Abstinence from dawn to sunset, during Ramadan, Muslims fast every year for a month. Fasting as a religious Ritual plays in all world religions an important role.
Whether as a penance for sins, as a reminder to have suffered misfortune, or as a conscious waiver to sharpen the senses for contemplation and prayer – and fasting is one thing in Common the different religions of the world. Even if the temporary renunciation of physical pleasures is differently perceived strictly, it is not an indispensable part of Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Buddhism and Hinduism.
In all religions and the need “to limit, to reduce life to the Essentials and to refrain was,” explains Thomas Lemmen, in the Archbishopric of Cologne for the inter-religious dialogue, responsible. It is “to discover new dimensions of humanity, or the relationship to God,” says Lemmen in a DW Interview. The religions are the same. Where, however, the different fast rituals have their origin?
Christianity: transience and repentance
For 40 days Jesus withdrew, according to the biblical account, in the desert. The “son of God” prayed, fasted, and withstood the temptations of the devil. Internally reinforced and strengthened, he returned to the solitude. In this Bible story a countless number of Christians are based, if you dispense around seven weeks on tobacco or meat.
The most important Christian time of lent begins on ash Wednesday, after the carnival in February or early March, when the Catholics have been drawn as a Symbol for impermanence, and atonement, a ash cross on the forehead. Lent ends on Easter Sunday: the day on which the resurrection of Jesus Christ after the crucifixion is celebrated. Sundays are officially exempted from fasting. Strict rules are nowadays followed. Many Christians decide for themselves what they want to do without.
The ash cross as a sign of repentance is drawn on the forehead of Catholics
Much earlier, some took it with the abstinence so seriously. Already in the middle ages, trick the most clever of Christians, the Church’s ascetic rules. Because at the time, on fast days, the meat of warm-blooded animals was forbidden, not consuming only cold-blooded fish, but also beaver or Otter. Equally subtle as crude argument, the waiver referenced unwilling, the animals lived longer in the water than on Land and are deemed to be fishing.
Even in the case of alcohol, the Cheaters are not stopped. Even the Pope is said to have once inadvertently helped, tells a scholar of religion, Michael Schmiedel of the University of Bielefeld in the DW. There is the story of the Bavarian monks, the beer brought a barrel of strong to Rome to ask the Pope whether one should drink during lent. “But until the barrel arrived in Rome, was the beer bad. The Pope tried the stuff, spit it out again, and said: ‘Yes, you can be happy in the almost time to drink’.”
Islam: God’s Revelation
In Islam the rules are adhered to in the comparison to Christianity is largely consistent, especially in the 29 to 30 days of Ramadan, which is used as a time of Reflection. He recalled that in the ninth month of the Muslim lunar calendar, the Qur’an has been revealed to be. During Ramadan, Muslims abstain from daytime food and Drink, Smoking and Sex. The needy receive charity. Breakfast is served before sunrise, which is happening fast-breaking every day after sunset.
Every year the date of Ramadan shifts by two weeks. In the summer, when the sun goes down later, these fast days are so much longer than in the Winter, what is demanded of the faithful, especially on hot days, a considerable perseverance. Of this annual obligation to children, Pregnant, lactating, Menstruating, travelers, professional athletes and the Sick are exempt. Postponed is not canceled: The missed days will be made up at the adults. Ramadan ends with the great Feast of breaking the fast.
Collective breaking the fast on a street in Istanbul
In Christian Germany, the social acceptance of the ritual of the Fast of the Muslim citizens grew, says Thomas Lemmen, the expert for inter-religious dialogue in the Archdiocese of Cologne. You recognize the fact that there is to Ramadan “words of greeting from the churches, representatives of the policy itself to participate in the breaking of the fast, or to invite. Therefore, I think, has changed a bit.” Ramadan is perceived in the Public positive. “Whether the parts of all the people in this country, is again another question,” limits Lemmen – probably with a view to the right-wing populist AFD.
Judaism: the destruction of the temple
The Jews have more religious holidays on which you are fasting. The most important thing in the Jewish calendar, Yom Kippur, the day of atonement. This strict holiday replaced, ultimately, theologically, the function of the temple of Jerusalem had been until its destruction by the Babylonians and later the Romans: the reconciliation of man with God. The date of this day varies from year to year in the months of September or October.
Orthodox Jews pray on Yom Kippur is particularly intense
Your most important holiday and fasting of the Jews for 25 hours at a stretch. You refrain from sunset to solid and liquid food, intercourse as well as luxuries such as cigarettes. But even driving a car, bathing, showering, face Painting, computer games, or Work are prohibited. Nothing should distract from the process of inner contemplation. Girl, fasting from the age of 12, boys 13. Many of the faithful spend the day in the synagogue. On Yom Kippur, the public life in Israel stands still and looks on the outside, standing frozen in place. Restaurants and cafes are closed until the Arab institutions. On the roads the fire brigade or the police-only ambulance.
Hinduism: purification of the soul
In contrast to the three monotheistic religions, not a fixed written almost exist in Hinduism rules. Often fasted prior to the big celebrations. Gurus and monks live but a few weeks in the year or longer in asceticism and renounce everything, and what you do not absolutely need to Survive. In Hinduism, there is a very great ascetic Tradition, says the scholar of religion Schmiedel. He refers to the Sadhus, who are often emaciated almost to a skeleton.
With the desire for extreme asceticism: An Indian Sadhu
“These people are revered by the ordinary Hindus is very high, and often with the necessities of Life blessed, because the givers believe that it impacts positively on self,” says Schmiedel. The most prominent fast-followers in Hinduism, Mahatma Gandhi (1869 – 1948), once said: “I can do without the fasting, nor on my eyes. What are the eyes to the outer world, is the fasting for the interior.”
Buddhism: moderation for good Karma
As in Hinduism, there are no generally applicable rules to apply in Buddhism. As the top fast day, Buddhists observe the so-called waisak. On the first full moon day in may or June, to commemorate the birth, enlightenment and death of Buddha. The celebration forms range from the contemplative silence and fasting day to the carnival-like parades. Sex, alcohol and meat consumption on this day, a taboo.
Prayers for good Karma: A fasting Buddhist
In the foreground is the Belief in the Karma after every action has a mandatory follow – up in this world as in the Hereafter. It is “to remember that life is Suffering and to improve the compliance of rituals, its Karma on earth,” explains Thomas Lemmen, the expert for inter-religious dialogue.
In contrast to the extreme asceticism of Hindu Sadhus eating Buddhists in meditation times after all, so much, that you are still tired. Some Buddhist nuns and monks take “from the afternoon nothing more,” says a scholar of religion Schmiedel: “the next Morning. Similar to today’s interval-fasting.” In this point Buddhism and the Wellness movement are very close to each other.
Generally speaking, dominated European countries such as Germany, are to be secular, that even people without any religious commitment take increasingly lent as an occasion for restraint when eating. The boundaries between diet or fasting are fluent.