2007-10-29 12:52:48 · 11 answers · asked by Wanna bite? 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I think the idea is you put aside the physical sensations or something. Or perhaps it's trying to make a deal with God: See, I'll do this difficult thing if you'll perform a miracle for me.
Pass me another slice of pizza, will you?
2007-10-29 12:57:33 · answer #1 · answered by auntb93 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
wow... you'd think these people never heard of a test of willpower!
It doesn't necessarily "further your case" from Gods point of view. everything is the same from that point of view. its more about proving to yourself that you are worthy.
what it DOES help is allowing your own mind and body to obtain and attain a calm state which is divorced from the desires of the day and set apart for one purpose. If you are seeking Gods council, or you are diving deep into the council of your own thoughts, you are doing so with your whole body. if your body has other things to worry about (say a burrito to digest and make use of) then you only have so much focus (whether conscious or unconscious) to devote to what ever task you have deemed appropriate.
Fasting is a way to ready yourself for deep thought or insight by allowing the distractions of your typical life to fade off and leave you calm and collected. It is also a test of will power which can give you a sense of accomplishment and in a sense let your mind think you have earned something for completing this task so diligently.
There are Yogis in India and throughout Asia which make it a ritual to not eat for a week on end out of each month as an act of devotion and respect. It allows for a clear mind, and just like a window, its easiest to see through that way.
Fasting from food is only one way you can prepare yourself, you can also fast from speaking, or you can fast from masturbation and other sexual encounters (if you're into that sort of thing). you can also fast from sleep, though this can get messy if you have to do something requiring concentration. its all just a matter of how you want to prepare yourself to receive or to search for insight in the way which you see fit. Its not for everyone, but it works for some, and well at that. hope that give you a better idea of what fasting is all about :)
2007-10-29 21:38:27 · answer #2 · answered by nacsez 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Do the clueless, sneering idiots here even know what they're on about? Yeah, I thought not.
To add to Chantal's answer, the Roman Catholic Church doesn't say you don't have to starve yourself to pray.
In the old days, you had to fast half a day before receiving communion. These days, it's only an hour. During Lent, you have to go without meat and junk food as an act of sacrifice and self-denial.
But really, God does not expect you to fast. Traditions and rituals do. He'd take you, if you're hungry or not.
2007-10-29 20:41:47 · answer #3 · answered by The Nomad Yokai 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Except for the first 24 to 36 hours, during which time most people are rather distracted by the effects of food deprivation, the flesh tends to receed into the background, and the spirit then begins to take over.
2007-10-29 22:04:04 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
It doesn't.
Sometimes _fasting_ can be a useful aid to meditation. Fasting entails delaying temporarily or limiting one's consumption of food. It is more comfortable to pray or meditate when you don't feel full. You would eat lightly after you finish praying or meditating.
Starving yourself is unhealthy and counterproductive. How can you concentrate on prayer or meditation when you feel extremely hungry? How does passing out from hunger or low blood sugar enhance your praying?
To use the medieval phrasing, starving and self-harm (such as flagellation and scourging) are 'mortifications of the flesh' and should not be done. Those types of acts are akin to suicide, once you think about it.
2007-10-29 20:21:39 · answer #5 · answered by Chantal G 6 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Long fasts would make people hallucinate. These hallucinations were desireable for mystical experience; American Indians were big on mystical experience as well.
In Islam, there is a month-long period of daylight fasting called Ramadan; however, they scoot around it by waking up early and having a big breakfast while it's dark out; then they have a big dinner when it's dark at night.
2007-10-29 20:02:14 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 2⤋
God answers no man, only the religious insane believe in such nonsense.
2007-10-29 20:00:04 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 2⤋
It deprives your brain of essential electrolytes and nutrients, thereby causing delusions.
2007-10-29 19:56:41 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 2⤋
Lack of food makes you hallucinate and then you really think God is speaking to you.
2007-10-29 19:56:32 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 3⤋
Religious leaders just made that stuff up so that they could get dibs on the ribs.
2007-10-29 20:04:20 · answer #10 · answered by The Bog Nug 5 · 1⤊ 4⤋