A Guide to Peaty Christian Fasting/Peaty Lent?
-
I know that Peat himself said to avoid fasting in all forms when possible due to the possible permanent side effects, but there's a sizable part of the population that is asked to do just that.
Orthodox/Catholic/Protestant Christians are asked at the very least to fast for a 40-day period before Easter, which means no meat of any kind, dairy, alcohol and moderate consumption of all foods. In more extreme cases, it entails not eating before 3pm. This isn't to mention the other fasts like before Christmas, every Wednesday/Friday etc. that are also supposed to be followed. Add to that the foods that are eaten during the fast some foods that Peat himself has warned against like fish.
With all that, what would be the recommendations for shorter or longer fasting periods in terms of diet that would minimize the possible damages caused?
-
@AdonaiLukather This detail is not central to your question, but I want to add that the Desert Fathers, who authored the principles of Christian monasticism, recognized that "not eating" was more harmful than helpful.
From Abba Poemen the Great:
"Once a monk approached St. Poemen to ask him about fasting, for he had heard about those who ate only every other day. St. Poemen admitted that in his younger days he had met those who practiced even more severe regimens eating only every three, four, even seven days. But he advised against it: "The Fathers tried all this out as they were able and they found it preferable to eat every day, but just a small amount. They have left us this royal way, which is light."" -
@tasty-snack Of course, there are plenty of examples in Christian literature where over fasting is discouraged against, or even fasting itself for certain people. But still, we are asked to mortify our flesh to the extent of our strength and that is not detrimental to our health, which is why I feel it is so important to fast well in such a toxic environment as ours.
-
At the end of the day, it is a sacrifice and mortification made to grow closer spiritually to our Lord. Also remember that Sundays are feast days
-
@AdonaiLukather don't have much to say, but there was this post on reddit with pictures I've seen (link below) where dude fasted for 40 days and also trained every day, I find it fascinating.
https://old.reddit.com/r/fasting/comments/129lmqa/40_day_fast_complete_ama/
-
I’m not sure about Orthodox or Prot but in Catholicism fruit juice does not break a fast. Also the current rules for fasting are pretty manageable. So unless you have some calling from God to do heavy fasting I wouldn’t over think it.
