Superbaldguy Posted December 8, 2008 Report Share Posted December 8, 2008 Well, this is not what you call deep doctrine, but I am wondering if gum chewing is considered to be part of fasting. One of my angelic 9-year-old friends says I wasn't fasting yesterday, she was trying to get candy from me and was using this as an excuse, since she stops fasting after lunch. Rascal. Thoughts? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aesa Posted December 8, 2008 Report Share Posted December 8, 2008 Healthwise, probably not. When you chew, your body percieves this as food coming toward the stomach and starts getting ready ... so you can "strip" layers off your stomach. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Superbaldguy Posted December 8, 2008 Author Report Share Posted December 8, 2008 I have seem many members chew gum when fasting, I suppose this is one of those personal choice issues. For fresh breath purposes, it's practical - you can use a Listerine spray inhaler to get better results. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Palerider Posted December 8, 2008 Report Share Posted December 8, 2008 I have seem many members chew gum when fasting, I suppose this is one of those personal choice issues. For fresh breath purposes, it's practical - you can use a Listerine spray inhaler to get better results. I do think its a personal choice......I don't chew gum when fasting but I know others that do.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FunkyTown Posted December 8, 2008 Report Share Posted December 8, 2008 I chew gum to get rid of fasting breath. Brushing just can't seem to eliminate it. My thoughts? I don't swallow, therefore it's not breaking fast. I also don't consider passing by food or picking up food to be breaking the fast. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pam Posted December 8, 2008 Report Share Posted December 8, 2008 I don't swallow, therefore it's not breaking fast. Just in humor here...Is that along the line..I didn't inhale therefore I didn't smoke pot? lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RachelleDrew Posted December 8, 2008 Report Share Posted December 8, 2008 I do, but then my gum chewing is habitual anyway as i'm an ex-smoker. No food + no gum = nothing in my mouth to keep me from craving a cigarette. I just don't chew gum in sacrament meetings though. It seems rude to me to be chomping away at gum during sacrament. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skylercollins Posted December 8, 2008 Report Share Posted December 8, 2008 Part of the gum is digested, ie the flavor part as it goes with your saliva down to your stomach. I wouldn't chew gum during a fast. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gwen Posted December 8, 2008 Report Share Posted December 8, 2008 when i was a teenager i used to get physically ill when fasting (or any time i had to be without food) chewing gum helped prevent that for me. i also find that chewing gum would help remind me i'm fasting, i'd remove it to eat something and would remind me i was fasting. i found gum chewing to be very helpful in my learning to fast. i don't chew gum now, well.. except when i'm pregnant, then i live off of if. i find gum chewing helps stay off the morning sickness (which for me was all day), indigestion, motion sickness when traveling, etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
applepansy Posted December 8, 2008 Report Share Posted December 8, 2008 For people who have side effeccts from medcations that result in dry mouth or the autoimmune disease Sjogren's, chewing gum helps a lot in more ways that just bad breath. It also helps you keep your teeth. Yes I chew gum. . . my mouth gets so dry from the medicaions I take. applepanswy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wingnut Posted December 8, 2008 Report Share Posted December 8, 2008 A lot of fasting is a personal choice. You do what you can. I have a friend who is diabetic and can't fast. She fasts only one meal, or from certain foods instead. Me, I get really bad headaches if I fast and don't drink water. If I go without food and water for that long...you do NOT want to be around me. So I drink water when I fast. I have a hard time keeping the true Spirit of the fast if I don't, because all I can focus on is me and my problems, instead of whatever or whomever I am fasting for.If you want to chew gum, chew gum. I'm with Rachelle on not chomping away in the chapel during Sacrament meeting, though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hemidakota Posted December 8, 2008 Report Share Posted December 8, 2008 Well, this is not what you call deep doctrine, but I am wondering if gum chewing is considered to be part of fasting. One of my angelic 9-year-old friends says I wasn't fasting yesterday, she was trying to get candy from me and was using this as an excuse, since she stops fasting after lunch. Rascal.Thoughts?I do chew gum on fast Sunday and sometimes on other Sundays....It is not what is in the mouth that counts but what is in the heart that matters. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hemidakota Posted December 8, 2008 Report Share Posted December 8, 2008 I chew gum to get rid of fasting breath. Brushing just can't seem to eliminate it.A time when a laugh button is needed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NeuroTypical Posted December 8, 2008 Report Share Posted December 8, 2008 I have a wide range of very strong opinions on the subject, but since I've only managed to pull off one successful fast in the last 2 years, I think I'll just keep them to myself, and be content that as far as this thread goes, I'm in the company of my betters. LM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Misshalfway Posted December 8, 2008 Report Share Posted December 8, 2008 I think that if you are worried about whether or not to chew gum, you are missing the point. Fasting is a spiritual experience. What practices help you to have a better spiritual experience? What behaviors help you to feel closer to the Lord and feel that your sacrifice is the kind you wanted to offer? I think if you answer those questions the issue over gum chewing or water sipping just takes care of itself. I think if you have a question of whether or not you can "get away" with chewing it, then perhaps that is showing you that you need to give it up. Try it and then see if your fast doesn't become more powerful as you discipline your physical appetites. One other note..... I think as we progress and "practice" the law of the fast, our worship and our righteous desires become more refined. We move to a place where our behaviors are no longer a question and where our desires and appetites are for the eternal and not the temporal. And that is where we start to notice how Father in Heaven has changed us and refined us and is now showing us and blessing us with greater portions of light and learnings. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
threepercent Posted December 8, 2008 Report Share Posted December 8, 2008 I think the question is off. perhaps you should ask yourself, what is a fast, then you could answer your original question. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest HEthePrimate Posted December 8, 2008 Report Share Posted December 8, 2008 Why wouldn't chewing gum be ok? If you're doing it to freshen your breath, please DO! It'll be a favor to your neighbors in F&T meeting. HEP Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maureen Posted December 8, 2008 Report Share Posted December 8, 2008 Back in the '70's the Sister missionaries told me that it was okay to chew gum while fasting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moksha Posted December 8, 2008 Report Share Posted December 8, 2008 It has always seemed to me that holiness is not in the act of fasting, rather that fasting helps put us more in touch with the divine. Therefore, fasting assists the communion process. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lilered Posted December 8, 2008 Report Share Posted December 8, 2008 How about sucking on breath mints during F & T meeting? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
prisonchaplain Posted December 9, 2008 Report Share Posted December 9, 2008 I'm rather surprised by all of these answers. In the Old Testament fasts were total..."dry"--no water, even. In the New Testament Jesus appears to have had water during his 40 day fast. So, throughout most of Christian history, fasts have been "water only." Of course there are exceptions for health concerns, but other than that, since chewing gum involves enjoyable flavor, it would seem to violate the idea of fasting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Palerider Posted December 9, 2008 Report Share Posted December 9, 2008 I'm rather surprised by all of these answers. In the Old Testament fasts were total..."dry"--no water, even. In the New Testament Jesus appears to have had water during his 40 day fast. So, throughout most of Christian history, fasts have been "water only." Of course there are exceptions for health concerns, but other than that, since chewing gum involves enjoyable flavor, it would seem to violate the idea of fasting. Prison Chap....I agree with you.....thats how I have always felt about fasting.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Misshalfway Posted December 9, 2008 Report Share Posted December 9, 2008 I agree too. I don't chew gum. I do brush my teeth, however, to freshen the ole breath. But I don't drink water or eat anything. Even breath mints seem to take something away from it for me. Because we are only asked to fast for two meals, I don't see the need for water. It makes sense for Jesus and perhaps Ghandi and their long term fasting practices. But for me, I find I do ok if I hydrate the day before and set my thoughts away from any kind of physical satisfaction. I feel best about my worship that way and that is why I do it that way. It is just a gut feeling that I search if I ever have a question....one that has guided me to obstain from even gum chewing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heavenguard Posted December 9, 2008 Report Share Posted December 9, 2008 Though God, Jesus was also a man while he walked the Earth, and must definitely have had water for a 40-day fast, for the human body will die without being rehydrated for such a stretch of time. My bit to add to this discussion is Matthew 15: The Pharisees accused Jesus' disciples of breaking tradition (by not ceremonially washing themselves before eating) and Jesus replied by saying it is not what goes into a man's mouth that makes him unclean, rather what comes out of it, for what comes out a man's mouth reflects what is in his heart. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hemidakota Posted December 9, 2008 Report Share Posted December 9, 2008 Because we are only asked to fast for two meals, I don't see the need for water. It makes sense for Jesus and perhaps Ghandi and their long term fasting practices. But for me, I find I do ok if I hydrate the day before and set my thoughts away from any kind of physical satisfaction. I feel best about my worship that way and that is why I do it that way. It is just a gut feeling that I search if I ever have a question....one that has guided me to obstain from even gum chewing.We simply don't know what the Lord did or those who walked the deserts usually have a small 'pebble' to retain moisture. Let us put words down on something that most are not privy in knowing for sure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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