The Daniel Fast
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kommodevaran wrote: »A fast is supposed to be hard. As in not eating during it. Eating is not fasting. Why do you have to eat only fruit, veggies and beans?
In religious terms, this is not necessarily so. Biblically, there are several types of fasts that are observed.
The "Daniel Fast" is a partial fast wherein the faster gives up only certain foods for a time (in this example, essentially only eating beans and vegetables). It's commonly called the Daniel Fast because the prophet Daniel prayed for 21 days and during that time ate only "pulp" (vegetables) until his prayers were answered.
There is also a "normal fast" where there is only water and no food at all.
Lastly, there is the "total fast" where the faster has no food or water. This is an extreme fast and is not done for any longer than 3 days (except for rare Biblical examples when the faster was sustained miraculously).
In modern times, fasting can mean giving up anything for a time. This can mean TV, video games, social media, chocolate, phone...it doesn't have to mean "no food" as in the scientific definition.0 -
kommodevaran wrote: »A fast is supposed to be hard. As in not eating during it. Eating is not fasting. Why do you have to eat only fruit, veggies and beans?
I 'fast' during Lent, as many people I know do, usually by giving up something we love for that time. Last year it was chocolate and alcohol.
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TimothyFish wrote: »candysleirer wrote: »The Daniel Fast is a fast that Daniel did in the Bible. My entire church is doing this fast in conjunction with 21 days of prayer. I was only asking for others to share their experiences while doing this. I am really kind of wishing I hadn't said anything about it at all.
I think it's a great idea. It would be great leading into a study of the Book of Daniel.
+1
OP, I think it's wonderful, go for it!
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Does your denomination not observe Lent? I can't imagine fasting NOW when fasting season starts up in just a few weeks....
And, for my denomination, the things you choose to fast from are supposed to be something that feels like a sacrifice to give up (as it's a penitential thing) and something that might be a hindrance to your pursuit of spiritual and/or moral self-betterment. So, for example, I'm not going to give up lifting, because I feel like that's helping me to be a more grounded individual. Instead I'll look to time-wasters and stuff that feeds aspects of myself that I'd like to change. Dairy isn't standing between me and God, so I see no reason to cut it out.0 -
I'm Baptist and for us, fast is how you drive after church on the way to Dairy Queen.
But seriously, we do fast, but it is usually more of an individual thing rather than a group thing or because it is on the calendar. When we do fast, we don't usually talk about it. When I fast, I will usually go without eating, drinking only water, for at least a day. There was one time that I went for several days without eating because I was particularly worried about something and I was spending most of my time in prayer and reading the Bible. I would prefer not to go through that again. But I have discovered that going without food, even by choice, causes one to have a greater appreciation for the provision of God.0 -
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I am also participating in a Daniels Fast right now(third year in a row). I am on day 2 of 21. I have been logging as normal, and making sure to eat throughout the day and have nutrient dense foods. We are able to have vegetables, fruits, beans, and nuts. The raw almonds are a lifesaver for me! I teach fitness classes and eat them about 30-45 minutes before class for energy.
Good Luck!0 -
Carlos_421 wrote: »
I did a double take and looked at my local ecumenical calendar. Just about every denomination in my area is quite active in talking about Lent...Catholics, yes, but also the other major Churches here...mostly UCC, Episcopal, Presbyterian, and United Methodist. I'm racking my brain to think of a local church that DOESNT observe Lent.
I know there are some denominations that are pretty populous in other parts of the US that really are not seen much around here, though, so perhaps that's it.0 -
Baptists generally don't observe Lent. Depending on where you live, that could be none, or most, of the churches in an area.0
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Carlos_421 wrote: »
I did a double take and looked at my local ecumenical calendar. Just about every denomination in my area is quite active in talking about Lent...Catholics, yes, but also the other major Churches here...mostly UCC, Episcopal, Presbyterian, and United Methodist. I'm racking my brain to think of a local church that DOESNT observe Lent.
I know there are some denominations that are pretty populous in other parts of the US that really are not seen much around here, though, so perhaps that's it.
There are a handful of protestant denominations that observe Lent.
I've been to dozens of churches in my life, and am currently a member of a non-denominational church, and almost none of them observe it. Lutherans, Methodists, Episcopalians and Anglicans are I believe the bigger protestant denominations that still observe it; the denominations that retained more of their catholic roots.0 -
Iwishyouwell wrote: »There are a handful of protestant denominations that observe Lent.
More than that. I think it's mainly along the mainline vs. evangelical/fundamentalist (or whatever you want to call it) divide.0 -
Personally I find it problematic that someone takes advantage people's Christian beliefs to sell a diet book. It doesn't really jive with my understanding of the religion/what Jesus would be cool with.
Religious fast for spiritual purposes? Sure. But you don't need a catchy brand name to do that.
Weight loss? You can just track your calories on here without having to support weird Christian marketing gimmicks.-1 -
lemurcat12 wrote: »Iwishyouwell wrote: »There are a handful of protestant denominations that observe Lent.
More than that. I think it's mainly along the mainline vs. evangelical/fundamentalist (or whatever you want to call it) divide.
Suppose that depends on how you define "handful".0 -
tempehforever wrote: »Personally I find it problematic that someone takes advantage people's Christian beliefs to sell a diet book. It doesn't really jive with my understanding of the religion/what Jesus would be cool with.
Religious fast for spiritual purposes? Sure. But you don't need a catchy brand name to do that.
Weight loss? You can just track your calories on here without having to support weird Christian marketing gimmicks.
What in the world does this have to do with the Daniel fast? It's a practice based off one of the older books of the bible. It's not a "diet book".0 -
Iwishyouwell wrote: »lemurcat12 wrote: »Iwishyouwell wrote: »There are a handful of protestant denominations that observe Lent.
More than that. I think it's mainly along the mainline vs. evangelical/fundamentalist (or whatever you want to call it) divide.
Suppose that depends on how you define "handful".
And, where you live. We do not have a Baptist church in town, I think the nearest one is about half an hour a way, as is the nearest LDS ward and UU community. There is an AME church in the nearest city as well. We do not have any of the "non denominational" evangelical style mega churches around here, either. We have several Catholic parishes, several types of Synagogue (we have a Reform Congregation and an Orthodox community in just my town, many more in the next over), and at least one congregation of most mainline Protestant denominations, two for the Episcopal and UCC churches.
I know that the prevalence of these denominations flips in other parts of the country. You should have heard the confusion when a southern friend and I tried to make sense of "Church of Christ..." which up here almost always means UCC, a very old liberal denomination...down south? not so much, LOL.
ANYWAY, back to the topic. What's the purpose of the Daniel fast? I think because we're on MFP, people who don't know about it were assuming it's supposed to be some kind of diet, promoted through churches. (much like Dave Ramsey sells his financial stuff through some churches, I suppose) So, if it's not supposed to be a health-related initiative Is it supposed to be a penitential fast? Sacrificial for almsgiving? Those are usually the concepts Lent-observing churches discuss for that fast, so it makes sense to me in that sense.
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Iwishyouwell wrote: »tempehforever wrote: »Personally I find it problematic that someone takes advantage people's Christian beliefs to sell a diet book. It doesn't really jive with my understanding of the religion/what Jesus would be cool with.
Religious fast for spiritual purposes? Sure. But you don't need a catchy brand name to do that.
Weight loss? You can just track your calories on here without having to support weird Christian marketing gimmicks.
What in the world does this have to do with the Daniel fast? It's a practice based off one of the older books of the bible. It's not a "diet book".
You sure?
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Iwishyouwell wrote: »tempehforever wrote: »Personally I find it problematic that someone takes advantage people's Christian beliefs to sell a diet book. It doesn't really jive with my understanding of the religion/what Jesus would be cool with.
Religious fast for spiritual purposes? Sure. But you don't need a catchy brand name to do that.
Weight loss? You can just track your calories on here without having to support weird Christian marketing gimmicks.
What in the world does this have to do with the Daniel fast? It's a practice based off one of the older books of the bible. It's not a "diet book".
You sure?
Yes, I'm quite sure. Since churches have been doing the Daniel Fast for eons and that was just released in 2010.
The person I quoted suggested that it's practice roots in a "marketing gimmick" used to "sell a diet book". Which is preposterous considering that it's a religious practice that is done in most places without any "diet book" being sold.
It's like suggesting that Christians, Jews and Muslims only water fast to "sell diet books" just because there exists books for sell on water fasting.0
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