Ramadan

[sandyRoe]

Watching Dr Saleyha Ahsan on the BBC1 programme, 'Fast Tales', this morning I was struck by the resolve and devotion of the people observing Ramadan.
I've said it before, and I'll say it again, Isn't it a great pity that Lent in the Christian world has largely dwindled away to a thin shadow of its former self?

[hc4361]

Many Christians do observe Lent in a deep and meaningful way, some to extreme.

Many Muslims do not observe Ramadan as strictly as they ought.

[brainiac]

Do you think England cricketer Moeen Ali (who obviously wants to be seen as a devout Muslim) is going from sunrise to sunset with no food or water, but playing Test cricket in that heat? Really?

[hc4361]

brainiac, he's on Twitter and Facebook. Ask him.

[anneasquith]

I have a friend who is muslim and she takes all her holidays from work at ramadam.

[mikey4444]

I can understand if they abstain from food but what is achieved by not drinking water ? In its home territory of the middle east, the temperatures at this time of year are dangerously high. Isn't it just daft to be forbidden from drinking plain water ? Apart from a feeling self-satisfied smugness, why do they do it ?

[anneasquith]

'' self satisfied smugness''. fasting, no food or water !!

[askyourgran]

How do you know that a great many Christians observe Lent or not? From what I have learned about the faith of Islam it's adherents seem almost childlike in their devotion to whatever event occurs.
No Christian would think of laying down a prayer mat in the middle of a motorway service station while the men of the family made their observances, and the women stood around them.
That is the difference between the religions of our modern world, Christians keep their religion personal. Our prayers and celebrations private. Admittedly Christian fathers failed to continue to make church-going a ritual for the whole family to attend Sunday worship as in days gone by, unlike the Muslims who take small (male?) children to their mosques and attend daily.

[sandyRoe]

Self-satisfied smugness shouldn't be lightly dismissed. But, if done properly it might serve as a detox

[THECORBYLOON]

BRAINIAC do you know he is not fasting? If he isn't, he may be fasting on other days after Ramzan to make up for it. There were several Muslims in the UK team who did not fast during the Olympics in London but did so later and one paid about £2,000 toward food for the poor.

[Svejk]

that's alright then. no need to fast if you've got money.

[hc4361]

askyourgran, there are literally hundreds of Christian denominations across the world that practice their religion very differently to Church of England worshipers.
The Orthodox and Amish make sure everyone knows which faith they belong to. The Salvation Army still have collections in pubs, whilst JW's knock on people's doors trying to make converts.

These Christians very publicly show their devotion by being nailed to the Cross
http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/04/22/us-philippines-crucifxions-idUSTRE73L0XU20110422

Spanish Catholics also seem extreme in some peoples eyes
http://www.spainuncovered.net/better-than-an-easter-egg-spains-semana-santa-celebrations

[THECORBYLOON]

For all you know £2,000 may be a considerable proportion of his savings, does widow's mite mean anything to you?

[Svejk]

I couldn't care if its loose change or every penny he has, it makes no difference to my post, does it?

[New Judge]

No it is not a pity at all that the rituals of Lent have dwindled away. Any religion which compels its followers to interfere with their nourishment to such a degree deserves no heed. Ramadan in particular, as I have said in other posts, is a ridiculous ritual and borders, especially at this time of year, on the dangerous. It's just about acceptable if you lie in a cool room for the hours of daylight but most followers do not. As I said yesterday some of them are driving lorries and buses. There is nothing for them to be smug or self-satisfied about. To go seventeen hours without fluid in temperatures of thirty degrees plus for weeks on end can only be described as utter lunacy.

I've no particular care for the Muslims who follow this idiocy but I do care for people around them as they drive their bus round Hyde Park Corner having taken no fluids for the previous seventeen hours. If anybody else deliberately regularly jeopardised their health in such a way whilst doing such a responsible job their employer might well investigate whether they were fit for the task. But of course that question must not be asked of Muslims observing Ramadan.

[hc4361]

Observant Muslims feed the poor during Ramadan, either by volunteering their time or donating money, or both.

[askyourgran]

hc I see your concern for the Muslims who observe their faith everyday we all see or hear about their devotion one way or another, either in a public car park or not serving Tesco customers ham or wine in Ramadan. Your observations of other faiths illustrate that indeed there are customs observed in different ways by all faiths worldwide. Usually a particularly religious occasion as the Spanish Catholics often do with their parades in Spain, or the ones who go to extremes by nailing themselves to crosses, which I haven't seen here. In England the Salvation Army are less known as a religion per se, I admire their work immensley, I like to hear their Band play in the various places I've visited, they once played beneath my hospital window one Christmas and it was beautiful, I would donate to their cause. The JW's I know little about, they do not knock on my door every day nor pray in carparks (taking up two car spaces) to my knowledge. Only Goodlife occupies some space on here which you have to admit is not taken seriously by many.

[hc4361]

AYG, surely you have noticed Christian preachers in town centres and parks?,
The Salvation Army is very much a Christian Church with weekly services, prayer meetings and publications. Furthermore, they don't confine themselves to the UK but have Churches in 124 countries.

I have known roads to be closed in the UK for papal visits and 65000 Christians congregated at a Glasgow park to hear him preach.

Lent still plays a big part in the Christian Churches around the world and BBC Radio 4 has a weekly 15 minute programme during Lent called Lent Talks.

[ummmm]

My mum, a born again, used to sing in town praising the Lord. Sooooooooo embarrassing :-D

[vulcan42]

I have never understood this tolerance towards preachers who, using loudspeakers,berate people on religious matters in the street.Why isn't this considered harassment? if I went to a lay preachers home and shouted at him through his letterbox for an hour I would be arrested. Only religion is allowed to annoy people in public.

[DrFilth]

vulcan try it in manchester and you will get arrested

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lOf7cWaJCio