Understanding the Relationship Between Food and Connection to God

A person’s relationship with God is a personal one, as is the choice of the food we eat. Today we see more and more people struggle with unhealthy relationships with food. And our relationship with food affects more than just our physical health. Food and diet can play a role in how we hear from God. The present qualitative study aimed to understand the relationship between food and connection to God. Specifically, this study aimed to explain lived experiences with food and if diet affected connection to God. A total of twelve Christian, adult men and women participated in 1:1 interviews to provide in-depth, lived experiences with food, diet, and how it impacts connection to God. Results from a thematic data analysis showed that the food we eat and diet we follow changes how we hear from God. Also, the power to strengthen connection to God is in the way in which we eat. Specifically, fasting and a healthy diet can open the senses to allow for a deeper level of intimacy with God. The implications for these results include further knowledge of food and its spiritual connection, practical applications to strengthen connection to God, and education on using food to treat and prevent physical, mental, and spiritual disorders. Recommendations of how research on food and connection to God can provide additional benefit were offered in the discussion.