Religion dictionary
fasting
[ fast-ing ]
What does fasting mean?
Fasting is the deliberate act of refraining from food, drink, or certain pleasures for a set time. It appears as a form of self-discipline, repentance, mourning, gratitude, or focus in many religious and moral traditions. A fast may involve complete abstinence from food and water, restriction to specific foods, or skipping particular meals, and can be practiced privately or in organized communal settings.
Where does fasting come from?
Fasting and the verb fast come from Old English fæsten, which referred to abstinence from food. It also referred to following a rule strictly, derived from a Germanic root meaning “firm or fixed,” similar to the use of fast in phrases like “hold fast” and even the word “fasten.”
Religious fasting appears in some of the oldest scriptures. The Old Testament describes fasts by figures such as Moses and Elijah, and prescribes fasting for the Day of Atonement. Early Christian writings advise believers to fast on specific weekdays. In Islam, the Quran establishes fasting in the month of Ramadan as an obligation for believers. Ancient Hindu texts describe vrata (Sanskrit “vow, resolve, devotion”) — chosen vows that often include dietary restraint.
Who uses fasting?
Fasting holds a central place in Islam during Ramadan and on other recommended days. Judaism prescribes full fasts on Yom Kippur and Tisha B’Av and several shorter communal fasts. Many Christian traditions observe fasting during Lent and on certain weekdays, with variations in rules among Catholic, Orthodox, Anglican, Lutheran, Methodist, and other churches. Hindu, Jain, and many Buddhist traditions involve keeping fasts tied to lunar calendars, holy days, or vows of renunciation. Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints keep monthly fasts linked with donations for charity. People outside organized religion may also adopt fasting for ethical, psychological, or fitness reasons, sometimes inspired by these longstanding practices.
Note
This is not meant to be a formal definition of fasting like most terms we define on Dictionary.com, but is rather an informal word summary that hopefully touches upon the key aspects of the meaning and usage of fasting that will help our users expand their word mastery.
