FASTING (as it relates to Faith and Health)

It was recently brought to my attention that there are those among us who practice their beliefs and faith at the risk and cost of their own health. I know there are rituals in faith that sometime require some physical demand and toll that can be taxing on our bodies. I am speaking particularly on the ritual of fasting, a practice that is common among the Three Great Monotheisitc Faiths of our world. It is taught that great blessings comes out of this act. The concept of fasting is based on the principle ideal of sacrifice. The belief in giving up food and drink or other worldly pleasures for a brief time in the remembrance of God or in respect for those economically less fortunate. Now the physical criteria or rule for someone who plans to participate in fasting is basically that the individual be in good health and be responsible.



More specifically, Children and the Elderly should not fast. Women who are experiencing their menstruation, pregnant, or breast feeding should not fast. Individuals who are traveling outside of their normal destinations or on a long journey should not fast. Children before the ages of puberty should not fast. I understand that this may seem like common knowledge to most, however there are a large number of people in our societies, new to faith, forced to comply, or are just ignorant to health guidelines and don't incorporate them in dealing directly with fasting.



Muslims fast from dawn till sunset during Ramadan and they deprived from food and sexual activities with their spouses and from doing inappropriate things so as to teach them how to control their desires and to feel as the less fortunate feel. Christians fast during Lent and refrain from some foods during this religious time.



Christians fast during Lent, which is usually at the beginning of the

year. While Muslims fast during Ramadan, which is normally towards the end of the year, based on the Lunar Calendar of that year. Hindus fast on certain days of the month such as Purina (full moon) and Evades (the 11th day of the fortnight). Certain days of the week is also marked for fasting, depending on individual choices and on one's favorite god and goddess. On Saturday, people fast to appease the god of that day, Shani or Saturn. Some fast on Tuesdays the auspicious day for Hanuman, the monkey God. On Fridays devotees of the goddess Santoshi Mata abstain from taking anything citric.



As I often share with my readers that I make a point to have interaction with my audience and it is disturbing to learn that some people ignore the reasons and criteria for rituals such as fasting. My fondest wish and best hope is for those who are confused about what to do in such circumstances to use common sense and take the time to read and research for the betterment of your health, body and soul. The Almighty knows your good intentions.



Never allow anyone to bully or manipulate you in the so-called name of any deity. If something does not seem right to you, 99% of the time it is not. The idea of faith is to bring understanding and a sense of connection or belonging to a concept, idea, belief that brings you to communication with something bigger than yourself. That is supposed to be a beautiful thing devoy of fear or pain. Someone once said to me that they were taught to fear God like a Boogey Man that will punish you if you did something wrong or unjust. I like to think of The Almighty in these terms, like being in awe of him like we are in awe of the sun, we know it is great, and bright, and it is beyond us, and we know we cannot look directly into it because of it's brightness, Awe, not fear. I believe the fear factor in faith has been about control. The true factor should be about love and understanding. I say all this to make a point, question to get understanding, with understanding, common sense should make an entrance as well. Be sure to read your own book and get your own understanding, not always someone elses.

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Learn to Learn, Learn to Live, Learn to Love, Learn to Respect...RAHMAN S.

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