CMCF urges respect for Ramadan observance

The Muslim faith is not the only one that observes some form of fasting or dietary limitations, so do the Jewish… not to mention Lent.

In majority-Muslim countries, the meals served during Ramadan start after dusk and continue until 3am. Which means it’s probably easier to fast in daylight, and no doubt contributes to the need to not work a full day (probably because they are too tired rather than too hungry/weak).

I didn’t even realise it was Ramadan. If it finishes this weekend, the PR machine has managed to keep me completely oblivious for several weeks.

Mimiboo said :

While it’s easy to criticise religion, let’s see the some of the benefits it did bring to this earth – Christmas, tolerance, love thy neighbour, etc… I’m not religious, but sometimes we tend to be too overly critical of something that brought some good to us all.

That’s only true if you assume that we couldn’t have had those things without religion.

Mimiboo said :

luther_bendross said :

Wait wait wait, let me get this straight. So some guy makes a universe purely for humans in a week, then puts us on this tiny planet filled with all sorts of stuff to keep us nourished, then we show our appreciation by not eating any of it? Even Danny Nalliah’s witches are having eye-of-toad and newt soup whilst celebrating paganism. Religion: a public insane asylum with no walls and more rules.

While it’s easy to criticise religion, let’s see the some of the benefits it did bring to this earth – Christmas, tolerance, love thy neighbour, etc… I’m not religious, but sometimes we tend to be too overly critical of something that brought some good to us all.

As for muslims fasting, I think they do it to appreciate things that can be easily taken for granted.

Organised religion is primarily a way for a few to have power over many. Of course they have some good elements, and many well meaning people at all levels (and don’t get me wrong, Christians and Muslims are among the nicest and best people I know). But lots of bad too, and lots don’t bother so much with tolerance or neighbourly love when it’s inconvenient (e.g., stealing oil or blowing up infidels).

To assess the benefits, surely you’d have to compare against a hypothetical world without religion. Hmm…

amusing that there are several muslims that I know that still work during ramadan, expecting to be normal. this is the time of the practical joke for their colleagues, and in hindsight, some must do them some damage, like taping the receiver on the phone, removing batteries from laptops, etc, etc. these poor guys think that they are losing their marbles. it is a very devout person who can go without food all month in the daylight hours, and I admire their will to do this. It is something that they feel that they must do, and is no different to the carrying of the cross at easter, flagellation to expel daemons, and the inquisition. These are all forms of devout behavior from a true believer.

luther_bendross said :

Wait wait wait, let me get this straight. So some guy makes a universe purely for humans in a week, then puts us on this tiny planet filled with all sorts of stuff to keep us nourished, then we show our appreciation by not eating any of it? Even Danny Nalliah’s witches are having eye-of-toad and newt soup whilst celebrating paganism. Religion: a public insane asylum with no walls and more rules.

While it’s easy to criticise religion, let’s see the some of the benefits it did bring to this earth – Christmas, tolerance, love thy neighbour, etc… I’m not religious, but sometimes we tend to be too overly critical of something that brought some good to us all.

As for muslims fasting, I think they do it to appreciate things that can be easily taken for granted.

GnT said :

However there was one boy I remember who decided to go the whole she-bang, inlcuding no water during the day. He didn’t tell the school, and decided to participate in PE. Needless to say we had one sick little boy at the end of the day.

Allah wanted him to be sick. It wouldn’t have happened otherwise. Obviously.

As a high school teacher we had a few students observing Ramadan. Usually, because they were younger, they were not expected to do the whole thing – they might do one day on one day off, or fast until lunchtime etc. Whatever they felt comfortable with was suppported within their community. The school was usually informed and they were excused from PE for the month.

However there was one boy I remember who decided to go the whole she-bang, inlcuding no water during the day. He didn’t tell the school, and decided to participate in PE. Needless to say we had one sick little boy at the end of the day.

NoAddedMSG said :

Cletus 2 said :

Fortunately, at least for rich muslims, there are loopholes that allow one to circumvent the fasting.

There is a reasonable list of exemptions from fasting, none of which have anything to do with personal wealth.

But when treated as loopholes, they certainly are more available to those with more disposable income. And get treated as loopholes by those people they do. I’ve lived in Syria, and also heard the same thing from Iranian friends.

Wait wait wait, let me get this straight. So some guy makes a universe purely for humans in a week, then puts us on this tiny planet filled with all sorts of stuff to keep us nourished, then we show our appreciation by not eating any of it? Even Danny Nalliah’s witches are having eye-of-toad and newt soup whilst celebrating paganism. Religion: a public insane asylum with no walls and more rules.

Cletus 2 said :

Fortunately, at least for rich muslims, there are loopholes that allow one to circumvent the fasting.

There is a reasonable list of exemptions from fasting, none of which have anything to do with personal wealth.