Stop Equating Ramadan to Lent

[Michie]

Equating Ramadan to Lent is not only wrong, but blasphemous as it implies God could be reached or pleased equally by either path.

The start of the holy season of Lent this year coincides with the beginning of the Islamic penitential observance of Ramadan on February 18, when Muslims, too, enter a season of prayer and fasting. Already, some of our shepherds are hailing it as a sign of God’s divine providence. Take for example Bishop Jose Colin Bagaforo, president of the Commission for Interreligious Dialogue of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), who sees this coincidence as an opportunity for solidarity and reflection within a diverse national religious landscape.

“This shared beginning is a grace. It invites us to slow down, return to God, and walk together in faith,” he said. According to the prelate, the shared date is a unique opportunity for a period of grace for interreligious dialogue; it represents a symbolic backdrop for ongoing peace building efforts in Mindanao, as in all of the Philippines, highlighting the shared values of dedication to life and devotion to the merciful God.

All things being equal, it is impossible to associate the Islamic season of Ramadan with our holy season of Lent.

The prayers and sacrifices we make during Lent are in preparation for the celebration of our Lord Jesus Christ’s Resurrection from the dead on Easter Sunday. The self-denials we practice tend to be an inner pilgrimage to be reborn with Christ Himself, the conqueror of sin and death. We put away the “old person” within us so that we may be able to partake in the Lord’s rising from the dead—eternal life.

Continued below.

Stop Equating Ramadan to Lent

Equating Ramadan to Lent is not only wrong, but blasphemous as it implies God could be reached or pleased equally by either path.

crisismagazine.com

 

[The Liturgist]

This is a very important point, and one where we absolutely must resist the narrative that Lent and Ramadan are equivalent or even conceptually related (they’re not).

Also the fact is, Ramadan is a rather more relaxed fast than Lent; while Muslims do not eat during the day, (and will sleep during the day if possible), at night, from dusk until dawn, they can eat as much as they desire, and often do so in a communal, festive atmosphere.

 

[JosephZ]

The Bishop doesn't say Ramadan and Lent are the same, nor does he attempt to equate them in his statement. It can be read in full at this link:

CBCP official sees Ramadan, Lent start as chance for interreligious peace

 

[prodromos]

Hospitals in the heavily Moslem populated areas of Sydney see a huge influx of patients during Ramadan due to the habit of some to stuff themselves stupid after sunset and the same just before sunrise. Not eating all day when you are active then stuffing your stomach when you are inactive is extremely detrimental to your health and completely unlike Traditional Christian fasting which sees a lot of health benefits. It is easy to see which fasting practice came from God and which one didn't.

 

[RileyG]

Hospitals in the heavily Moslem populated areas of Sydney see a huge influx of patients during Ramadan due to the habit of some to stuff themselves stupid after sunset and the same just before sunrise. Not eating all day when you are active then stuffing your stomach when you are inactive is extremely detrimental to your health and completely unlike Traditional Christian fasting which sees a lot of health benefits. It is easy to see which fasting practice came from God and which one didn't.

That doesn’t surprise me, sadly.