[MountainMom]

In talking to parents who have a spouse in the wmscog, I have come across something that is very hard to hear.  A parent told me that their spouse in the church is saying that the children (even as young as around a year old) are expected to fast at certain times.  I know for a fact that fasting is something the wmscog expects the adults to do as part of their "spiritual growth" and as part of some celebrations. I know of a man who was being encouraged to go on a 3 day,( or even more if he would agree), food AND water fast for his "spiritual growth."  This man was told that the pastor fasted for 5 days this way, and the "Mother" even did it for 7 days.  Food AND water?  That is extremely unhealthly, even if it was just the food, but to also include water is just not acceptable.  What kind of real church would expect it's members to do something like this?  And then to insist that the children fast as well?  I feel that deprivation of sleep, food, water, etc., would make people more pliable and susceptible to mind control techniques.  It is my opinion that this is why these things are promoted in the wmscog. 

It is very hard to fathom, but it is entirely believable because I have heard this numerous times from different people in different parts of the country where wmscog churches ply their trade.   

Can anyone else confirm what I am hearing about this practice?  Especially about the children being expected to fast, when they probably don't even understand what fasting is?