A Catholic planning to fast for Ramadan next year

[Doxiemom]

I just decided to fast for Ramadan 2014, which starts June 29 next year for 40 days.

No worries, I’m not in any danger of converting. I just think that to truly love our neighbor, we must be open to walking a mile in their shoes. I also think that’s the only way to effectively evangelize.

Here’s a great video that went a long way toward convincing me.

I know you mean well, but you are endangering yourself by steeping yourself into things of a faith that is not Judeo-Christian.

 

[GaryTaylor]

If you put this up for public opinion mine is a negative. I can’t speak for anyone, but I want to be a better Christian every day, that alone is a daily, lifelong journey.

Prayers are with you.

 

[Aaron780]

Why on earth would you do that for them?? a false religion, I’m planning on eating as much pork as possible during that time, Fast for Lent, not Ramadan!

 

[Pitcharan]

For fellowship sake, feasting could be a better idea than fasting. It is a very popular and age old tradition in India called Iftaar parties. They are held during Ramadan every year after the breaking of fast. It is invariably a multi-religious affair; the host may or may not be a Muslim but the guest list will include many Muslims. Even our President, our Prime Minister and the leaders of every political party here, adhere to this tradition religiously. It is also a meeting place of arch rivals and foes and famous for ‘burying of hatchets’ and promoting friendship and harmony. Read the latest news: ndtv.com/article/india/salman-khan-shah-rukh-khan-end-feud-hug-each-other-at-mumbai-iftar-party-395205

Very interesting.

MJ

Hi MJ,
something equally or even more interesting: ndtv.com/article/world/barack-obama-hosts-iftar-party-at-white-house-397249?ndtv_rhs

 

[BobDanners]

I don’t know how engaging in worship in another religion would help evangelization. This is where I see ecumenicism gone wild.

We are to further religious unity in order bring souls into the Catholic Church, but undermining Truth in the hopes of conversion is most certainly not the way to go. :tsktsk:

If you wish to have dialogue with moslems that is good and noteworthy. But participating in their holidays is not allowed…from Michelle Arnold a Catholic Answers Apologist:

Just as Jews in Christian countries often acknowledge their Christian friends’ holiday with cards, gifts, and even attendance at non-religious Christmas parties, so Christians can in turn acknowledge their Jewish friends’ observance of Hanukkah. So long as you are there as a guest and not as a participant in a non-Christian religious ceremony, it is fine to attend Hanukkah celebrations and to give your Jewish friends presents.

As for Hanukkah cards, that depends on your friends’ individual customs. Some Jews send out and enjoy receiving Hanukkah cards; others consider it a Christmas custom that has been unwisely adapted for Hanukkah – a holiday that commemorates the Jewish Maccabees’ refusal to assimilate to the practices of a non-Jewish culture – and prefer not to participate in a card exchange. I recommend asking your friends what their custom is and respecting it.

Catholics should only be participating Christian holidays. If you wish to acknowledge Ramadan, then okay but as Michelle Arnold said “so long as you are there as a guest and not as a participant.”

 

[openmind77]

I just decided to fast for Ramadan 2014, which starts June 29 next year for 40 days.

No worries, I’m not in any danger of converting. I just think that to truly love our neighbor, we must be open to walking a mile in their shoes. I also think that’s the only way to effectively evangelize.

Here’s a great video that went a long way toward convincing me.

Identifying with your neighbor and participating in his religious activities is an excellent idea. However I think that the Ramadan way of fasting during the day and then eating at night is not at all healthy. Not drinking water during the day is especially a terrible idea.

However fasting as a religious practice is not a bad thing to do. Many Hindus for instance will fast or skip a meal once week - they usually choose a day of the week that is associated with their favorite God and then do this once a week fast for their entire life.

This intermittent regular fasting is actually recommended as a diet by some people, see thefastdiet.co.uk/

 

[GEddie]

Identifying with your neighbor and participating in his religious activities is an excellent idea. However I think that the Ramadan way of fasting during the day and then eating at night is not at all healthy. Not drinking water during the day is especially a terrible idea.

However fasting as a religious practice is not a bad thing to do. Many Hindus for instance will fast or skip a meal once week - they usually choose a day of the week that is associated with their favorite God and then do this once a week fast for their entire life.

This intermittent regular fasting is actually recommended as a diet by some people, see thefastdiet.co.uk/

Living in a desert climate myself, I do not know how people survive without hydration during the day ( especially if they are working).

As to the food fasting, I have heard that they often overcompensate by night, to the point that weight is sometimes actually gained during the month.

ICXC NIKA

 

[DebChris]

Everybody, Muslim and non-Muslim is required to fast during Ramadam at least publicly in the country where I work. That means no water or food between dawn and dusk. Iftar, the evening feast begins at dusk. It is part of respecting the culture, as well as the law.
When I first arrived, it was hot, and it was Ramadan. Staying in a hotel, the fast was broken with a ceremony of 2 dates served with tea. It was amazing how filling those 2 dates were. The difficulty came with the additonal one hour fast before Mass in order receive Holy Communion.
Because of my vacation schedule, I do not generally stay for the entire month of Ramadan. Ramadan is more than fasting from food. As with Biblical fastiing, it is meant as a time of repentence and a time to fast from fighting with one’s spounse, etc as well. During this time I do talk to my Muslim friends about the differences between Ramadan and Lent.
Yom Kippur is the Jewish Day of Atonement. At/one/ment meants to be “At one with” God.

You could combine the fasting period of Ramadan with spiritual readings of Christian classics as you might do during Advent and Lent.

 

[jrose90]

I think this is a wonderful idea. I’m Christian and have fasted with my best friend (Muslim) for Ramadan before (and celebrated Iftaar and Eid with her and her family as well), just as she has attended church services with me before. By learning about others’ faiths and beliefs we can appreciate our own even more.

And someone said that “I don’t see many Muslims doing the Rosary,” maybe you haven’t invited them to a service where they could feel welcome. By being open to learning more about their beliefs, perhaps they’ll be more open to learning about your own. Just my two cents though!

 

[Miss_Felicity]

I think this is a wonderful idea. I’m Christian and have fasted with my best friend (Muslim) for Ramadan before (and celebrated Iftaar and Eid with her and her family as well), just as she has attended church services with me before. By learning about others’ faiths and beliefs we can appreciate our own even more.

I’ve always been a fan of interfaith understanding and fellowship. I invite to start praying vigorously well in advance and make sure this is what you are called to do if so, I commend you.

 

[drac16]

Not to nitpick, but Ramadan is not 40 days long-- it’s 29-30 days long, depending on when the new moon is sighted (the Islamic calendar is a lunar calendar). I don’t really understand your reasoning behind this, but hey, go right ahead. Just remember that there’s no food or drink or sex allowed at all during the daylight hours. There are some exceptions though, like for menstruating women, pregnant women, sick people, etc.