Abstinence

Abstinence is the action or practice of abstaining from some sense objects, arises out of an ascetical element present in most religions, and from a subjective need for spiritual discipline. It is meant to elevate the believer beyond the normal life of desire, to a chosen ideal, by following a path of renunciation. Because the regimen is a conscious act, freely chosen to enhance life, abstinence must be distinguished from the psychological mechanism of repression, which is an unconscious state, having unhealthy

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consequences.

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Abstinence has diverse forms. In its oldest sense it has sexual reference, as in the practice of continence, chastity, and celibacy. Commonly it refers to a temporary or partial abstinence from food, as in fasting. For Jews, the principle fast day is Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. For Muslims, the period of fasting lasts during the whole month of Ramadan, from dawn to dusk. Both Jews and Muslims abstain from pork in their regular diet. Among Christians, Roman Catholics have traditionally abstained from food and drink prior to taking Holy Communion. They distinguish between

Related Topics:
Continence - Chastity - Celibacy - Yom Kippur - Ramadan - Holy Communion

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fasting and abstinence; the former referring to the discipline of taking one full meal a day, and the latter signifying a meatless meal on fast days, such as Fridays during Lent. Protestants have preferred to abstain from imbibing alchohol and the use of tobacco. Mormons and Seventh Day Adventists abstain from certain foods and drinks by combining spiritual discipline with health concerns.

Related Topics:
Mormon - Seventh Day Adventist

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In India, Buddhists and Jains, and a number of Hindus abstain from eating meat on the grounds both of health and of reverence for all sentient forms of life. Total abstinence from feeding on the flesh of cows is a hallmark of Hinduism.

Related Topics:
Buddhist - Jain - Hinduism

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The environmental movement promotes a lifestyle in harmony with the simplicity of nature, due to the limitations of non-renewable resources. The temperance movement organized by women such as Susan B. Anthony to persuade people to abstain--fully or partially--from alchoholic drink, is being revived by the cry for sobriety of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD).

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See also:

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• Vegetarianism
• cigarette abstinence
• sexual abstinence
• sobriety
• Straight edge
• teetotalism
• veganism
• fasting
 
Abstinence: See also ►