Re: Christians here: tell me about fasting as a contemporary Christian practice?
I really like the book 'Fast Your Way to Health' by J. Harold Smith copy right 1910. Of course it is out of print but I found a copy on Amazon. The author was a pastor so everything is written from a biblical perspective, however the book doesn't have the charismatic, fasting for prayer overtones and it has a lot of good information on what to expect physically when fasting. If you can find this book, I highly recommend snatching it up.
One of the passages I highlighted:
'in particular, I recommend the practice of periodic fasting as a means of spiritual discipline, i.e., a turning of one's back on food as you confront the far greater need to satisfy the cravings of the inner man in giving yourself to God in worship and praise. That is true biblical fasting.'
IMO Fasting should be worship, not the means of getting God to answer prayer. In the last few years there have been several Christian books published on fasting, however the focus seems to be on fasting for answers to prayer or making your prayers more powerful, and not fasting as a spiritual discipline and an act of worship. Again, IMO the recent renewal of fasting especially in the charismatic churches seem overall to lack depth in terms of deepening one's relationship to God.
Another oldie but goodie, is Foster's book on Spiritual Disciplines. He briefly touches on fasting.