Starving the flesh?

Question

Christians, in the earlier days, there was a lot of fasting. In "The Essene Gospel of Peace" fasting was an answer to all sickness with praying. The knowledge put it as starving satan of his power. Have we lost the art of fasting today?

Answer 1

Dear Numinous,
This is James O.I'm having computer problems getting back to you since you contacted me. My return contact just isn't going through.
I think Desert Father fasting a little extreme,but I do think that in the "Hedonist West" we have problems with any form of discipline and self-restraint. Jesus did say in the "Demon-Possessed Boy"incident after the Transfiguration, that devils like that could only be cast out"by prayer and fasting."
I do moderate fasts of one full meal and a nutritious snack. I abstain from certain foods more often. I have given up mammal meat completely and have cut back on dairy products,chicken and fish. On Fridays I usually do not eat birds either in memory of Christ's death. Sometimes in intercession I may go a whole day without eating.Three or four times a week I usually skip a meal as a prayer discipline.
I think prayer( and fasting sometimes too)helps with illness,but I think it is very foolish to neglect medicine and diet and seeking the direction of the best of medical science.

Answer 2

Not completely. Among most "Fundies" (quit griping, I too are one) it is still practiced as a means of bringing the "flesh" under submission to the spiritual person.

Answer 3

Maybe. Aside from religious reasons, fasting is one of the best health practices we can do, especially in our modern obese society.

Answer 4

No. Today it's called anorexia.

Answer 5

I'm fat, so yes, I'd say so.