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Working through Ramadan

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Re: Working through Ramadan

#31

Post by Cyph0n »

back_beyond wrote: post #27
vdfs wrote: 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?

You'll find that Ramadan is quite reasonable if you actually understood it.

Re: Working through Ramadan

#32

Post by esalman »

EugeneOZ wrote: post #16

It's funny to observe how people think that fasting or any other ancient rite will make their faith more valid. "If I'll eat this sandwich it will be huge sin and God will judge me".

Actually the lesson of Ramadan is to make rich people (muslims) realize the hardship that poor people go through due to hunger, so that they feel inclined to donate and help the poor.

Re: Working through Ramadan

#33

Post by semi-extrinsic »

inssein wrote: post #14

Ramadan was my most productive month last year (hard to measure this year as I started at a new job just before Ramadan). There are no food related distractions (no thinking about lunch, getting up for water, going to the washroom, etc). The key was adjusting my schedule a little bit (start work later) to ensure you get enough proper sleep.

I guess it depends a lot on your job. As a counterpoint, one of my neighbours, who is Muslim, works as a chef. He says fasting is hard in that line of work: not only do you have to stay in a hot kitchen smelling of good food all day, but you can't even taste the food you're making to see if it's well seasoned etc., so you're constantly bothering other people to taste for you, thus lowering the productivity of the entire kitchen.

Re: Working through Ramadan

#34

Post by ardit33 »

suprgeek wrote: post #19

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....

Plenty of people do "intermittent fasting", but mostly for fitness reasons. 8hrs feeding window, and then 16hrs fast. One of the most reported side effects is actually "slight euforia".

Re: Working through Ramadan

#35

Post by 616c »

suprgeek wrote: post #19

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....

It is hard to say in the Arab World, but judging from accent and religious greetings, I have flown during Ramadan without incident.

However, there are known exceptions to fasting when traveling during Ramadan. It is one of the few times when you are exempted, save illness, from fasting.

Despite what people say, Islam has a very practical mindset about these things and many people push themselves, name the elderly and sick, and that upsets me because I see many whose medical conditions exempt them.

How do doctors get around it? They don't show up!

Jokes aside, where I live, office hours are reduced to six hours a day. This is partly fasting, but because many stay up late to recite the Quran (Taraweeh and later Tajahhud) into the late hours of the evening and wake up for pre-dawn prayers.

Re: Working through Ramadan

#36

Post by kilroy123 »

I once had a muslim roommate, who was going to a very prestigious law school at the time. He would wake up early, and study well into the night.

During ramadan he very busy studying all day. As soon as it was close to evening time, he would start cooking an insanely huge meal. I don't know how the hell he did it.

Re: Working through Ramadan

#37

Post by Mikeb85 »

Anyone who hasn't tried a spiritual discipline (such as fasting) really should.

Belief isn't a prerequisite, and most faiths have some sort of variation on it. Whether it's a Buddhist retreat, fasting through Ramadan, fasting through Lent (my tradition, Orthodox Christianity has fairly strict fasting rules as an example), or a retreat at a monastery, spiritual discipline is a great way to withdraw from the world, focus on your inner self and learn to concentrate and deal with life's stresses.

Even if you don't believe in deities, there is practical knowledge to be gained. Also keep in mind, spiritual discipline during fasting seasons should also be done in conjunction with prayer/meditation (depending on religion/tradition), so it offers more benefits than simply dieting.

Re: Working through Ramadan

#38

Post by 616c »

esalman wrote: post #32
EugeneOZ wrote: post #16

It's funny to observe how people think that fasting or any other ancient rite will make their faith more valid. "If I'll eat this sandwich it will be huge sin and God will judge me".

Actually the lesson of Ramadan is to make rich people (muslims) realize the hardship that poor people go through due to hunger, so that they feel inclined to donate and help the poor.

I am glad you said it. When meeting others who were born Muslim, they told me I was informed. I did not say this was the only reason, but they said I did not get it.

I wonder what I read. Haha.

Re: Working through Ramadan

#39

Post by 616c »

Waterluvian wrote: post #4
back_beyond wrote: post #2

>> 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.

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.

If you live in a country with majority Mulsim populations, I assure you society adapts.

Sincerely, Someone typing this well after midnight

Re: Working through Ramadan

#40

Post by Cyph0n »

EugeneOZ wrote: post #16

It's funny to observe how people think that fasting or any other ancient rite will make their faith more valid. "If I'll eat this sandwich it will be huge sin and God will judge me".

Nah, it's not about that at all. Fasting is about learning to deal with hardship, and appreciating what less fortunate people have to go through every day of the year.

At the end of Ramadan, Muslims are encouraged to donate to charity. It becomes much easier after you've felt a bit of what it's like to be poor for a month.

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