non existent ones that you saw from a seat on the big red bus.

As for the driver - it’s such a shame the man didn’t feel he could stop the bus somewhere and break his fast, and none of the tourists on board said to him pull over and break your fast nicely, we’re happy to wait for you.

I wasn't so impressed by fasting recently when the Uber driver said "Sorry if I'm a bit out of it, I've been fasting 10 hours today" as he sped down the outside lane of the busy M4. Twat.

No, it's ridiculous. Fancy not being able to drink during the day in the summer when it's hot and you're gasping because a book tells you too.

There are people who fast and do it as intended by going about their normal day and keeping their normal hours for bed etc. Then there’s a minority, mostly young men, who change their daily routine and socialise during the early hours when they’d normally be in bed. It can make the next day a bit of a struggle for them. Another point is that in Muslim countries the working and school day is much shorter than normal so people aren’t adversely affected by long working hours during Ramadan. People are inclined to sleep. But then in countries like the UK people are generally fasting for much longer during the day apart from when Ramadan falls during winter and as far as I’m aware there’s no shorter working day during the months when Ramadan hours are much longer than in other countries.

You should have told him to pull over so you could get out. Isn’t that what someone with any common sense would do if they thought they were in danger?

It’s like when I’ve got into a taxi here and I e not been able to pull the seatbelt from down the back of the back seat. I just say sorry, the seatbelts not working and I get out because I’m not willing for my life to be at risk.

Why do you hate the inclusivity thing? At my workplace, we are invited to join in for all sorts of things:

Lent
Ramadan
Free flags provided to celebrate Pride Week
Walk to work initiatives
Donate to food bank week
Book swap events
Veganuary

People join in if they want or ignore what they want. Nobody is being forced.

Why would anyone want to fast with because you were nil by mouth in hospital? I was nil by mouth myself and did not expect anyone to do the same.

Have you looked at the links? Fasting has many beneficial effects on the body. It might make you gasp but I have never seen any fasting people gasping.

Ive never once been asked/alerted/invited to join in for Lent in this country and Ive always worked for local authorities where every which way is flagged up

Totally agree with this - I’m impressed by vegetarianism and veganism. Can’t do it myself as I’m chronically severely anaemic but I admire those that do.

OP why are you so desperate to sell this? Nobody cares! If you want to do it, do it but don’t try and push it on others.

The OP is like a dog with a bone.

I can only assume they thought this thread might've been 'controversial' in some way and would keep them busy.

If this isn't the reason, I'm baffled as to what the obsession is all about.

well although they dressed it up as “all religions” they’re clearly only talking about one so I’m going to go ahead and assume it’s someone trying to push their religion on others.

How am I selling it or pushing it onto others?

If someone starts a thread about something, does that mean they are pushing or selling it?

If I am not interested in a thread, I move on. Try it.

In my workplace, I always get an email about Lent every year encouraging people to try it.

My DD’s best friend is Muslim and DD fasted for Ramadan last year in moral support. She stuck to it, well religiously, I was so proud of her. I had to force her to drink water before a netball match she was so strict. Her friend’s mum says she loves Ramadan as it’s such a peaceful time when she can take the time to reflect. They invited us to Iftar as well, the food was amazing!

You asked if you are being unreasonable to be impressed at people fasting - most people have said that yes, you are being unreasonable to be impressed by it - yet you keep coming back trying to argue with everyone about it! If you want to fast, fast. Leave everyone else to their own beliefs.

All I know is that I couldn't go all day without water. I'm a very thirsty person, always have been.

Encouraging people to fast for Lent?

What sort of company is this?

Encouraging people to try Lent? What even is that? People do all sorts of things for Lent. What did your lent email say this year? Was it 2 days after they asked everyone to fast for Ramadan? They have been more of less simultaneous this year. Can you just start a fake Ramadan and then say you're trying Lent too?

Totally agree. There's been a lot of WHAT ABOUT LENT whenever a comms team mentions Ramadan recently. But the vast majority of Christians are utterly hopeless at observing Lent. My own efforts have been half hearted at best this year.