One interesting thing about our culture with respect to fasting is that it is becoming popular among those who are looking to improve health and fitness. There is fairly conclusive evidence to that effect. With this utilitarian perspective of fasting, I’ve found it harder to benefit from it spiritually.
I think this is part of a broader co-opting of things we might think of as ascetic practices, and turning them into techniques to make us "better humans". Which usually means more efficient ones. But, as you say, the danger is precisely that in making them utilitarian they serve one end, lose their greater spiritual tells.
One interesting thing about our culture with respect to fasting is that it is becoming popular among those who are looking to improve health and fitness. There is fairly conclusive evidence to that effect. With this utilitarian perspective of fasting, I’ve found it harder to benefit from it spiritually.
I think this is part of a broader co-opting of things we might think of as ascetic practices, and turning them into techniques to make us "better humans". Which usually means more efficient ones. But, as you say, the danger is precisely that in making them utilitarian they serve one end, lose their greater spiritual tells.