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Comment by Horffupolde | Hacker News Reader

Fasting is widespread in religions. Can’t be a coïncidence.

It's more likely because hunger was a common human experience for entire history so doing it on purpose seems like a quirky, hip thing to do and that's what religions flock to for the purposes of attracting followers.

I think religious fasting is more about the symbolic significance of fasting as an act of self denial and self cleansing, but there are plenty of religious dietary restrictions in religions that probably stem from ideas about health and food safety.

I think the ideas get stretched. But fasting is kind of used as a means to avoid gluttony.

Fasting does keep you little alert and productive, compared to people who aren't doing it.

Stay Hungry, Stay foolish. [Have enough enough appetite to learn more, and be naive enough to try doing hard things]

Fasting gets you high. Bundles well with meditation, sleep-deprivation, etc.

(which leads to "religious visions" etc)

So is wearing funny hats, and performing acts of violence on opposing believers and unbelievers (not to mention their own believers).

I wouldn't put too much "faith" in religions authority on whats correct or not.

Also, absolutely it can be a coincidance. Your standards for truth are very poor.

I am currently seeking funding for my research into the longevity effects of wearing funny hats. Previous research on organ-grinder monkeys has been ambiguous and it's hard to get IRB approval. My lab is currently developing tiny hats for fruit flies and investigating what a fruit fly finds funny.

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