Discussion Board

I am posting this here since many think of fasting as a spiritual discipline. Here is the link to Mark Bittman's article:

http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/20 ... asting/?hp

Here are the comments I submitted:

"While I applaud your concerns for the poor and hungry, Mark, I suggest that you and all who are concerned for the starving consider something that is less extreme and possibly more effective (in the long run) in regard to helping them. Do you know that even in many places in the USA one can eat a very nutritious diet of low fat unprocessed or minimally processed plants for six dollars or less daily.

Think about all of the money that can then be given to the truly hungry...and the giver would be blessed by the superior diet. Is that too radical?

So instead of fasting for a few days, you could eat more like the poor. Enjoy potatoes, rice, sweet potatoes, fresh veggies etc. every day. I call that soul food. Please see http://www.drmcdougall.com/misc/2011nl/feb/hunger.htm"
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Please add your comments below Mark's article and here!

Many people at my church fast for two meals , once a month and give the money to a special fund that helps local people in need.
I have not done so , because with my diabetes I try to eat at regular intevals. What I do is eat simply that day. And make the special offering anyway.
We also often fast when someone has a special need. Crisis sort of thing. Sometimes people have a family wide fast when there is a problem.
It is more about being in an especially spiritual space. And doing as a group is often so uplifting.
You know a way to focus.