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

You're trying to equate it with awareness for medical conditions and constantly arguing about it. It's definitely getting to you, otherwise you wouldn't mind at all that some people (not just me) don't want to be encouraged to try religious fasting in the workplace and you'd think that, given this fact, the best thing would be to give people the information they need to be supportive and nothing more. Because the rest of it is unwelcome, unnecessary and feels like overstepping.

But that's modern inclusivity for you...

How would you feel about political canvassing?

Reform leaving posters in the kitchen and and sending jolly emails on the intranet for 'reform awareness week'?

That doesn't happen in my workplace. It is hardly the same is it?

Talking about it or recognising it isn’t the same as encouraging people to do it.
It’s just basic awareness. I have learned a lot from the different awareness weeks at work.

Saying it’s overstepping or “modern inclusivity” gone too far feels a bit dramatic. No one’s asking you to take part. You’re still completely free to ignore it.
It just sounds like you don’t like hearing about it, which is fine, but that’s not the same as it being overstepping.

I believe in God and I am on a spiritual journey. I don't really like labels.

I can’t see anything to admire in it. You’re easily impressed, OP. And what is this “bigger thing” you mention?

Does anyone at your place ever get any work done between religious observance, flag waving, faddy diets and hand-wringing for a week at a time over medical conditions most staff either don't suffer from or would prefer to keep it quiet if they do?

What kind of company is it?

I'm assuming you work in HR and have nothing better to do than obsess all day over this nonsense.

Most people have got far more important things to do and, to answer your original question, yes, you are being unreasonable.

I find nothing admirable about fasting. It doesn't benefit anyone and potentially harms the person doing the fasting. Don't bother trying again to sell the nonsense you have already posted. I'm not buying.

I know that fasting can be good for you, and have health benefits, (like intermittent fasting, and occasional 36 hour fasts,) but I will never get on board with dry fasting, no matter how many links anyone posts to how 'amazing' dry fasting is... Drinking water is very important to every living creature, and depriving yourself of it not a good idea IMO.

You seem very invested in pushing this @catchingup1 , and appear to be pushing the narrative that this is the best thing anyone can do. And you seem a bit irked that not everyone agrees with you.

I am not actually impressed myself - by people doing this. I have no feelings about it either way. If they want to do it, then they're welcome to it, but I will never do any dry fasting.

I'm very pleased for you though, that you have a very 'diverse' and 'inclusive' workplace.

"Mary is fasting for Lent on these days, can you give her some support if she needs it?"

"Sure, no problem."

"And Muhammed will be fasting for Ramadan, can you help him out if he struggles?"

"Of course."

"And why don't you try fasting too? There are so many benefits! It will help Mary and Muhammad if you fast too!" (No it won't, it'll just mean I might need extra support too, it's a bad idea all round.)

"That's beyond your remit as an employer. You're overstepping. Please stop, if you're truly just trying to be inclusive to all."

"What? What's the problem? Nobody's forcing you! It's just a suggestion! It doesn't create any pressure or discomfort to you or anyone else, I know because I'm telling you so! What, so you think we shouldn't raise awareness about endometriosis and other medical issues? That's terrible! No, I'm not annoyed at all, why would you think that? It's just a suggestion! I'm acting like this because I'm so wonderfully inclusive! I'm making the workplace a better place for everyone!!!!"

You know something, I'll fast and pray to whatever God puts a stop to this stuff.

People aren’t sitting around all day waving flags instead of working. Most of this stuff is just basic awareness, a few emails, maybe someone mentioning it in passing. The idea that it’s taking over the workplace is ridiculous.

HR? 😴

No one is trying to “sell” anything to you. No one cares if you’re not buying. You’re not being asked to do anything,

You sound irritated that other people don’t live exactly the way you do.

You don't have to get on board with anything. Neither do you have to accept the research showing dry fasting is beneficial. Keep thinking the same way you do.

Thanks for being pleased about my workplace. 😉

D'ya think HR and its minions and acolytes ever wonder why everyone hates their performative gestures of inclusivity, when they're supposedly doing a fabulous job of making everyone feel welcome and valued and not creating any pressure or discomfort in the slightest?

Keep up the great work, OP. You can see how brilliantly you're getting everyone on board.

😂

Thank you 😂

Can't tell if that's sarcasm or not. 👀

Sorry, I thought it was pretty obvious I was taking the piss.

I don't know what OP's MO is. It can't be to get people on board with these performative, exclusionary gestures of putative inclusivity, or else she wouldn't cling on so much to such a failing strategy. At least HR get paid to do it.

I thought you were! Looks like the OP thought you were being serious though. 😬

@ThatCyanCat

I don't know what OP's MO is. It can't be to get people on board with these performative, exclusionary gestures of putative inclusivity, or else she wouldn't cling on so much to such a failing strategy. At least HR get paid to do it.

Agree!

You’re entitled to your opinion but it doesn’t impress me at all especially Mormons - it’s all about how it looks!

I thought she was just pretending not to notice the sarcasm, but maybe it wasn't as obvious as I thought.

I just want to say this is possibly the best thing I've read on the Internet in a very, very long time.

One thing I will never admire is anything related to religion.

Don't be so dramatic a healthy adult in a temperate climate can go 12 hours without water.

Have you not noticed it is lent aka a Christian time of fasting and abstinence ? I am a Christian and plan to live below the line next week for Holly week. It helps me to think of those with less and I give the money to Charity.

We are fasting for lent. Eating after sundown only but we are drinking throughout the day, water only.