Fasting

[gphadraig]

user_22

I can understand you may find it 'odd' that I refrain naming them and I have a reason for not so doing. It has nothing to do with either you or the forum. I suppose therefore I might have chosen to phrase my initial post differently. My apologies for not thinking that through.

What I do not understand is your rudeness in the tale end of your last post?

Fasting is something Our Saviour did for forty days and forty nights, and has had a place within Christianity from the first century. The form of the fasts have 'evolved' but to describe the answers to a very specific question in the way one poster has seems very odd on an Orthodox forum shocks me somewhat.

My gut feeling is to question whether I want to continue. I would like to profit somewhat, chip in a little and exchange information with other Orthodox. If I wanted a rough and tumble I'd go down the pub, where they would probably be happy to oblige. :ohvey:

[TomS]

Geez Tom,

You seem to oppose everything that is based on Orthodox tradition.

I don't oppose Othodox tradition. If someone chooses to fast - I don't think it is wrong - it is a good thing. What I have a problem with is when people get hung up on the technicalities of the act. Because, to me at least, you then are becoming prideful in your strictness - just like the Pharisees.

[George Australia]

If someone chooses to fast - I don't think it is wrong - it is a good thing. What I have a problem with is when people get hung up on the technicalities of the act. Because, to me at least, you then are becoming prideful in your strictness - just like the Pharisees.

There is of course, the danger of phariseeism, but there is also the danger of becoming negligent and lax in our spiritual life. The Canons are written in a book called the "Pedalion" or "Rudder"- like the rudder of a ship which guides it safely. The word "Canon" itself comes from the ancient greek word for a craftsman's measuring rule- which guided the correct proportionality in sculpture, architecture etc. The famous ancient greek scupture called "The Discobolos" or "Discus Thrower" is also known as "The Canon", because of it's near perfect proportionality, and was used to determine proportinality in subsequent sculptures. If we view the Canons in this light, they are not burdens, but assistants which navigate us safely. Too much fasting is as spiritualy damaging as too little. Moreover, it can also be that choosing our own rules for fasting is more prideful and willful than following those rules prescribed by the Church: "I don't need the Church's guidance, I am the captain of my own life, and wise when it comes to the spiritual life, and can endure more than the Church's presciptions for fasting, or I am above mere form and can therefore discern when and how to fast." It is better to follow the Canons of the Church so that when we fast according to the Canons, we have done nothing other than our duty and so what is there to be proud of?

[尼古拉前执事]

Tom, what Phariseeism in fasting did Christ warn of? Showing that you are fasting with your appearance. Someone asking what is proper for this little lent in not pharisitical. You are always so quick to throw out that label when someone cares about living the Orthopraxis as tradition teaches. Why?

Let us all, with the impending little lenten season examine our actions and words in posting and try to not be rude, but rather Christian in our actions and fast not only from meat and dairy but from anger and hurtful actions too.

[Schultz]

Let us all, with the impending little lenten season examine our actions and words in posting and try to not be rude, but rather Christian in our actions and fast not only from meat and dairy but from anger and hurtful actions too.

Amen, Father Deacon!

As I posted in another thread, Matthew 15:11 is most appropo during any fasting season.

[joasia]

Tom wrote:

Because, to me at least, you then are becoming prideful in your strictness - just like the Pharisees.

I, for one, was not discussing MY fasting regiment. I was discussing what was required of fasting by the Orthodox tradition. No personal opinions. The strictness is the Orthodox fasting regiment, not my personal experience of fasting.

As for my personal fasting...I started out keeping a strict fast, but have broken it many times in the passed 5 years with food(with my heart, I will be working on that till the day I die). This is MY personal struggle, for fasting.

I KNOW how we should fast, with food and in our hearts...so I know how little I am doing, in comparison. But, if someone asked me about fasting, I wouldn't give myself as an example, I would tell them, the true Orthodox way of fasting. Why start them out with an example of my weaknesses, right? That would just confuse the person. But, I wouldn't point my finger at someone who wasn't following the Orthodox fasting tradition. I would care about the person they are.

I hope that clarifies things.

[TomS]

joaisa,

I was not citing your post in particular. I was making a general observation about the back and forth about what the fast consisted of.