Beyond Belief - Abstinence

Ernie Rea and his guests explore the place of faith in our complex world. Ernie is joined by three guests who discuss how their own religious tradition affects their values and outlook on the world, often revealing hidden and contradictory truths. In this edition, representatives of three different faiths discuss the purpose and effect of abstinence. What benefit does abstaining from food or sex or pastimes have on the spirit, the soul or the waistline and is denying yourself always a good thing? Ernie hears about some extreme forms of abstinence which are questioned and challenged by the guests, who include Raana Bokhari from the Religious Studies Department of the University of Lancaster, Peter Stanford, a Catholic writer and journalist and Dr Atul Shah, a member of the Jain community. Producer: Karen Maurice.