Christening

What a cleanse is to the body, fasting is to the soul.
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Fasting for causes is a concept as old as the oldest religion. Fasting has been used for spiritual growth, fasting has been used as a means of seeing through the eyes of the impoverished, fasting has been used as a way of growing more self-aware, fasting can even be used as a political statement.
Some religions even have fasting built in as part of their spiritual teaching. Jesus fasted in the wilderness for 40 days, after all.

True, fasting is also often used as a means of weight loss, but I am of the opinion that fasting gives the greatest benefits when used for other purposes.

However, I will not deny the proven health benefits of fasting. In fact I will start compiling my various links to articles I've read so that you can read them too.

The "rules" are thus: you choose the length of your fast, you choose the rules of your fast, and you choose the cause you fast for. All fast lengths will be welcome.

Let us be enlightened, in every sense. :)