Viewing a single comment thread. View all comments

dogsent t1_j8trj9n wrote

Reply to comment by chewbaccawastrainedb in Mozambique pastor dies attempting 40-day Jesus fast - BBC News by UsernameEmanresu22

Today people say they are fasting, but still drink juice.

Fasting during Ramadan means abstinence from all food or drink, including water and chewing gum, from dawn to sunset.

We don't know what Jesus did. All the writings were done after he died. Also, 40 days is a symbolic number, so that could be inaccurate.

Fasting would not be a common practice if people died frequently.

Definitely suspect.

71

vahntitrio t1_j8tt29d wrote

40 isn't a symbolic number - it's just a translation thing. Imagine putting the number 7 in the place of every instance of the word several.

40 is inserted in the bible wherever a word that should more closely be translated to "many" appeared.

78

ericisshort t1_j8tvbsa wrote

Interesting. Where did you learn this?

19

vahntitrio t1_j8twy21 wrote

I have a friend with a PhD in Religious Studies (focused mostly on the old testament and Hebrew), he mentioned it to me.

50

Ironwolf7448 t1_j8v0xha wrote

Can you ask your friend what the fuck is up with the bears for me?

12

doogle_126 t1_j8vjzts wrote

Elisha and God didn't like the teenagers. So bears ate them.

11

nWo1997 t1_j8w8qd3 wrote

I heard that the bear thing was less "a group of wee ones call a man bald" ("go up, baldie") and more "a mob of young men threateningly group up and shout at a man to die" ("go up, baldie").

It was in one of those "what does everyone get wrong about the Bible" threads on r/askreddit.

3

TucuReborn t1_j8wxjb5 wrote

This is also the case for a lot of religious texts.

2

Zootguy1 t1_j8tw2rd wrote

it's totally crazy though. I go that long without eating (still taking liquid) and I feel like a deadman walking 2 weeks...

6

dogsent t1_j8u3ysd wrote

According to the story, Jesus fasted until he had visions. I don't know what that means. I think he was trying to have visions. He was in the desert. So even with drinking water the body gets dehydrated.

Anyway, weird story. And a pretty dumb idea to try doing a fast like that.

6

Zootguy1 t1_j8u4ac3 wrote

not eating till you trip out in the desert sounds like a death sentence. unless you're Jesus

12

dogsent t1_j8u7lv4 wrote

He had angels taking care of him. Snacks don't count when you're fasting if they came from angels.

13

arealhumannotabot t1_j8yacew wrote

>Today people say they are fasting, but still drink juice.

There are huge forums of people ho do proper fasting, I'm not sure what you're referring to. Sounds like some people trying other things, orthey're calling it a "juice fast" referring to the liquid diet, and you're not framing it properly.

1

[deleted] t1_j8ttazx wrote

[deleted]

0

TyphoidMary234 t1_j8tubth wrote

Too bad you didn’t copy the part where he said from dawn to sunset, which is a fancy way of saying, only at night. Read before you start typing lmao.

6