[jasakwa]

Let us explore the differences.

Christianity presents prayer, fasting and worship as arising totally without compulsion or obligation, but wholly from the heart.

For Muslim Fasting is compulsory one month per year during the ramadhan. This fast is complete abstinence, during daylight hours, from all food, drink, tobacco and sexual intercourse.

In my opinion although both fastings are essential in building personal character and relationship with God,the purpose behind fasting should be driven by purpose rather than tradition to observe an occassion or a date in the calender.

[grip_daddy]

I don't think that anything done due to tradition negates the fact that it springs from the heart. Christians traditionally practice diverse sacraments that are supposed to touch the heart, but still such practices are traditional.

I would also state that Christians have diverted from true worship by promoting the intentions of the heart above tradition, and we perfectly know that "the heart of man is desperately wicked".

I do give Muslims an upper hand on fasting.

[bible_reader]

Fasting is suppose to be a personal issue between you and your God but muslims version is full of show off.

They wear sad faces and become moody at work.

[nyira]

The Bible says when you are fasting make sure nobody knows about it,by not wearing a face which shows that you are fasting.let it be between you and your God,and the agenda should be clear.

I don't think fasting needs a special time set aside.fasting arises with need(eg praying for your sick friend).

Most christians fast because they have been told to,and hence not from the heart and in most cases they don't conduct it the way its supposed to be but rather the way their church manual/constitution tells them( Bible teaching ignored).The Muslims on the other hand try to follow to the later the Quran teachings regarding fasting.

[al-zalzalah]

Originally Posted by bible_reader

Fasting is suppose to be a personal issue between you and your God but muslims version is full of show off.
They wear sad faces and become moody at work.

biblereader, i think that anyone who fasts for an entire day is going to experience mood swings and such. your blood sugar levels drop. it's a biological thing.

[ATLian]

Originally Posted by bible_reader

Fasting is suppose to be a personal issue between you and your God but muslims version is full of show off.

They wear sad faces and become moody at work.

Is having a sad face because you're hungry "showing off"? I assume I'd be the same way if I hadn't had a bite the whole day!

[ATLian]

Originally Posted by jasakwa

In my opinion although both fastings are essential in building personal character and relationship with God

How? To me fasting is one of the dumbest things ever. How the heck can a hungry unfocussed person build character. When you're hungry, you go into the primal mode where your number one focus is to feed the body. With that as your number one focus, other important issues are side-stepped. That's why a satisfied person is a better worker, he has more commitment, etc. A hungry person is worried about his next meal, not the work at hand.

I believe that if you have a nice hearty breakfast then go to church, you will be more dedicated to praising god than some jamaa who last fed on Thursday and who crawls into church just wondering where his next meal is going to come from.

[grip_daddy]

Originally Posted by ATLian

How? To me fasting is one of the dumbest things ever. How the heck can a hungry unfocussed person build character. When you're hungry, you go into the primal mode where your number one focus is to feed the body. With that as your number one focus, other important issues are side-stepped. That's why a satisfied person is a better worker, he has more commitment, etc. A hungry person is worried about his next meal, not the work at hand.

I believe that if you have a nice hearty breakfast then go to church, you will be more dedicated to praising god than some jamaa who last fed on Thursday and who crawls into church just wondering where his next meal is going to come from.

For a carnal mentality, your rationale is entirely true. On the other hand, a spiritual minded person is enabled to live beyond the boundaries of carnal experiences to a level over and above your "truth".

[ndigila]

@ everyone, what is wrong with the church having regularly scheduled fasts?

@ Nyira, where in the Bible does it state that fasting is only restricted to in time of need?

[rayfisher]

Once fasting is mingled with hypocrisy the whole meaning changes.The fasting observed by christians makes more sense because it is viewed as a booster to an individual's faith.

Isaiah 58:3-7. From this we see that fasting includes avoiding certain pleasures on one hand, and doing acts of charity and justice on the other. That is, there are some other pleasures besides food and drink that must be avoided. Also, the central meaning of the fast has to do with feeling for the hunger of the hungry and doing something to alleviate it.

I can say that Biblical fasting is the complete abstention from eating and drinking and some other pleasures . It includes acts of charity, alms and justice, and the especial avoidance of anger and quarreling.