Here's how various faiths view and practice fasting. Spirituality for American Indians is built on intimate human connections with nature.
Personal freedom is emphasized.
As a result, no requirements exist for public fasting or abstinence. Such individualized practices vary with tribal cultures, and they are usually linked to rituals and ceremonies. But in general, lay Buddhists don't fast. Monks in the Theravada tradition, Buddhism's oldest and most traditional, eat all their food before noon, year-round. Some Christians fast as a personal spiritual discipline or at specific times, for example when making big decisions.