Fasting is usually defined as abstinence from food or drink for a specified period. In a sacred sense, fasting is understood primarily as abstinence from evil deeds and words, which are a manifestation of sin. Thus, fasting is an experience of one’s willpower and spirit as it helps to deliberate from passions that obscure the mind and immerse into the dimension of divine. This paper aims to define the fasting according to the Bible, name benefits of fasting, and describe misconceptions related to it.
Fasting in Bible
To get the right idea of the nature of fasting, one needs to turn to the Bible. In Isaiah, chapter 58, the concept of fasting is expressed most thoroughly. Isaiah appeals to his people, blaming them for misbehavior on the days of fasting. He says: “Behold, ye fast for strife and debate, and to smite with the fist of wickedness: ye shall not fast as ye do this day, to make your voice to be heard on high.” Thus, fasting people should behave modestly and calmly and do not offend others.
Isaiah further elaborates on his first teaching in the same chapter. He explains that fasting is not about showing off: “Wherefore have we fasted, say they, and thou seest not?… Behold, in the day of your fast ye find pleasure, and exact all your labors.” Isaiah says that fasting man should not afflict his soul and “bow down his head as a bulrush, and spread sackcloth and ashes under him.” On the contrary, fasting should aim “to let loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and break every yoke.” The prophet also explains that during fasting, the faithful who see a hungry person should feed them, and give clothes to the naked, and not shy away from relatives.
According to Isaiah, health and well-being await the people who are doing so. Moreover, the light of such fasters will “break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily, and thy righteousness shall go before thee.” Lord will guide those individuals continually, “and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.” Thus, Isaiah explains that fasting is not so much abstinence from food and drink, but the first step towards getting rid of vices. And a man who has freed himself from passions will no longer have obstacles to resembling the divine.
Moment of fasting is also mentioned in Ezra when believers fast and pray by the river. They seek support in God, paying tribute to him, as they are left to the mercy of fate, and God shows them his mercy, guarding them along the way. Therefore, it is said: “then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river of Ahava, that we might afflict ourselves before our God, to seek of him a right way for us.” Thus, this chapter describes fasting as an opportunity to turn to God with hope and attain his protection.
The Gospel of Luke contains a parable where Pharisee and the publican are praying in a church. The Pharisee turns to God with gratitude for making him such a wonderful person, not like the others – sinners, “extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.” The Pharisee also says: “I fast twice in the week; I give tithes of all that I possess.” The publican, on the contrary, asks God for mercy on him, the sinner. In this chapter, Luke conveys the words of Jesus that he who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who pacifies himself will be exalted.
Practice of Fasting in Other Religions
Not only Christians have a tradition of fasting – Buddhists practice asceticism, Muslims fast in Ramadan, and Hindus follow directions of Ayurveda to purify their body and spirit. In particular, in Hinduism, it is believed that a brahmana perceives food as a manifestation of the divine since it gives life to all living beings. Scientists turn to the words from Taiitiriya Upanishad: “from food all beings are born, by the food they live and into the food they return.” Scholar also notes that in Hinduism, “everything in the universe is food; the inner self, atman, is the eater of the food which is everything; all that we see is food for the soul.” Food nourishes the human vitality, prana, which supports the body, and also helps to balance the body, mind, and soul. Therefore, in Hinduism, fasting is practiced to achieve a state of harmony, which is the primary condition for knowing the divine.
Benefits of Fasting
One of the most important benefits of fasting is self-awareness. That is because, during fasting, a person is freed from bad habits and scatters the mist that obscures his mind. According to scientists, diet modifications offered by various religions are designed to purify the spirit and increase awareness, while also strengthening the body. Therefore, underlying physiologic mechanisms of fasting may help in treating metabolic diseases.
Moreover, during fasting, the believer strengthens his relationship with God. In Ezra and other quotes from the Bible, one can see that fasting is often accompanied by prayer. Scientists note that when Nehemiah heard of the destruction of Jerusalem, he “wept and mourned for days, and continued fasting and praying before the God of heaven (Neh 1: 4).” Hence, believers should remember that fasting comes together with prayer.
Many people limit their contact with the external world during their fasting. Silence and solitude allow switching from the necessity to speak to the ability to hear and comprehend the truth. Therefore, the lack of communication during the fasting period helps to free the mind. Besides, the believer can find time to read the Bible and perceive its wisdom.
Moreover, solitude allows fasters to experience the importance of other people. Loo notes that “just as a greater appreciation for food emerges after a season of fasting, so does a greater appreciation for human relationships and God’s provision of community emerge after a season of solitude.” In this way, believers strengthen their bond with the community. Furthermore, after completing the practice of fasting, they have the opportunity to share lessons learned during study and self-reflection, which helps to improve relationships.
Misconceptions of Fasting and Reasons not to Fast
The most common misconception of fasting occurs when people perceive this practice as self-abuse. Such a mistake can lead to excessive limiting in food and drink, which brings harm to health. Nonetheless, according to Isaiah, fasting is a practice of deliberation from misbehavior. At the same time, the fasters bring a symbolic sacrifice, restricting from food and drink. Since the body spends a lot of energy on the digestion of food, during the period of fasting, individuals free it from this task and become more relaxed and more joyful.
People who misunderstand the meaning of fasting can experience its adverse effects. Scientists note that after “water-only fasts for two or more days, the most adverse effects were mild-to-moderate and included fatigue, insomnia, nausea, headache, presyncope, dyspepsia, back pain, and pain in an extremity”. And in the course of extremely prolonged fasts, lasting several weeks or months, doctors may observe more severe symptoms, in some cases leading to death. Thus, it is essential to understand that fasting is the practice of resisting behavior that harms the soul and foods that harm the body.
In some cases, Christians are advised to give up fasting in terms of restricting themselves from eating and drinking. For example, if their body is too weak after an illness, or if these are pregnant women and children. Such people may worry that they have to refuse to fast. However, if this practice is perceived as the compulsion to abandon lousy behavior regarding others, it may be useful to everyone without exception.
Thus, fasting was defined according to the Bible, benefits of fasting were named, and related misconceptions were described. Contemporary Christians are advised to understand fasting as abstinence from bad behavior and combine it with prayer. Also, some modern scholars suggest fasting in silence and solitude to free the mind and soul from passions that gripped it. Therefore, fasting is a practice that helps to achieve harmony and get closer to the awareness of the divine.
Bibliography
Loo, Scott. “Strengthening Our Relationship with God: A Training Strategy for Adult Leaders to Practice Spiritual Exercises.” Doctor of Ministry Projects 335 (2018).
Phillips, Matthew. “Fasting as a Therapy in Neurological Disease.” Nutrients 11, no. 10 (2019): 2501–2511.
Saha, Gopal Chandra, and Bidya Roy. “Akash Tatva chikitsa through fasting.” International Journal of Yogic, Human Movement and Sports Sciences 1, no. 1 (2016): 70-73.
Venegas-Borsellino, Carla, and Robert G. Martindale. “From Religion to Secularism: the Benefits of Fasting.” Current nutrition reports 7, no. 3 (2018): 131–138.