Religion: The Return of Fasting

In Naperville, 111., a dozen Methodist teen-agers observe a 36-hour hunger vigil, taking only a single glass of juice to ease their fast. At the University of Notre Dame, 1,100 people sit down to a dinner of rice and tea—and donate more than $1,500 to the hungry. In Needham, Mass., an ecumenical group of 50 families commit themselves to eating three meatless meals together each week for six months.

Exhorted by then-church leaders, prodded by their consciences, painfully aware of the threat of starvation that faces millions round the world, Americans of many faiths...