Since I got a link to this query, just in case anyone is wondering, this is not me. Dr. Fuhrman is a nutritional specialist, and has written a book on fasting. I cannot attest to the integrity of his information, however I've talked with people who know him (I get some of his phone calls, his office is nearby) and they think he's great. The last link is to an interview with him about the practice of fasting.
Now that the subject of fasting has come up, I'd like to address it from a Christian point of view. I'm bringing it up because I believe it is important that we pray for our country, and in times of national peril, some of our Presidents have been known to issue proclamations of days dedicated to prayer and fasting. The best example of fasting in the Bible is probably the proclamation of the king of Ninevah, who proclaimed a complete and total fast for all creatures, including livestock; no living being was to eat or drink until the judgment of God was averted (it worked). I don't know how fasting works, except it serves to train the body to deal with minor discomfort; as far as helping our faith and walk with God, the Bible says nothing but good things about it, except that the disciples did not fast before Jesus' ascension, as Jesus did not view it as necessary while He was here in his pre-glorified state. He did say the disciples would fast after His ascension however.
I fast one day a week, and am considering increasing it to two days a week, according to Wesleyan practice, until the inevitable War with Iraq is over. I don't intend this to sound like boasting; I bring it up because I think that it is important for our President and our country that Christians do this, and I encourage everyone reading this to prayerfully consider doing likewise. When I became a new Christian, I would have never dreamed of a fasting discipline, but within the last six months, I've found a once-a-week fasting day is spiritually profitable. I guess it gives me more time for prayer and meditation on God's word. It also makes me consider my physical needs as just a little bit less important than other things (I have found it to tone down some of my Randian thinking for example). John Wesley made his preachers commit to fasting two days a week (W&F), where the fast consisted of a 24-hour period between dinner the night before, to dinner the night of, the fast. For a complete study of fasting and its spiritual benefits, one should consult their minister or a respected teacher within their church, and should also look up the subject of fasting in their Bible. For physical benefits, consult your doctor. People with medical conditions should consult their doctors before fasting. Those who are diabetic or hypoglycemic and must carefully monitor their blood sugar should not consider fasting at all.
Posted by joelfuhrmann at February 5, 2003 10:08 PM