Challenges like Veganuary to eat vegan food, or Dry January when people give up alcohol, are increasingly popular at this time of year. Intermittent fasting, where people limit food intake on certain days, has become a mainstream secular diet in recent years, chosen for health and weight loss. But for religious people fasting, or choosing to abstain from certain food or drink, is far more than a dietary decision. For them fasting is believed to be a way to gain a closer spiritual connection with God. In this programme we’ll speak to four guests about the significance of fasting in their religions. Laura Jones is a Muslim and is completing her PhD at Cardiff University on Ramadan in Britain. Gemma Simmonds is a sister of the Congregation of Jesus and a Senior Lecturer in Pastoral Theology at the Margaret Beaufort Institute in Cambridge. Sarah Whittleston grew up in Caerphilly, and is the leader of prayer ministry at Elim Pentecostal Church. She regularly leads fasting events for the network of churches that span England and Wales. Reverend Jon Birch is from South Wales Baptist College and fasting forms an integral part of his own personal religious practise.