My Fruitive Challenge: Day 118 — Diet and Religion
In Penn Jillette’s book about his diet journey, he makes a rather profane but insightful point comparing the diet struggle to the struggle associated with being religious. Penn, a devout atheist, draws an analogy that might resonate with anyone who has ever found themselves trapped in the endless cycle of guilt and self-doubt that too often accompanies dieting—or any strict regimen, for that matter.
Penn recounts a lesson from James “Amazing” Randi, who explains that when you’re sick, one of three things can happen: you can get better, you can get worse, or you can stay the same. Quacks, whether in the medical field, diet industry, or even spiritual circles, thrive by manipulating these possibilities:
- If you got better—This “solution” is working.
- If you stayed the same—This “solution” stopped things from getting worse.
- If you got worse—You’re not doing the “solution” right; it’s your fault, so keep trying and paying.
This explanation struck a chord with me. Diets, like many other cultural forces, always have enough wiggle room to make us believe we’re the problem. When we don’t see results, we’re left wondering: Did I measure my portions correctly? Was my workout intense enough? Did I make the right choices? This constant questioning leaves us in a state of perpetual guilt, much like living under the weight of religious guilt associated with original sin.
Penn’s observation can easily extend beyond diet culture. Religious culture, political culture, class distinctions, and social media all play a part in convincing us that we’re not living life “right.” This pervasive feeling can be toxic to our well-being. Discipline is undoubtedly important for health, whether physical, spiritual, or social. But the question remains: Can we be disciplined without the self-loathing that comes from straying from the path?
This morning, I was reading Galatians chapters 4 and 5 with my kids. The Apostle Paul’s words offer a different perspective on this struggle. He emphasizes the importance of not living in bondage to the Law, but rather living in the freedom and faith found in Christ. The key is love—the law of love that urges us to “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
When I consider my own journey with diet and exercise, I realize how often I’ve been trapped in a similar kind of bondage—not to the Law of Moses, but to the law of diet culture. It’s easy to fall into the pattern of thinking that if we don’t follow every rule perfectly, we’re failures. But Paul’s message in Galatians is a reminder that we are called to live in freedom, not fear. True discipline, whether in our diets or our spiritual lives, should be grounded in love—not guilt.
So today, I’m challenging myself to approach health, diet, and life with a spirit of freedom. To strive to be disciplined, and also be kind to myself when I falter. Instead of living in constant guilt, to focus on the greater law of love, which not only guides us but also liberates us from the chains of self-doubt and perfectionism.
