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Working through Ramadan

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Re: Working through Ramadan

#41
post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I wonder how this would affect individuals who do physically intensive work such as manual labor. The article seemed to focus on writers, CEOs, I wish they had included a few people involved in physically intensive work. I wonder what these people do, is there some sort of Ramadan exception for those involved in physically intensive work? What about for diabetics? Do people struggling through Ramadan experience some…

IIRC some soccer players and athletes have obtained the blessing of a friendly imam to break their fast during competitions for safety reasons. I don't know if this is widely approved or not. For your questions, as usual Wikipedia has the basics: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramadan

I don't think it's widely accepted, but it makes sense to me as a Muslim.

Re: Working through Ramadan

#42
post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Well, if God tell you so, you shouldn't eat that sandwich. If you are familiar with chain of trust in computer security, Muslims have something similar for the Quran, there are hundred or thousands of peoples alive today who will give the names of their Quran teachers until your reach the Prophet, this will give you thousands of chains, with the exact Quran script, all people on this "chains" memories the Quran lette…

God told me to never eat anything. Where is the distinction between mentally ill and religious?

Religion is more in the domain of cultural evolution than people speaking directly to god. Islam is a continuation of Christianity and Judaism and you can trace that back even further.

Re: Working through Ramadan

#43

While it may be manageable for most, I wonder at what point it becomes downright dangerous for people in critical jobs. It would be interesting to do an analysis of say Muslim Surgeons observing Ramadan fasts and the numbers and types medical errors during the fasting vs non-fasting periods. Or the Pilots on Fast and Long Haul flights who have been fasting daily for a month....

> While it may be manageable for most, I wonder at what point it becomes downright dangerous for people in critical jobs.

Based on experience in pakistan, there's already effectively no OSHA and people do very dangerous things in construction/with heavy equipment all the time. Now add dehydration and 43C weather... You can imagine the results.

Re: Working through Ramadan

#44
One thing I'd suggest for employers: if your employee observes Ramadan and will be cooking for their family in the evening, make it easy for them to leave plenty early so they can get food ready by sundown so their kids don't have to fast longer than desired.

The kids at our elementary school who fast have a definitely lack of energy in the afternoons. It's nice to do what we can to support their home lives.

Re: Working through Ramadan

#45
post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Any religious activity is fine if it doesn't interfere with your duties in society. If you're falling asleep while fasting, isn't that a sign of going too far with it? Seems intuitively unhealthy.

I wonder how this would affect individuals who do physically intensive work such as manual labor. The article seemed to focus on writers, CEOs, I wish they had included a few people involved in physically intensive work. I wonder what these people do, is there some sort of Ramadan exception for those involved in physically intensive work? What about for diabetics? Do people struggling through Ramadan experience some…

Diabetics are allowed to not fast. The old, the ill, the young, travellers, and women menstruating or pregnant are also allowed to not fast. Moreover, people with extraordinarily difficult manual labour jobs are allowed to break their fast - given that they redo those days on their days off. If it puts your health in serious harm, don't fast.

However, elderly who are capable do fast. Athletes do fast. Even children do fast. Most people want to participate because it's a community celebration. I grew up in a Muslim country, and Ramadan is a month I've always enjoyed. Friends, neighbours, and family visit each other. Everyday we receive food parcels from half the neighbourhood, and we send out an equivalent amount. Halfway through the month we have Nasfa, which is basically Halloween but we wear traditional clothes and go house to house collecting candy. This is then followed up with Eid 2 weeks later, which is a 3 day non-stop celebration. It's the most commercial month of the year. Restaurants are packed. Every TV channel comes out with dozens of 30-day series. People stay out till dawn. It's also the month when the most charity is given in the Muslim world and a lot of volunteering also occurs during this month.

It's also a very spiritual time. I still fast, despite my lack of belief, like I've done since I was a child. I feel calmer, and more meditative in my everyday life. I use this month to cut out most of my bad habits and vices, which ultimately is harder than depriving yourself of food. It's a time when you spend more time thinking about the struggle of the less fortunate. The feeling of deprivation from food, water, sex, and many comforts of the world really incentivizes you to give more. It motivates you to be a better person continuing throughout the year. When I was religious, I used to spend my time quite similarly: participating in prayer, study, and recitation.

Of course there's also drawbacks: I tend to lose a lot of weight this month due to only eating a single meal most days. My appetite noticeably shrinks, and I feel more sluggish. I'm healthy and I'm still able to perform my job fully, go for walks, and participate in activities, albeit more sluggishly. I've studied this a bit by using my completion velocity for tasks when I'm fasting versus when I'm not and haven't found conclusive results yet. Last year, I underperformed my normal velocity by 5%. This year I outpaced it by 3-4%. I believe the difference this year is better meal planning.

Towards the end of the day, I'd get cranky due to dehydration and lack of sugar. Oddly enough, a lot of people go the other way and gain weight by binging after sunset. It's quickly becoming a very commercial season, where all consumption and materialism are kicked into overdrive.

Re: Working through Ramadan

#46
post #9

>> 2. If you accidentally fall asleep in your office cubicle, people won’t judge you because you are fasting. Oh, yes, please don't judge me while I underperform this entire month because I feel compelled to follow some ancient superstition.

It's hard to believe that some thing going on for ~1430 years without changing is a superstition, IMHO.

It is the month that is believed to be when Mohammed had the Quran revealed to him, hence that superstition thing you refer to is taken quite seriously.

I know you don't buy it, judging from the wording. But that is why everyone is so laser-focused at this time. The Quran specficially outlines this, believe it or not.

http://corpus.quran.com/translation.jsp?chapter=2&verse=185

Re: Working through Ramadan

#47
post #42

Earlier quoted context omitted.

God told me to never eat anything. Where is the distinction between mentally ill and religious?

Religion is more in the domain of cultural evolution than people speaking directly to god. Islam is a continuation of Christianity and Judaism and you can trace that back even further.

To a, presumably, educated person like yourself, yes, religion is likely more in the domain cultural evolution. Can the same be said for all? Many would claim to have a personal relationship with their deity(ies).

Re: Working through Ramadan

#48

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Is fasting during Ramadan a data-driven decision?

It's been done for a long time so it has to be legitimate!

We should give up on democratic process and pasteurization because they are so old.

I swear, when docker and lxc turn ten, I will uninstall them and never look back.

Re: Working through Ramadan

#49
post #42

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Religion is more in the domain of cultural evolution than people speaking directly to god. Islam is a continuation of Christianity and Judaism and you can trace that back even further.

To a, presumably, educated person like yourself, yes, religion is likely more in the domain cultural evolution. Can the same be said for all? Many would claim to have a personal relationship with their deity(ies).

In my experience growing in a muslim country -- most moderates understand this and imply it without explicitly saying it. And most of the education and the scholarship happening in Islam focuses on the Madhab, fatwa, hadeeth, and interpretation. All of which is merely people using their best judgement to supplement and evolve religion.

Of course, fundamentalists -- as apparent from the name -- read things very literally and "speak" or "hear" directly from God.

Re: Working through Ramadan

#50
post #49

Earlier quoted context omitted.

To a, presumably, educated person like yourself, yes, religion is likely more in the domain cultural evolution. Can the same be said for all? Many would claim to have a personal relationship with their deity(ies).

In my experience growing in a muslim country -- most moderates understand this and imply it without explicitly saying it. And most of the education and the scholarship happening in Islam focuses on the Madhab, fatwa, hadeeth, and interpretation. All of which is merely people using their best judgement to supplement and evolve religion. Of course, fundamentalists -- as apparent from the name -- read things very litera…

I appreciate the civil discussion and insight.

What is prayer if not speaking directly to a deity?

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