My first experience of Ramadan was suppose to be fun, interesting and challenging, but instead I just got the «You are still doing the same as before but now you won’t eat for half the day». But what I am telling you? It is not like this new and trendy pandemic had left anyone unscathed. Whether you lost your trip or… well… someone you loved, we are all moving along to the rhythm of this Dance Macabre, which seems never ending.
I had no religious obligation to fast during Ramadan, but I though it would interesting to challenge myself by not eating or drinking for plenty of hours during the day. Since I am living with a family that would be following it, it would also be a bonding moment when I could better understand their traditions and culture or at least not offend them by eating glorious food in front of their face. I was also promised that Ramadan is a fun occasion for the whole community. In the evening when the sun sets, they all go out, where they are welcomed by many food stalls at the side of the road, inviting them with their smells and with the sound of their empty stomach complaining. But you know, social distancing and all. So, I lost the little motivation I had to follow the fasting and I just ended up eating whenever and whatever as always.
I am, however, surprised that people are still following it, even though the do not get the communal satisfaction at the end of the end. I was always surprised that people were willing to give up one of the greatest pleasure of life, food, to follow some arbitrary rules (doesn’t matter were these rules originated, whatever religion it is), just because they believed they had to. Of course this has to do with my own beliefs more that anything. I personally do not see any point in it, whatsoever (not that anyone is asking), not to just this fasting but any religious fasting. Are there any health benefits? Maybe, but to me, it seems that you are just forcing yourself to revolve around food, more than before, which I guess would be a side effect of any restricting diet. People are just waking up early cause they have to eat and then wait over a clock to be given the permission to eat again. I does seem very hard, but I guess you do get the satisfaction of self-restrain? Maybe..
This whole situation also got me wondering, why is fasting a thing to begin with? Fasting from animal products, I always though could be good for health, helping with cholesterol levels for example. Although one Easter in Greece and you are probably having a heart attack after the 40 days fasting. Of course people just go cold turkey without ever reading of the side effects of not consuming meat and animal products all of a sudden, like B12 deficiency and how to prevent them. On the other case, intermittent fasting has shown to have some positive effects at least on the short term, but that still does not answer why was it written in a book more than a thousand years ago, because clearly they were not up to date with the latest dieting trends then. Maybe they were aware of some benefits, maybe they asked people to do it to prove their restrain, who knows? Maybe I could find out by reading some religious books, but I have not even read Harry Potter yet, so I will pass.
So in the midst of my ignorance, blasphemy and scattered brain thoughts, I just want to ask if in our society, corona or not, fasting really has still a place. Or even not just fasting but its origin as well
PS. Did you know that there are also rules for Astronauts on how to fast for Ramadan?
The Indonesian Chronicles 