In the Mormon Church, the first Sunday of each month is called Fast Sunday. As my kids have pointed out, however, it’s not because it goes by faster than any other Sunday. Quite the opposite, in fact.
It’s called Fast Sunday because members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, or Mormons, use it to fast. We go for a period of two meals without food or water. Then, we’re encouraged to take the money we would have spent on those meals, and more if possible, to make what we refer to as a fast offering. It’s used to care for the poor.
As a lifelong member of the Mormon Church, I’ve gone through this process many times. As a college student, I remember counting down the hours until I could eat again. I also remember asking myself many times, “Why do this at all?” There’s no one policing it. No one asks if you actually skipped the meals, or to account for the exact amount you paid in offerings.
Read the rest of the article on The New York Times.