Fasting for Ramadan

I have decided to fast during Ramadan in solidarity with all the people of Gaza who have been killed, injured, displaced, or forced to go without food or medicine by the Israeli government. For those who are unfamiliar this means I will not consume food or drink between sunrise and sunset for the next 30 days.

I was reluctant to post this because I don’t want it to be misunderstood. I am not doing this for clout or because I think it will change any facts on the ground for the people of Gaza. I am also not doing this because I have embraced Islam. I am doing this because I have to do something more than donate time and money, and there isn’t much more I can do.

I am usually an open book, so pretty much anyone who has met me knows that I was born into a Catholic family and that I spent some of my formative years in a “covenant community” of charismatic Christians. They also know I rejected that doctrine and lifestyle when I was a teenager, and that in the decades since I have identified as an atheist and I do not subscribe to any religion. Those who respect me don’t ask or expect me to change.  

I understand that such statements are offensive or even incomprehensible to some people, but as may be obvious from my previous statement I have never been compelled by popular opinion to adopt beliefs or practices that don’t conform with my knowledge and values, or to be silent about those things I do believe. It is also true that my values are largely consistent with most of the values of the major religions, but my life experience has been enough to convince me to value compassion, kindness, generosity, moral courage, honesty, justice, equality, and sincerity. 

I believe in secular government and the separation of church and state because I believe that people need to be free to decide what they believe for themselves, and free to live in accordance with their own values so long as those values don’t materially harm others. For that same reason i believe that people should be able to practice any religion they choose so long as it doesn’t prevent others from practicing their own, and of course I believe that one should be able to choose not to practice any. 

If you would like to join me please go to unityfast.org and pledge to fast for any number of days for a family who has lost someone in the latest aggression.