Recently I came upon a group of christians who extole the spiritual benefits of extended fasting, namely, a 40 day food fast. This concept alarms me and simultaneously fascinates me so I did a small amount of research to find out more. From "Campus Crusade" web site:
http://www.billbright.com/howtofast/physically.html
"In my desire to be absolutely faithful to my first 40-day fast, I stopped taking my usual vitamins and minerals. However during subsequent fasts, I have felt strongly impressed to continue my vitamin and herbal therapy and also using psyllium. I do this to keep my "temple" healthy while continuing to deny myself the pleasure of eating solid food.
During your fast, you may have your struggles, discomforts, spiritual victories, and failures. In the morning you may feel like you are on top of the world, but by evening you may be wrestling with the flesh-sorely tempted to raid the refrigerator and counting how many more days are left in your fast. This is especially true if you are new at fasting. To counteract temptations like these, take extra time with the Lord to spend with God. Step outside for fresh air and a moderate walk of a mile or two, and talk to the Lord as you walk along. And in the process always keep on sipping water or juice frequently during your waking hours."
I am amazed that Christianity has taken to extreme trends such as a 40 day food fast. I have discovered the reason for this length of time is to model what Jesus supposedly did when he was alive. Make no mistake, this is a growing trend. As Christianity further polarizes to the end of times POV, more extreme fashions or displays of "faith" in the name of requesting higher levels of spirituality will become common place.
The fact that seemingly normal humans are now engaging in 40 day fasts pushed me to seek after more info. Here are some other links I found, my brief conclusion follows the italicized:
A website promoting unchecked (as far as I can tell, unsubstantiated) medical benefits and claims that fasting fights diseases in the body (I do not know if this is true):
http://www.healthrecipes.com/fast22.htm
Effects Of Fasting On The Immune System
"Here are various effects on the immune system that have been observed during fasting.
Elevated Macrophage Activity
Increased Cell-Mediated Immunity
Increased Immunoglobulin Levels
Increased Neutrophil Bactericidal Activity
Heightened Monocyte Killing and Bacterial Function
Enhanced Natural Killer Cell Activity
Basically, you get to laze around while your immune system and cleansing organs do all the work. Billions of tiny employees working 24 hours per day, cleaning up your mess and working for free without any appreciation. You should feel guilty."
Now, I am doubting much of these claims and would not be surprised if they were bogus or hyper-inflated.
Here is a holistic type web link that declares fasting to be an anti aging tactic:
http://www.anti-aging-guide.com/33biomarkers.php
"Periodic fasting and caloric restriction for life extension, treatment of desease, and enhanced creativity (clinical and experimental data)"
AND, so you know, Judeo-Christians are not alone in the fasting technique/quest for spirituality, Muslims extole its virtues also. (among many other religions) This website declares, among many other things that science supports the benefits of fasting:
http://www.irfi.org/articles/articles_1_50...ugh_fasting.htm
The Death of Passion Purifies the Human Soul
"It is for this reason that the arrival of the blessed month of Ramadan is greeted with happiness. For in this month the doors of heaven are opened to the faithful and Divine Compassion plunges upon those who seek it. Those who complete the fast of Ramadan feel rejuvenated and are prepared to face another year with firmness to live and act according to the Divine Will."
Science Favors Fasting
"What are the benefits of fasting? ....
In some studies performed on fasting Muslims, it was observed that there was a slight loss of weight both in males and females. Their blood glucose levels increased significantly. Other parameters such as blood levels of cortisol, testosterone, sodium, potassium, urea, total cholesterol, HDL (high density lipoprotein), TG (triglycerides), and serum osmolatity did not show notable variations.
Another study performed about a decade ago in Iran showed that sporadic restraint from food and drink for about 17 hours a day for 30 days does not alter male reproductive hormones, HPTA (hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid-axis) or peripheral metabolism of thyroid hormones. Any changes noticed return to normal four weeks after fasting."
Here is a Muslim web link that declares Fasting makes you sleep better:
http://www.islamonline.net/English/Science...article03.shtml
Fasting Positively Affects Sleep
"During the first few hours of an Islamic fast, the EEG is normal. However, the frequency of the alpha rhythm is decreased by a low blood glucose level. This may happen at the end of the fasting day towards evening when the blood sugar is low.
Fasting improves the quality and intensifies the depth of sleep, a matter of particular importance to the aged who have much less stage three and four sleep (deep sleep). The processes of repair of the body and of the brain take place during sleep. Two hours of sleep during the month of Ramadan are more satisfying and refreshing than more hours of sleep otherwise!"
But, I observe, Muslims must find this research so as to promote their customs and cultural fasting requirements. I suspect a biased skew in the data.
At this point in my research I began to feel like a believer. It appears from the google searching I did that only fools do not fast. Fasting is touted as practically a miracle cure all to the key to unlocking deep and significant spirituality through self-denial.
Concluding:
I was hard pressed to find any bad press about fasting. What I did find was that fasting definately weakens the mind body connection via the lowering of blood sugar levels in the body. I will not go as far as the religious promoters do to declare spirituality when said fasting experience appears to be merely a typical biological response. Feeling weak and other worldly can be obtained through medicine, narcotics, and vigorous/extended excersize (I used to train for Ironman Triathlons). Sensory deprevation also induces these feelings.
Apparently religions are hijacking the physiological response from fasting and incorporating this feeling as a mystical sign or proof for spiritual sustainment or achievement.
This is not necessarily a bad thing if it brings peace or perspective to one's life. My observation is, as an agnostic man with atheistic tendencies, I have fasted off and on over the last year since obtaining this world view for definitive non spiritual reasons and have also experienced the mind body connection weakening. This observation points out that fasting is not a spiritual experience but in the mind of someone who needs it to be.
Fasting is nothing more than a perceived (invented?) creation of spirituality that can be seen as an over reaching attempt to bring god closer to the faithful religious mind. It is a fact that abstaining from food and/or water can and does sooner or later promote various states of psychotropic disconnects from reality in the form of hallucinations and euphoria.
Noggin
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Grego from the FAIRLDS.org message board responds:
QUOTE
Noggin wrote:
I was hard pressed to find any bad press about fasting.
In my nonmedical second-hand and personal experience:
Here are a few bad things to it:
--when you are going through detoxification at the very beginning, but that is temporary and beneficial for you.
--when you try to continue at your present energy levels, but exceed your limit--i.e., you pass out, black out, faint, etc., and especially if you hit your head in the fall, etc.
--when you exceed your body stores. If you are in poor health and strongly deficient in vitamins, minerals, fat, etc., you won't be able to do a 40-day fast without some damage to your body (could be a little or a lot). Malnourished, very thin, or undamaged bodies should not do it for that long.
--your body functions can change. for example, sleep patterns will be very different, changing from a strong off/ on to a more slightly on/ slightly off pattern, etc.
--especially nowadays for most people, doing it without proper care of your colon can damage your body.
Otherwise, people have done 60-day fasts, and been the much better off for it.
QUOTE
Noggin: Apparently religions are hijacking the physiological response from fasting and incorporating this feeling as a mystical sign or proof for spiritual sustainment or achievement. Fasting is nothing more than a perceived creation of spirituality that can be seen as an over reaching attempt to bring god closer to the faithful religious mind.
To attempt to dissassociate and differentiate the body and the mind, is something that most religions don't allow for; in fact, it is this connection that makes fasting and other experiences, such as spiritual hallucinating, visions, etc., work. And, for most religions, spirituality is in the eye of the beholder--much more than in the thinking of a non-believer.
------------------------------------------------------------------
CJCampbell from the FAIRLDS.org message board responds:
Maybe I am just old, but I am always a little suspicious of things like this. I have to wonder what the real consensus of the medical community is.
Among other things, I have heard that extended fasting can cause permanent nerve damage, especially to the eyes.
When you stop eating the body begins to eat itself. You can lose considerable muscle mass through protein loss and it is very difficult to replace it. I would also be concerned about hypoglycemia.
I am reminded a little bit about warnings against having gospel hobbies.
Jesus fasted for forty days, according to the Bible, except that as noted previously "forty" means "many." Moses wandered in the desert for "forty" years, for example, during which almost an entire generation of Israelites lived and died. I would not apostatize if it turned out that Moses really wandered for sixty years and Jesus fasted one day a week for a year and called it 40 days of fasting.
Jesus was crucified, too, but I am not one of those Christians who thinks that I would benefit in some way by being crucified. There are people here in the Philippines who do think that way; some of them have been crucified so many times that they have permanent holes in their feet and hands or wrists. Personally, I prefer to rely on the atonement of the Savior rather than attempt to atone for my own sins (and people think Mormons are weird).
QUOTE
CJCampbell: Jesus was crucified, too, but I am not one of those Christians who thinks that I would benefit in some way by being crucified.
Hi there, CJ
Just wanted to let you know this comment got an audible chuckle out of me. Thanks!
My post was designed to place a question mark on the end of these new trends that, to me, are merely odd gestures in seeking after higher spirituality. I am fascinated by it. If one day of fasting is good then 40 days of fasting is... what? better?
Noggin
----------------------------------------------------------
