[trevgo]

Why should anyone feel the slightest sympathy? it's a choice - nothing more, nothing less. They are as free to join the sane, modern, logical world as anyone else.

I recall aid agencies being outraged when trying to help children who were victims of the Pakistani earthquake a few years ago, and being prevented by local elders who refused to let them have sustenance until after sunset.

[NightHawk123]

Originally Posted by trevgo

Why should anyone feel the slightest sympathy? it's a choice - nothing more, nothing less.

Isn't it a choice of the OP to feel sympathy for those fasting? Just because their choice clashes with yours doesn't mean anyone shouldn't feel sympathy

[Lyricalis]

While I don't have any particular interest or use for religion, I think that the exercise in willpower like that would be useful for a lot of people including myself.

[Perfection]

Originally Posted by trevgo

Why should anyone feel the slightest sympathy? it's a choice - nothing more, nothing less. They are as free to join the sane, modern, logical world as anyone else.

I recall aid agencies being outraged when trying to help children who were victims of the Pakistani earthquake a few years ago, and being prevented by local elders who refused to let them have sustenance until after sunset.

erm yeah sure. Ramadan fasting isn't obligatory on children. Plus out of the ordinary events mean you don't need to keep the fast on the prescribed days - you can make up at a later date.

[Grabid Rannies]

Dispiriting nonsense.

Still, at least by the end of it they might be mu-slims

[adopter]

Originally Posted by Perfection

erm yeah sure. Ramadan fasting isn't obligatory on children. Plus out of the ordinary events mean you don't need to keep the fast on the prescribed days - you can make up at a later date.

Some Mjuslims disagree with you.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/4341604.stm

[Jane Doh!]

Originally Posted by trevgo

I recall aid agencies being outraged when trying to help children who were victims of the Pakistani earthquake a few years ago, and being prevented by local elders who refused to let them have sustenance until after sunset.

Any link to a report of this as it is utter nonsense?

Children aren't obliged to fast.

[NightHawk123]

Originally Posted by Grabid Rannies

Dispiriting nonsense.

Dispiriting for who exactly? As for Muslims Ramadan is meant to strengthen their belief and way of life.

[Grabid Rannies]

Originally Posted by NightHawk123

Dispiriting for who exactly? As for Muslims Ramadan is meant to strengthen their belief and way of life.

If it does so then there we are I suppose.

To me, religious rituals that demand unreasonable human behaviour are dispiriting nonsense. But if the adherents believe otherwise then so be it.

[Perfection]

Originally Posted by adopter

Some Mjuslims disagree with you.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/4341604.stm

You mean ONE person. Yes well done for pointing that nutter out. Of course he speaks for all Muslims or at least 'some' as you are trying to make us believe.

[NightHawk123]

Originally Posted by adopter

Some Mjuslims disagree with you.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/4341604.stm

Sensationalist propaganda. Not surprised seeing as it's the BBC.

Originally Posted by Grabid Rannies

If it does so then there we are I suppose.

To me, religious rituals that demand unreasonable human behaviour are dispiriting nonsense. But if the adherents believe otherwise then so be it.

It may be unreasonable to you but fasting is found to have many health benefits if you cared to research.

[Perfection]

Originally Posted by Grabid Rannies

If it does so then there we are I suppose.

To me, religious rituals that demand unreasonable human behaviour are dispiriting nonsense. But if the adherents believe otherwise then so be it.

Oh dear, a few hours without food. Totally unreasonable behaviour. Shame on the billions of people around the world forced to suffer this action.

[Grabid Rannies]

Originally Posted by Perfection

Oh dear, a few hours without food. Totally unreasonable behaviour. Shame on the billions of people around the world forced to suffer this action.

It goes against reasonable human behaviour to purposely starve yourself in times where food is available.

You clearly believe otherwise. Ramadan is not a thing that seems to have any measurable detrimental effect upon society (eg increase in muslim work-sickness etc, etc) so it is not something I 'object' to. I just think the idea of it is silly.

You do not. So we don't agree. There now, that's not hard to do without becoming supercilious is it?

[Voynich]

I feel more sorry for my father with diabetes who has a real reason for having to restrict his diet...it can kill him.

[adopter]

Originally Posted by Grabid Rannies

It goes against reasonable human behaviour to purposely starve yourself in times where food is available.

You clearly believe otherwise. Ramadan is not a thing that seems to have any measurable detrimental effect upon society (eg increase in muslim work-sickness etc, etc) so it is not something I 'object' to. I just think the idea of it is silly.

You do not. So we don't agree. There now, that's not hard to do without becoming supercilious is it?

Hunger and a drop in blood sugar can make people feel tetchy.

[Grabid Rannies]

Originally Posted by adopter

Hunger and a drop in blood sugar can make people feel tetchy.

Teehee!

I love humour, and I'd bet there's plenty of muslim folk who although disagreeing with me would have a good-natured chuckle at that genial jest too.

[MICH78]

It's not the heat that is the most difficult this year, it's the fact Ramadan has fallen during the summer, therefore 18 hours of fasting due to longer daylight hours. At the moment, you can't eat until just after 9pm, during winter it is around 5pm.

Ramadan Mubarak to our Muslim DS members.

[Jane Doh!]

Originally Posted by Grabid Rannies

It goes against reasonable human behaviour to purposely starve yourself in times where food is available.

You clearly believe otherwise. Ramadan is not a thing that seems to have any measurable detrimental effect upon society (eg increase in muslim work-sickness etc, etc) so it is not something I 'object' to. I just think the idea of it is silly.

You do not. So we don't agree. There now, that's not hard to do without becoming supercilious is it?

I don't eat during the day, not till about six in the evening. I'm not religious. Nobody thinks I'm being unreasonable or starving myself because I don't eat the food that is readily available.

I just don't like food during the day.

[dorydaryl]

Respect to all those sticking at it. Fasting is also part of Christian tradition, although doesn't seem to be as restrictive as Ramadan. Wish you well and good health.

[Grabid Rannies]

Originally Posted by Jane Doh!

I don't eat during the day, not till about six in the evening. I'm not religious. Nobody thinks I'm being unreasonable or starving myself because I don't eat the food that is readily available.

I just don't like food during the day.

I sometimes don't eat until late in the day, even if I feel hungry. Because I literally 'can't be bothered'.

I don't think that's really rational of me, but there we go. As to why or whether it's legitimate, we probably disagree. That happens

[Teddybleads]

It's like Lent on Steroids!

It's not something I really understand but I tip my hat to anyone who has the conviction to see it through. Happy fastings.

[TheGladiator]

Originally Posted by Grabid Rannies

It goes against reasonable human behaviour to purposely starve yourself in times where food is available.

You clearly believe otherwise. Ramadan is not a thing that seems to have any measurable detrimental effect upon society (eg increase in muslim work-sickness etc, etc) so it is not something I 'object' to. I just think the idea of it is silly.

You do not. So we don't agree. There now, that's not hard to do without becoming supercilious is it?

very clever way to squeeze into the discussion that Muslims religious actions are against reasonable human nature. Blatantly obvious what your agenda is.

[adopter]

Originally Posted by TheGladiator

very clever way to squeeze into the discussion that Muslims religious actions are against reasonable human nature. Blatantly obvious what your agenda is.

A lot of religious actions are against human nature.

[Eater Sundae]

Originally Posted by MICH78

It's not the heat that is the most difficult this year, it's the fact Ramadan has fallen during the summer, therefore 18 hours of fasting due to longer daylight hours. At the moment, you can't eat until just after 9pm, during winter it is around 5pm.

Ramadan Mubarak to our Muslim DS members.

Many years ago (early ‘80s), I was working out in the middle east when Ramadan fell in the hotter summer months. (Although there the days don't get much longer, unlike here.

The local Muslims (UAE) and the muslim ex-pats working there (a mixture of Egyptian, Syrian, Sudanese and Pakistani as far as I remember) were very tolerant of non-muslims and offered us the chance to drink provided we didn’t make a big thing out of it. (This was despite advice that we should never eat or drink in public during Ramadan). Most of the time this was not practical, anyway, as we were all working together in a group.

We were working shifts during reliability testing and commissioning of new plant, so we worked both night and day shifts. The days were tiring and stressful as it was hot, and any work was tiring, even though we were not doing manual work, just moving around a lot. However, the nights were great. The locals brought in food from local cafes – I particularly remember dates, and fruit in general, and some fried flat bread with a minced meat filling. I’ve no idea what it was called, but it was very greasy and very nice. The whole atmosphere was much more relaxed, a little cooler (though still uncomfortably hot). Everybody chilled (metaphorically if not physically) and we all enjoyed a pleasant, relaxing couple of hours.

[TheGladiator]

Originally Posted by adopter

A lot of religious actions are against human nature.

in that case its best to just say it, rather than make up some elaborate story to get a point across.