The Role of Fasting
Many religions incorporate some element of fast-
ing into their religious practices. Laws regarding fasting
or restricting food and drink have been described as a
call to holiness by many religions. Fasting has been
identified as the mechanism that allows one to improve
one’s body (often described as a ‘‘temple’’ created by
God), to earn the approval of Allah or Buddha, or to
understand and appreciate the sufferings of the poor.
Fasting has also been presented as a means to
acquire the discipline required to resist temptation, as
an act of atonement for sinful acts, or as the cleansing of
evil from within the body. Fasting may be undertaken
for several hours, at a specified time of the day (e.g.,
from sunrise to sunset, as practiced by modern Jews),
for a specified number of hours (e.g., twelve, twenty-
four, or more, as observed by Catholics or Mormons
who fast on designated days), or for consecutive days,
such as during the month of Ramadan for certain Mus-
lims. Regardless of the time frame or rationale, religious
groups observe the practice of fasting worldwide.Major Religions with Food Prescriptions
Although no two religions hold exactly the same
ideology about diet, health, and spiritual wellness,
many do embrace similar practices.
Buddhism. Many Buddhists are vegetarians,
though some include fish in their diet. Most do not
eat meat and abstain from all beef products. The birth,
enlightenment, and death of Buddha are the three
most commonly recognized festivals for feasting, rest-
ing from work, or fasting. Buddhist monks fast com-
pletely on certain days of the moon, and they routinely
avoid eating any solid foods after the noon hour.
Eastern Orthodox Christianity. An essential ele-
ment of practicing an Orthodox life includes fasting,
since its intrinsic value is part of the development of aspiritual life. To practicing Orthodox believers, fasting
teaches self-restraint, which is the source of all good.
Hinduism. Hindus do not consume any foods that
might slow down spiritual or physical growth. The
eating of meat is not prohibited, but pork, fowl,
ducks, snails, crabs, and camels are avoided. The cow
is sacred to Hindus, and therefore no beef is con-
sumed. Other products from the cow, however, such
as milk, yogurt, and butter are considered innately
pure and are thought to promote purity of the mind,
spirit, and body.
Many devout Hindus fast on the eighteen major
Hindu holidays, as well as on numerous personal days,
such as birthdays and anniversaries of deaths and
marriages. They also fast on Sundays and on days
associated with various positions of the moon and
the planets.
Islam. To the Muslims, eating is a matter of faith
for those who follow the dietary laws calledHalal,a
term for all permitted foods. Those foods that are
prohibited, such as pork and birds of prey, are
known asHaram, while the foods that are question-
able for consumption are known asMashbooh.Mus-
lims eat to preserve their goodhealth, andoverindulgence
or the use of stimulants such as tea, coffee, or alcohol
are discouraged. Fasting is practiced regularly on Mon-
days and Thursdays, and more often for six days dur-
ing Shawwal (the tenth month of the Islamic year) and
for the entire month of Ramadan (the ninth month).
Fasting on these occasions includes abstention from all
food and drink from sunrise to sunset.
Judaism. The Jewish dietary law is calledKashrut,
meaning ‘‘proper’’ or ‘‘correct.’’ The termkosherrefers
to the methods of processing foods according to the
Jewish laws. The processing laws and other restric-
tions regarding to the preparation of food and drink
were devised for their effects on health. For example,
rules about the use of pans, plates, utensils, and sepa-
ration of meat from dairy products are intended to
reduce contamination. Other rules include:
A Jewish person must prepare grape products, other-
wise they are forbidden.
Jewish laws dictate the slaughter and removal of blood
from meat before it can be eaten.
Animalssuchaspigsandrabbitsandcreaturesofthesea,
such as lobster, shrimp, and clams, may not be eaten.
Meat and dairy products cannot be eaten at the same
meal or served on the same plate, and kosher and
nonkosher foods cannot come into contact with the
same plates.KEY TERMS
Malnourished—lack of adequate nutrients in the
diet
Nausea—unpleasant sensation in the gut that pre-
cedes vomiting
Nervous system—the brain, spinal cord, and
nerves that extend throughout the body
Proscription—prohibitions, rules against
Religion and dietary practices