Asceticism

The outward show of religion through self-sacrifice, self-mutilation, or extreme limits on liberty that appears in many religions today, even in many Christian denominations, we not encouraged by the Apostle Paul. He was well aware of the pharisees and their long prayers on the street. He was well aware of the destruction of food, wealth and children by the pagans. Making holiness out to be obtained only through self sacrifice and extreme separation from the world is amazingly common today. From full on refusal to eat, to limiting specific foods, to limiting foods on certain days. Outward shows of religion do not make one holy.