Tag Archives: Fasting

Fasting: for body and spirit

April 22, 2019

Isabel Azevedo Porto, Portugal   St. Catherine of Siena was known for rigorous fasting and abstinence. Her fast was so severe at times that it was questioned by her sisterhood and the clergy, who insisted she eat properly. Having struggled with the obesity epidemic for decades,1,2 the scientific and health care communities are now giving […]

The art of not eating

September 20, 2018

Ammar Saad Ottawa, Ontario, Canada     A typical post-feast Ramadan table. Dessert is saturated in qatr, a 1:1 ratio of water and sugar infused with rose water (right). Fasting has been considered a devoted act of worship for centuries.1 It unifies people of different languages, ethnicities, and socioeconomic status in many world religions. Intentionally silencing […]

Mixing medicine – religion and science

March 24, 2017

Aneesa Bodiat South Africa   A variety of dates, delicious fresh or as a dried fruit, are grown in desert areas. The ameer chewed on the dry date my husband had presented to him, saying a prayer and then placing the chewed fruit back into the container, sealing it for use in a few days […]