From ancient days, fasting has become a tradition in several religious and spiritual conditions. This is practiced for honoring God, for atoning the sins, for showing gratitude as well as for promoting political awareness. As every individual and culture has its own rules, usually fasting involves giving up tobacco, drink, food, sex and others.
History of Fasting:
It has been discussed in every major religious books such as Mahabharata, Upanishads, Bible and Quran as well. Church often observes Lent. Lent includes the 40 days Easter Fast and includes giving up drink, food and also water. The Hindu and Islamic religions are also popular for the devotion to fast.
Function of Fasting:
The most important function of fasting is for worshiping and showing devotion to the religion. Other people fast with respect to physical level for the sins which they have committed. Jews fast while they are grieving for the loss of Jerusalem temple during the Tisha B’Av. Peaceful protests and hunger strikes are some common political reasons for fasting that ultimately results to raising awareness.
Significance of Fasting:
Though fasting is the literal and outward show of the devotion, people believe that it physically activates the real spiritual connection to any Ideals, God or Gods for which a person is fasting. This weakens the mental faculties and body, that makes more space in a person’s consciousness for spirit and the associated doings.
Considerations of Fasting:
In the medieval and ancient times, this was a serious tradition which held extremely religious value among the members of any religion. Anyway, as time passes by these rules are becoming less and less acrimonious. Based on the religion, one’s philosophy and the level of involvement, fasting can rank anywhere between the nonexistent, strict or flexible.
Effects of Fasting:
It has physical and real impact on the human which could be wither unhealthy or healthy depending upon how it is practiced. After fasting for several hours, body can no longer store glucose to run itself. The body will abscond muscle, protein and fat prior to the breaking and resorting the tapping into the organs. Generally, starvation sets in prior to this. Extreme fasting may result in death. Most studies reported that moderate fasting lowers the possibilities of cancer and even the aging process.
