Why Do Religions Fast?
Certain religions believe that to purify your body, you have to remove any toxic influences. From a spiritual view, these things don’t need to be medically poisonous to be unhealthy.
Refraining from certain types of food is one way of peeling away the outer layers of one’s self until you achieve a more pure state.
Other religions want to remove the allure of the physical world so one can be more focused on the spiritual life. In that case, fasting is generally met with extended prayer.
Another reason these types of habits exist in religion is to exhibit humility. It helps to remind individuals of the difficulties faced by the less fortunate. It also helps to inspire them to appreciate better what they have, such as regular access to food.
