Fasting

Summary

Fasting in Abrahamic faiths is a shared practice that transcends religious boundaries, promoting self-restraint, God-consciousness, and social justice.

Abstract

The article discusses the common practice of fasting among Abrahamic faiths, including Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, and its significance in fostering self-discipline, spiritual awareness, and a heightened sensitivity to social justice issues. Fasting periods vary in length but aim to shift focus from physical needs to higher moral and spiritual concerns, including the worship of the Creator. The article highlights the societal ills of overindulgence, greed, racism, and bigotry, suggesting that the principles of fasting could be applied to address these issues, advocating for fairness and just treatment of others. By controlling one's physical appetites, individuals can strengthen their willpower and God-consciousness, potentially leading to a more equitable society.

Opinions

The article opines that fasting is not only a religious obligation but also a tool for personal and societal transformation.
Overindulgence in food and drink is seen as a societal plague leading to health issues and reflects a broader trend of uncontrolled appetites in American society.
The pursuit of power and wealth by the affluent at the expense of the less affluent is criticized, as is the role of racism and bigotry in undermining democracy and perpetuating societal divisions.
The article suggests that the self-restraint learned through fasting can be applied to control societal ills, promoting freedom and justice for all.
It emphasizes that those in power should share control for the collective benefit and that racism and bigotry must be abandoned to overcome oppression and social and economic partitioning.
The article posits that the inspiring lessons from fasting, such as self-control and God-consciousness, can significantly strengthen one's social justice sensitivities.

Strengthening Social Justice Sensitivities

Photo by Aziz Acharki on Unsplash

A common characteristic among people of Abrahamic faiths is the practice of fasting. Our Creator reminds us, “Fasting was prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, so that you may learn self-restraint and God-Consciousness” (Qur’an 2:183). Those of the Jewish tradition celebrate Yom Kippur, Christians practice fasting on Ash Wednesday, Good Friday and during the days of Lent and Muslims observe fasting during the month of Ramadan (Clay).

The duration of the fast varies from one day to as many as forty among these faith groups and although the particular procedures of each are slightly different, the desired outcome is collectively consistent. Learning to control physical appetites helps one to focus on concerns outside of themselves. Foregoing physical satisfaction vaults one to the awareness of higher concern. Our Creator asks that we fast and in so doing we are pleasing Him. So fasting helps us learn self-control and strengthens our God-Consciousness.

Examining our American societal experiences reveals a ubiquitous presence of overindulgence and unbounded appetites. The overindulgence in food and drink plagues us with obesity and serious medical maladies. The greed and desires of powerful people force those less affluent families to sustain a larger than an equitable share of our collective financial burden. While racism and bigotry threaten our democracy and perpetuate social and economic partitioning, each of these cultural illnesses is exacerbated by individuals whose appetites in this societal domain are unbridled.

Abstaining from food and drink during the period of the fast yields several positive consequences. We learn the power of our minds over our bodies. We strengthen our individual willpower to control when we eat or drink. Meals are no longer under the jurisdiction of our physical appetites. Since fasting is a practice associated with worship, our fast accentuates our desire to please our Creator and we become more God-Conscious.

Although the societal characteristics mentioned above cannot be added or removed from a dinner plate, it still may be possible to limit their influence on our lives. If each of us were to call upon our innate sense of fairness and just treatment of others, the self-restraint goal of fasting could be met.

The unconstrained desire for power, greed, racism, and bigotry are maladies that effectively prevent the attainment of “Freedom and Justice for All.”

Collectively we must learn to control these ubiquitous, anti-societal practices; those in power must learn to share control with others for the benefit of us all. The champions of racism and bigotry must relinquish their support for social and economic partitioning as an instrument of oppression.

These and many other inspiring lessons could be internalized from participation in a Fast of the Abrahamic Faiths any one of which could help strengthen one’s social justice sensitivities.

Fasting

Strengthening Social Justice Sensitivities

Work Cited