It would appear to me, at least, that some posters were trying to clarify what was the Churches teaching on fasting, with particular emphasis on the St Phillips or the Nativity Fast. In an age when the many appear to determine for themselves - no doubt in accordance to their god within - what spiritual practices they will or will not follow it is refreshing to see that there are those who would wish to establish a mark against which they might strive. A genuine enquirer should be treated on an Orthodox website with respect, surely?
If one was following a training regime for baseball or many other secular activities one would be mindful of the need to approach the discipline of the training with care and particular attention. One who did this would, likely as not, be praised by those critics of the game.
Why then do those who wish to establish the ground-rules for fasting rather than doing so according to their own whim or will attract scorn on an Orthodox forum?
Fasting is like any other spiritual ascetic exercise, it may be avoided, undertaken in a dilettante manner, embraced or become a prideful exercise, true. How enquiring what the ground-rules are and seeking to clarify the same is either pharisaical or prideful simply eludes me.
What I have noticed is in the West and among modernists everywhere there is a great discomfort when faced with fasting, prostrations or the full cycle of services. Yet how many of the same will indulge in strange diets, exercise and meditation exercises. Those discomforted by long services often include those who have no problem in attending lengthy concernts and other secular entertainments.
I would much rather participate in any amount of toing and froing on spiritual issues and disciplines. If you a discomforted by this then give those threads a miss.
