Job Discussion Forums

[ak_tesl]

Should I (Will I) fast during Ramadan?

The Koran seems to imply that one must. My upbringing tells me it is a matter of choice.

I should state that I abhor prescribed rituals, and wishfully think of myself as being free-spirited.

It is interesting to note that all historical personalities with a heightened experience of the Spiritual (prophets, saints, gurus, lamas, etc.) have gone through periods of fasting. Furthermore, all religions call for some measure of fasting.

So, what is the purpose of fasting? Is it to bring us closer to God? In what way?

I definitely think that fasting is not about not-eating-during-the-day and then feasting-at-night. Plus it must be unhealthy. This I hear (hearsay) many people in Turkey do.

[dmb]

Should I give up beer for Ramadan? No, my upbringing tells me it is a matter of choice.

[Baba Alex]

[tekirdag]

Yes, Ramazan is near. It starts on the 23rd ? Many people I know don't fast. Many people do seem to eat their faces off at night after fasting during the day but, hey, who can blame them? No cigs, water or food all day? I would feast like no tomorrow, too!

Some women, I have heard, fast to lose weight. Turks have told me that fasting is to teach self control and empathy for the poor. Them's good reasons.

Although fasting folks should be able to resist all temptation, it is considered bad form to eat and drink in public.(Just a note to those new to the Ramazan thing.) It is a bit sadisitc, I suppose, slopping down your doner next to the hungry folks.

And expect some scary students, if you have adults in the morning- No cig, no water, no breakfast = tired student.

It may also affect attendence at the end of the day. I once taught in-company and the students ALL came late for the 7pm class. They had been off feasting their faces off.

[dmb]

With my students in the Gulf it was more a case of being seen to be fasting So all the kids used to come into the teachers' toilets to smoke and drink water.

[tekirdag]

I have heard some Turks do that too.

[Baba Alex]

Iftar meals are quıite enjoyable though, so if any of you newbies are invited to one, pop along. Don't take a bottle of wine, though.

[Sheikh Inal Ovar]

[dmb]

[yaramaz]

In Kayseri, that super conservative burg wherefrom I emerged a few years ago, there were often crowds of, um, fasting men crammed into the aile salonus of various kebab joints throughout the day- no one could see them there cos the womenfolk and familyfolk werent out in restaurant world to catch them. I thought it was funny to be sharing a cramped top floor of a doner joint with the same guys I saw later on earnestly breaking their, um, fast in those huge restaurants that families reserve for iftar...

[Ebenezer]

"expect scary students in the morning, no cigarretes, no food, no water" and that's not all!! I don't know how many of you know it, but I was married to a Turk and lived with his family and they don't even brush their teeth while fasting! It's just unbelievable! I can respect fasting, but come on, not brushing your teeth?? Give me a break!!

[Baba Alex]

[ghost]

When ghost taught in Eskisehir 2003 (November), it was very surprised to see many Turks eating in restaurants during the day.......without any condemnation from passerby. This would be unheard of in the vast majority of Muslim nations......where those who did indeed 'break the rules,' would have the sense, at least, to not do it in public.

This shows that Turkey, is indeed a very 'flexible' Muslim nation....at least in the Western parts of the country, because one doubts that the same situation would arise in the Eastern hinterlands of Turkiye.

Ghost, East Asian Languages, McGill University.

[justme]

[thrifty]